Isocore Testing Independently Validates Cisco 7600 Series Carrier-Class Ethernet Services Edge Capabilities.

Testing Focused on Layer 2 and 3 Service Scalability, Flexibility, Reliability and QoS Support for Advanced Next-Generation Network Deployment

PARIS -- Cisco Systems([R]) (NASDAQ:CSCO) today announced the results of a test conducted by an independent laboratory at Isocore that validate the carrier-class scalability, flexibility, reliability and QoS support of the Cisco 7600 Series platform, a key component of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture. The testing shows the Cisco 7600 Series to be one of the industry's leading edge-routing platforms, enabling the development of advanced IP/MPLS services such as the deployment of Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs on a single converged Ethernet network for reduced complexity and lower total cost of ownership.

"The results observed during this effort clearly demonstrated the Cisco 7600 Series to be a significantly scalable Ethernet services edge router for Layer 2 and Layer 3 services," said Dr. Bijan Jabbari, president of Isocore. "The platform showed consistent stability in multiple iterations with large configurations during the testing. We believe that the Cisco 7600 offers the advanced functionality and extensive scalability expected from a carrier-class edge routing platform."

The primary focus of the test effort, which was commissioned by Cisco, was to demonstrate the performance, scalability and stability of multiple simultaneous services on the Cisco 7600 Series edge-routing platform, and to verify the capabilities needed for successful deployment as an edge-routing platform in the IP/MPLS next-generation networks. The tests focused on evaluating the capabilities of 7600 edge-routing platform in these areas:

* Scaling to 15,000 simultaneous Layer 2 and Layer 3 services

* QoS performance, accuracy and scaling

* Layer 2 service scaling including Point-to-Point EoMPLS Pseudowires, VPLS, and H-VPLS

* QinQ Edge and Ethernet L2 Services using Multi-Point Bridging

* Routing Protocol Scaling

* MPLS TE Fast Re-Route convergence time

The service scalability test also included operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) functionality supported on the 7600 Series. Service providers use this advanced functionality to provide the visibility and control necessary to extend network operations from the central office (CO) all the way to the customer premises.

"The ability to scale both Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing technologies on a single platform and a single port is critical for delivering residential and business services over a converged infrastructure. For example with triple play services it delivers consistent failure recovery, efficient multicasting and control of packet loss in deployment of IPTV and other advanced services at the edge of the network," said analyst Glen Hunt, principal analyst for carrier infrastructure at Current Analysis. "The Cisco 7600 Series' advanced functionality in these areas makes it an ideal platform for development and delivery of entertainment- and business-grade services."

Isocore noted that the Cisco 7600 did not demonstrate any signs of instability or loss of functionality in Layer 2 services when Layer 3 services were subjected to additional stress. Furthermore, when evaluating maximum peering capacity in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) scalability testing, the Cisco 7600 comfortably demonstrated route scalability with maximum number of BGP peers configured. This also validates the Cisco 7600 Series' capabilities as an edge platform supporting a large number of Layer 2 services, along with maximum Layer 3 route scalability.

"We are very pleased with the results of the Isocore test, which validate the Cisco 7600 Series' ability to enable innovative services at the network edge, independent of the underlying access technology," said Praveen Akkiraju, vide president of edge routing at Cisco. "The Cisco 7600 greatly eases providers' transition from multiple service-specific networks to converged, IP/MPLS networks to increase revenue and profitability."

A summary of these results is available from the Isocore website: www.isocore.com/reports/ ISO-12062-Cisco7600SeriesEdgeRoutersEvaluationReportSummary.pdf.

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