New Token Ring Router/Hub Combo from Cisco Cuts Cost, Complexity of Remote Access in IBM Environments.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1995--Cisco Systems has introduced a single product that combines access-router and wiring-hub functions, reducing the cost and complexity of connecting small-office Token Ring LANs across wide-area links to corporate internetworks or the Internet. The Cisco 2517 Router/Hub unites Cisco Internetwork Operating System* (Cisco IOS*) routing technology with intelligent unshielded twisted pair See twisted pair. (hardware) unshielded twisted pair - (UTP) Normal telephone wire (in the USA). It may be used for computer to computer communications, e.g. using a version of Ethernet or localtalk. It is much cheaper than standard "full-spec" Ethernet cable. (UTP UTP (uridine triphosphate): see uracil. (Unshielded Twisted Pair) See twisted pair. UTP - unshielded twisted pair ) Token Ring hub media technology from LanOptics Ltd. of Israel. The unit is the latest product of a 1993 agreement between Cisco and LanOptics. The fixed-configuration Cisco 2517 is designed for a branch or remote office needing to link a single Token Ring LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. to a corporate data network or the public Internet. It has 11 UTP Token Ring hub ports (configurable for 4- or 16-Mbps speeds), two synchronous serial WAN ports (up to 4 Mbps), and one ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. Basic Rate Interface (BRI) port (up to 128 Kbps). A low-speed asynchronous Refers to events that are not synchronized, or coordinated, in time. The following are considered asynchronous operations. The interval between transmitting A and B is not the same as between B and C. The ability to initiate a transmission at either end. WAN port can be used for dial-on-demand routing (bringing up a WAN link only when necessary) or dial backup (bringing up a secondary link when a primary leased line fails or becomes congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. ). Replacing Four Stand-Alone Network Devices The multifunction single-box solution provides, in a single compact chassis, the functions of four stand-alone network devices: a Token Ring media access unit (MAU) concentrator, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. ) controller, internetwork router and ISDN terminal adapter A device that adapts a computer to a digital ISDN line. Like a modem, it plugs into the serial port of the computer or into an expansion slot. Some terminal adapters use the parallel port for higher speed. . Kevin Kennedy, product management director of Cisco's remote access products, said, "The Cisco 2517 is ideal for use by financial institutions migrating IBM 3270/SNA networks to distributed client-server applications. SNA traffic can be merged with other traffic (e.g., NETBIOS, IP, IPX) by using one of the 2517's WAN ports to support legacy equipment via SDLC-to-LAN translation; the other WAN port can connect to a frame relay, X.25 or leased-line connection back to the company's central office. Bisync support from Cisco also enables the unit to consolidate traffic from local bisync devices such as automated teller machines." ISDN BRI Port for Primary Link or Backup The Cisco 2517's ISDN BRI port can be used as a high-speed dial-up digital link for supplementary bandwidth or as backup for a failed primary link, Kennedy added. The 2517 supports such packet- and circuit-switched services as frame relay, X.25, X.25 DDN, SMDS (Switched Multimegabit Data Service) A high-speed, switched data communications service offered by the local telephone companies for interconnecting LANs in different locations. It was introduced in 1992 and became generally available nationwide by 1995. , V.25bis and ISDN. Also provided are SDLC transport and SLDC-to-LAN conversion, Telnet/LAT/X.25 protocol translation and data compression. Flexible Network Management Router ports can be configured via Telnet or Cisco's PC-based Configuration Builder software, and managed locally or remotely through the CiscoWorks* suite of management applications and other SNMP-based management systems. Sophisticated Token Ring hub management, including MAC-layer event logging and control, is available through Cisco's Hub/Ring Manager for Windows. The Cisco 2517 is also manageable via IBM LAN Network Manager IBM Token Ring network management software. LAN Station Manager is the workstation counterpart that collects data for LAN Network Manager. , which Cisco has supported since 1992. The Cisco 2517 comes with a choice of six Cisco IOS feature sets, from a basic IP-specific set to an enterprise set with the full IOS protocol and APPN suite. All include Cisco AutoInstall for easy remote-site installation, and key IBM features such as remote source-route bridging. Pricing and Availability The Cisco 2517 Token Ring Router/Hub will be available in July. Prices range from $5,995 to $7,995 (U.S. list), depending on the Cisco IOS feature set selected. APPN support will be available as an IOS option in third quarter 1995. The unit comes with 4-8 MB of Flash EPROM (expandable to 16 MB) and 2-6 MB of system DRAM (expandable to 18 MB), depending on IOS feature set. Cisco Systems, Inc. is the leading global supplier of enterprise networks, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access servers and network management software. These products, integrated by the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (Cisco IOS) link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM networks. Cisco is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and in the U.S. is traded under the NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on symbol CSCO. CONTACT: Cisco Systems, Inc. Gina Espejo, 408/526-8780 or Ulevich & Orrange, Inc. William Orrange/Janis Ulevich, 415/329-1590 |
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