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Cisco 7000 Series Gains Fast Ethernet Interface, Becomes Only Router Family to Support Three High-Speed Network Types

NETWORLD+INTEROP, LAS VEGAS, March 28, 1995 -- Cisco Systems, theworldwide leader in LAN switching, today announced a Fast Ethernetinterface that enables its high-end Cisco 7000 seriesrouters tocommunicate at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) with networkdevices such as switches, servers and other routers.

The new Fast Ethernet Interface Processor (FEIP) card, which operatesin a slot of the Cisco 7000 or 7010 core router chassis, is available witheither one or two 100Base-TX ports.

With the new interface, the Cisco 7000 becomes the only router familyto support all three of the key high-bandwidth networking technologies onthe market. The 7000 has supported 100-Mbps Fiber Distributed DataInterface (FDDI) since early 1993, and 155-Mbps Asynchronous Transfer Mode(ATM) since mid-1994.

Larry Lang, Cisco's director of marketing for core products, said,"Fast Ethernet is a key element for bringing routers into theCiscoFusionarchitecture for switched internetworks. It will especiallyappeal to users who are replacing traditional shared-media hubs with newdedicated-LAN switches in the wiring closet.

In conjunction with the new Catalyst 5000 switching system (seeaccompanying release), the FEIP can be used to aggregate a largenumber ofswitched 10-Mbps LANs and give them high-speed access to such Layer 3routing services as firewalling and access lists."

Fast Ethernet Interface Supports Virtual LANs

Virtual LAN (VLAN) support on the FEIP enables network managers togroup users logically rather than by physical location, easing adds, movesand changes. VLAN traffic can be transported using one of two mechanisms:the industry-standard IEEE 802.10 protocol or Cisco's Inter-Switch Link(ISL) protocol for communication with Catalyst 5000 switches (see accompanyingrelease).

Each 100Base-TX port on the FEIP has an RJ-45 connector to attach toCategory 5 unshielded twisted pair (100Base-TX); a Media IndependentInterface (MII) connector permits connection through external transceiversto multi-mode fiber (100Base-FX) or to Category 3, 4 and 5 UTP or STP(100Base-T4) physical media. Both full- and half-duplex operation aresupported. Online insertion and removal maximizes router availability byletting users add or remove FEIPs during system operation.

The FEIP can be managed using the CiscoWorkssuite of networkmanagement applications, which enables the user to do simple configuration,monitoring and troubleshooting. Support for standard SNMP MIBs is alsoprovided.

Industry's Broadest Range of Media Support

With the addition of the FEIP, the Cisco 7000 offers the industry'sbroadest range of router media support. Other available interfaces includeEthernet, Token Ring, FDDI, serial connections, High-Speed SerialInterface, ATM, channelized T1/E1 and IBM channel attachment. Future planscall for the addition of an interface for 100VG-AnyLAN, the other emergingstandard for 100-Mbps Ethernet operation.

Availability

The Fast Ethernet Interface Processor will be available in June.

Cisco Systems,Inc. is the leading global supplier of enterprisenetworks, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up accessserversand network management software. These products, integrated by Cisco'sInternetwork Operating System (Cisco IOS) link geographicallydispersed LANs, WANs, and IBM networks. Cisco is headquartered in SanJose, Calif., and in the U.S. is traded under the NASDAQ symbol CSCO.

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