Cisco Announces Fully Integrated Internetworking Solution for Legacy Systems and Client/Server Networks

New Models Provide Ideal Integrated Solution for Branch Banking, Retail Environments Upgrading to Client/Server-Based LANs, High-Speed WANs

Application Note:Cisco 2520-2523 Routers

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 12, 1995 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the leadingglobal supplier of internetworking solutions, today introduced a suite ofintegrated multiprotocol routers designed for branch banking and retailoffice environments that are integrating legacy systems with client/servernetworks.

These new routers support local-area network (LAN) and legacy protocols,including synchronous (SDLC and BSC transport) and asynchronous (polledasynchronous) serial communications over multiple serial interfaces andservices. With this legacy and LAN support, users are now able toconsolidate both legacy and LAN traffic over a Frame Relay orISDN network.These options provide users with a complete routing solution, eliminatingthe need for multiple single-function devices or more costly high-endrouters.

Cisco also announced today a family of mission-specific Frame Relay accessproducts -- based on the 2500 series hardware -- that feature a built-inmigration path via the Cisco Internetwork OperatingSystem (Cisco IOS(tm)) software. (See press release entitled, "Cisco Announces FrameRelay Access Products that Lead Industry in Providing Legacy ProtocolSupport." )

"With our new 2500 series routers and our Frame Relay access offerings,users in the branch banking and retail office arenas can pick and chooseamong the most cost-effective, end-to-end access solutions available," saidKevin Kennedy, division director in the company's Access Business Unit."And Cisco's broad support for IBM internetworking, including RFC 1490,DLSw+, APPN routing, serial tunneling, and conversion, protects customers'investments as they migrate towards LAN-based client/server networks."

Access Solution for Branch Banking and Retail

Cisco's new routers -- the Cisco 2520, 2521, 2522 and 2523 -- are targetedat branch banking and retail offices. These sites typically have a largeinstallation of legacy serial equipment remotely connected over dedicatedlow-speed links. For cost, performance and network management reasons,these customers are installing local-area networks (LANs) withmultiprotocol client/server applications and upgrading wide-areaconnections to Frame Relay or other high-speed, wide-area network (WAN)services, including ISDN. WithCisco's new 2500 series routers, which are based on the Cisco IOS software,everything is connected into a single access device, reducing line,equipment, and management costs.

Low-Cost WAN Aggregation

Cisco's new routers, which complement Cisco's high-performance 4000 series,also provide an excellent low-cost WAN concentration solution, where manyremote sites need to be internetworked over low-speed WAN links. With up to11 wide-area connections and support for the full array of the Cisco IOSsoftware protocols and features -- including Frame Relay, ISDN, X.25,leased line and asynchronous communications -- organizations cancost-effectively link multiple sites when high WAN bandwidth isn't criticalor available.

Asynchronous Remote Node Services with ISDN Back-Up

Each model features Cisco's industry-leading remote access serverfunctionality in addition to providing branch office LAN-to-LANinternetworking capability, all in a single device. With the built-in ISDNBRI interface, ISDN BRI can be used as the primary or back-up WAN. Theserouters complement Cisco's 2509 access serverproduct , which features asynchronous dial-up access.

Optimized for Lower Ownership Cost, Increased Application Availability

The Cisco 2520/2522 each include an Ethernet interface plus two high-speedserial ports and two or eight low-speed asynchronous/synchronous ports. TheCisco 2521/2523 include a Token Ring interface plus two high-speed serialports and two or eight low-speed asynchronous/synchronous ports.

The routers provide a number of bandwidth optimization features, including4:1 data compression over leased lines,packet-switchedand circuit-switched WAN services at speeds of up to 128 Kbps, anddial-on-demand routing (DDR) over ISDN and switched 56K lines. For IBMenvironments, the routers support proxy explorer and NetBIOS name cachingto avoid wasting WAN bandwidth on overhead traffic. Snapshot routing andSPX/IPX spoofing keep router and server state data on both sides of the WANconnection to reduce additional traffic.

The new Cisco routers also ensure application availability. Priorityoutputqueuing , for instance, enables network administrators to prioritizetrafficby protocol, message size, physical port and SNA device. Custom queuing offers the same level of prioritization granularity and ensures thatmission-critical traffic receives a guaranteed minimum amount of bandwidth.

Availability

All models are available worldwide in the first quarter of 1996. Eachrouter supports nine Cisco IOS software feature set combinations.

About Cisco

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the leading global supplier ofenterprise networks, includingrouters, LAN and ATM switches, dial-upaccess servers, and network management software. These products, integratedby the Cisco IOS software , linkgeographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBMnetworks. Cisco Systems news and product/service information are availableat World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com. Cisco Systems isheadquartered in San Jose, Calif.

Cisco IOS is a trademark and Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco logo areregistered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. All other trademarks,registered or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

Posted: Fri Oct 17 16:13:26 PDT 1997