New processors will deliver advanced network services at more than 1million packets per second
SAN JOSE, Calif. - April 22, 1996 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced anew generation of Versatile Interface Processors (VIPs) that can double theperformance and port density of its high-end routers, enabling largeorganizations and service providers to handle network growth and greatlyenhance support for key network-layer services such as security, multimediaand traffic management.
The new VIPs (interface cards that plug directly into router chassis slots)will greatly increase the switching performance of
With the speed and distributed switching capabilities that the RISC-basedRSPs and new VIPs provide, customers can deliver enhanced network-layersecurity services such as encryption and enhanced multimedia applicationsthrough faster, more efficient queuing. Doubling the VIP port densitygreatly reduces total system costs for customers that need to provide largenumbers of Ethernet and Serial connections to wide area networks.
"We will continue to extend the performance and capabilities of our routersto support new network designs involving high-speed switching," saidRichard Palmer, Cisco's director of marketing for high-end routingproducts. "Our goal is to give enterprise customers and service providersthe tools to handle exponential growth and demanding new applications,while protecting their investments."
Cisco's new Versatile Interface Processors provide double the cardbandwidth of previous interface processors and VIPs and double the maximumport density. In addition, a modular architecture enables multipleinterface types to be supported on a single VIP interface card. Each VIPcan support two port adapter modules; therefore, customers can plug a mixof port adapters -- such as Ethernet and Serial interfaces, for example --into the card to meet their specific requirements.
Cisco today announced new Versatile Interface Processor cards that cansupport as many as 16 Ethernet ports and eight Token Ring ports. Thiscomplements an existing set of interface processors that can support up tosix Ethernet ports and four Token Ring ports. With the new VIPs, thecompany also introduced seven new port adapter modules supporting variousEthernet, Fast Ethernet, Serial and Token Ring densities. (See followinglist.)
By fully utilizing the 11 user-configurable slots on a Cisco 7513 router,for example, users now can support 176 Ethernet ports, compared to 66before. This high port density is achieved by using 11 of the newVersatile Interface Processor cards, each supporting two 8-port Ethernetport adapter modules. Previously, customers could deploy 11 Ethernetcards, each supporting six ports.
The new Versatile Interface Processors can be installed in Cisco's 7500series models (the five-slot Cisco 7505, the seven-slot 7507 and 13-slot7513), as well in Cisco's earlier-generation Cisco 7010 and 7000 routerswith integrated Route Switch system Processors.
Through the routerinvestment protection program that Cisco originallyannounced January 15, 1996, Cisco 7000 and 7500 series users can now returnan existing interface processor and receive a $3,000 credit toward thepurchase of the new Versatile Interface Processor. Customers who boughtfirst-generation VIPs will receive a $2,000 credit for each motherboardreturned. Port adapters from earlier-generation Versatile InterfaceProcessors will be reusable in the new VIPs.
Under the investment protection program, customers with Cisco 7010s and7000s also can take advantage of capabilities previously supported only onCisco's new 7500 series. The program enables users to upgrade from thestandalone route processors and switch processors found in the Cisco 7010and 7000 to the new Route Switch Processor that was introduced in September1995 for the Cisco 7500 series.
The new Versatile Interface Processors will be orderable in June:
Port Adapter (PA) Modules Availability ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PA - 4-port Ethernet (10BaseT) Third Quarter PA - 8-port Ethernet (10BaseT) Third Quarter PA - 5-port Ethernet (10BaseFL) (Multimode Fiber) Third Quarter PA - 4-port Serial Third Quarter PA - 4-port Token Ring Third Quarter PA - 1-port Fast Ethernet (100BaseTX) (UTP-5) Third Quarter PA - 1-port Fast Ethernet (100BaseFX) (Multimode Fiber) Third QuarterCisco's Versatile Interface Processor -- announced in September 1995 withthe 7500 series -- was the first router interface card to provideintelligent multilayer switching and run
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the leading globalsupplier ofinternetworkingsolutions for corporate intranets and the global Internet.Cisco's products, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up accessservers and network management software, are integrated by the
Posted: Mon Apr 22 16:38:25 PDT 1996