Fast Ethernet module for Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 provides high-speedconnectivity and investment protection
SAN JOSE, Calif. - August 20, 1996 - Cisco Systems, Inc. todayannounced immediate availability of a Fast Ethernet Network ProcessorModule (NPM) for the Cisco4500 and Cisco4700 series of access routers.The Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 are high-performance modular access routersideal for branch and regional office networking requirements.
The Fast Ethernet NPM delivers 100 Mbps connectivity, allowingcustomers to grow shared-Ethernet LANs seamlessly to meet theirever-increasing bandwidth demands. Since Fast Ethernet does not requirethe installation of new cabling, customers can leverage their existinginfrastructure and boost network performance with minimal expense. Boththe Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 are a modular chassis design, and the FastEthernet NPM module installs directly into slots in the rear of thechassis. Therefore, the new module makes it easy for the large installedbase of Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 customers to upgrade their routers to thelatest technology.
"The modularity of the Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 allow customers torespond quickly and economically to growing and changing network needs,"said Kevin Kennedy, vice president of the Access Business Unit at CiscoSystems. "With the addition of Fast Ethernet support, we offer customersthe broadest range of high-speed connectivity options for networkapplications requiring additional bandwidth."
Specifications
The Fast Ethernet NPM conforms to the Fast Ethernet IEEE 802.3uspecification, providing 100Base-TX connectivity via an RJ45 interface and100Base-FX connectivity via a Medium Independent Interface (MII). Whendeployed with a Cisco Catalyst 3000 or Catalyst 5000high-speed switch, theFast Ethernet NPM is an ideal combination for leveraging low-density,high-performance applications such as inter-virtual LAN (VLAN) routing.Virtual LAN support enables network managers to group users logicallyrather than by physical location, dramatically easing adds, moves andchanges. VLAN traffic is transported using Cisco's Inter-Switch Link (ISL)protocol. Upon ratification, the VLAN 802.1Q industry standard will alsobe supported.
Setting the standard
The Cisco 4500 and 4700 series set the industry standard formodular access routers by offering a broad set of LAN and WAN connectivityfeatures, allowing customers to respond rapidly to user needs as theyevolve. Both products support the following interfaces: ATM, Ethernet,FDDI, ISDN BRI and PRI, Serial, Token Ring and channelized T1/E1. TheCisco 4500 and 4700 also include a range of Cisco IOS(tm) softwarefeatures, providing multiprotocol support, advanced security and WANoptimization features.
The Cisco 4500 is ideal for processor-intensive WANs, IP networkproviders, multiprotocol network users, legacy networkintegration/migration and is also particularly well-suited to IBMconnectivity solutions. The Cisco 4700, with its high-performance RISCarchitecture, excels in process-level tasks such as data compression,tunneling, policy/security and protocol conversion applications, as well ashigh-bandwidth, fast-switching applications.
About Cisco
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
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Cisco 4500, Cisco 4700, Cisco IOS and Cisco Systems aretrademarks, andCisco and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of CiscoSystems, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarksor registered service marks mentioned in this document are the property oftheir respective owners.
