SAN JOSE, Calif.- April 2, 1997 - Cisco Systems, Inc. announced today a newHigh Speed Serial Interface (HSSI) Network Processor Module (NPM) for the Cisco4500 and Cisco 4700 access routers that reduces product life cycle costs anddelivers high speed serial connections over WAN links. The new module delivers acommon high speed serial interface to large service providers including telcos,RBOCs, and ISPs.
Each new HSSI module is equipped with a single high speed serial interface thatsupports data transmission speeds of up to 52 Mbps. This represents a more thansix fold increase in performance per module over previous serial connectionswhich peaked at 8 Mbps. The Cisco 4500 and 4700 both support the new HSSI module,dramatically improving price performance and reducing the number of module slotspreviously required per chassis.
"The new HSSI module represents a substantial improvement in the performance ofthe solutions we resell to our customers," said Joe Wenker, principal engineer,of Enterprise Network Services at US West. "A number of our customers can protecttheir investment and affordably upgrade their hub sites to support high speed WANaccess including Frame Relay. The HSSI module significantly improves theperformance and scalability of critical applications and provides a common highspeed interface between WAN services and mid-range routers."
High Speed Serial Interface
A common HSSI interface is an important component in the service providernetwork, as it enables high speed switches to communicate directly with routersat the same speed creating a seamless and cost-effective network. In dial accesspoint of presence (POP) environments the Cisco 4500 and 4700 now deliver highspeed backhaul functionality when deployed together with the Cisco AS5200universal access server. High speed data backhaul efficiently transmits data fromthe remote access server through the telco switch and out over the WAN. Serviceproviders can now leverage value-add Cisco IOS(TM) network services includingpolicy-based routing and virtual private dial networks across multiple platformsthroughout the network infrastructure.
"The HSSI standard has traditionally been targeted toward enterprise 7000 seriesrouter customers. The extension of this high speed configuration to our awardwinning mid-range router platform enables service providers to expand deploymentof high-end applications at dramatically lower price points," said Kevin Kennedy,vice president and general manager of the Access Business Unit at Cisco Systems."With an installed base of more than 175,000 Cisco 4000 series routers worldwide,we are committed to continually bringing new functionality and enhancements tothis RISC-based mid-range platform. Customers are realizing significantinvestment protection while taking advantage of the latest breakthroughs intechnology."
Cisco Systems
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