SAN JOSE, Calif. -- July 1, 1997 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced availability of the RouteSwitch Module (RSM), which brings multiprotocol Layer 3 switching, the full suite of Cisco IOSTM software and NetFlowTM switching to the Catalyst. 5000 series of switches. Withthe introduction of the RSM, network managers can now successfully scale Layer 2 and Layer 3performance while retaining essential network services such as security, resiliency andmultimedia.
The RSM provides high-performance Layer 3 switching, scaling to more than one million packetsper second (pps) between switched virtual LANs (VLANs) or emulated LANs (ELANs) across amixed-media environment.
"What our customers are requesting is true multilayer switching capability throughout thenetwork," said Soni Jiandani, director of the Catalyst family of switching products at Cisco. "The Catalyst 5000 platform with the RSM provides exceptional performance features, combiningthe speed of Catalyst switches and the benefits of multiprotocol routing."
Integrated Multiprotocol Switching and Routing
The new RSM is based on Cisco's Route Switch Processor and takes full advantage of themultigigabit architecture of the Catalyst 5000 switch. With capabilities encompassing the fullsuite of Cisco IOS software, the Route Switch Module supports the widest set of protocolsavailable on any multilayer switch. Supported protocols include IP, IPX, AppleTalk, DECnet,VINES, XNS and SNA. The RSM also supports industry-standard routing protocols, such as RIP,OSPF and BGP, to ensure seamless integration into existing networks of all sizes and equipmenttypes. And as a value-add to existing Cisco router customers, the RSM supports IGRP, EnhancedIGRP and HSRP.
By integrating an RSM with the Catalyst 5000 platform, network managers now have unprecedentedoptions in areas such as multimedia, security and class of service. To provide these options,the RSM supports enablers such as Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM), Internet GroupManagement Protocol (IGMP), access lists, encryption, Lock and Key, Resource ReservationProtocol (RSVP) and Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ).
NetFlow Switching
The RSM is the first step in providing NetFlow switching within the Catalyst 5000 series ofswitches. Cisco IOS NetFlow switching software enables today's networks to perform moreservices on a larger scale and at higher bandwidths than were previously possible.
One of these enhanced services relates to security. With the RSM installed, IP traffic can beencrypted at the network layer on a session-by-session basis. NetFlow switching also boostsperformance when applying the access lists used to provide user authentication within a networkon a flow-by-flow basis.
Additionally, NetFlow software allows detailed traffic statistics to be collected andaccumulated in tandem with its switching functions, with no significant performance impact. Aspart of its basic operation, NetFlow software already generates a display of traffic flows withdata on numbers of flows, packets per flow and bytes per packet -- all summarized on aper-application basis. This capability gives network administrators insights into the trafficcharacteristics of specific applications.
In a related announcement today, Cisco announced enhanced NetFlow software for its high-endrouters, which will give service providers and large enterprises improved planning, monitoringand usage-based accounting capabilities. (See press release entitled "New Cisco IOS NetFlowSoftware and Utilities Boost Service Provider Revenues and Service Management Capabilities.")
Enhanced Network Resiliency
The redundant switch architecture of the Catalyst 5000 switching fabric, when combined withmultiple RSMs running the Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), provide device and network-layerresiliency while scaling Layer 3 performance. Multiple RSMs can load-share across multipleVLANs or ATM-based ELANs, and in the event of a failure of one RSM, the load will automaticallyshift to the other without the end station losing a session.
For device-level management, the RSM supports Telnet, Trivial File Transfer Protocol and BOOTPto allow remote configuration and software download. SNMP management can also be invokedthrough the CiscoView graphical user interface in CiscoWorks for Switched Internetworks. TheRSM supports all standard router information bases with Cisco extensions for advancedcapabilities.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. athttp://www.cisco.com.
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