SAN JOSE, Calif. -- December 8, 1997 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today introduced a suite of new Token Ring LAN emulation (LANE) products that boost network backbone and server performance by delivering a scalable, high-speed asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switched solution. The new products include an ATM expansion module for the Catalyst. 3900 stackable Token Ring switch and Token Ring LANE software for a broad range of Cisco platforms including the Cisco 4500, 4700, 7200 and 7500 routers, the Catalyst 5000 switch series and the ATM dual-PHY LANE module and the Cisco routers, both Ethernet and Token Ring mixed-LAN traffic can be carried over a single ATM backbone such as those built with Cisco's LightStream 1010 and StrataCom. ATM switches.
These ATM Forum-compliant products build on the strengths of existing Cisco IOS Software, including security access lists, concurrent routing and VLAN forwarding. Additionally, they offer robust redundancy features including Simple Server Redundancy Protocol (SSRP) and Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP). SSRP, Cisco's enhancement to LANE 1.0, provides backup LANE services including LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS), LAN Emulation Server (LES) and Broadcast and Unknown Server (BUS). HSRP provides automatic backup support for the IP default gateway and is supported over Token Ring LANE, resulting in inter-VLAN redundancy for LANE clients.
Token Ring LANE on the Cisco 4500, 4700, 7200 and 7500 series routers provides both IP and IPX routing between Token Ring or Ethernet LANs and emulated LANs (ELANs). It also provides source-route bridging (SRB), source-route transparent (SRT) and source-route translational bridging (SR/TLB) between LANs and ELANs. The solution is highly scalable in that it supports up to 256 ELANs per ATM interface across single or multiple interfaces per router. This feature reduces the number of routers and interfaces required to interconnect VLANS.
Token Ring LANE for the Catalyst 5000 switch is available via a software upgrade to the ATM LANE dual-PHY module. With this capability, the Catalyst 5000 offers concurrent Ethernet and Token Ring LANE support on the same interface. Optional support of Token Ring LANE services on the LightStream 1010 will also be added to its existing Ethernet LANE service support.
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