Research Triangle Park, NC -- April 21, 1998 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a broad new initiative to deliver enhanced end-to-end network solutions for enterprises with IBM networking components. The Enterprise 2000 initiative includes new products and an associates program aimed at providing the customer with a blueprint for integrating varied network requirements.

In the Enterprise 2000 initiative, products are used to develop a single network infrastructure that enables safe, secure access to IBM mainframe data from any client including SNA emulators, TN3270 emulators and Web browsers. The Enterprise Associate program draws on complementary products from other suppliers as part of an end-to-end networking solution.

"For our enterprise customers, we recognized the importance of offering an integrated hardware/software infrastructure that supports existing and emerging networked business applications," said Selby Wellman, senior vice president and general manager for Cisco's InterWorks Business Unit. "Today, customers are faced with doing much more of the network integration themselves. The Enterprise Associates program alleviates a very large portion of that burden for the customer, which will assure a more stable, robust network."

Some of the new products and product enhancements included in the Enterprise 2000 initiative have been previously outlined in the CiscoBlue roadmap that describes how users with networks based on Systems Network Architecture (SNA) protocol can migrate to enterprise networks of the future using the Internet Protocol (IP). These products enable Web access to data resident on IBM mainframe computers as well as improved availability, scalability and Quality of Service (QoS).

Cisco's Enterprise Associates Program

The Enterprise Associates program is a joint marketing, technology and compliance initiative. Under this initiative, companies whose products complement Cisco's and have been formally tested for interoperability with Cisco products can display a special Cisco logo in their marketing and advertising materials. Tested interoperability will provide customers with confidence in their selection of networking technology, provide more knowledge and choices, and facilitate faster deployment of the network. The program also enables participating vendors to add product enhancements that leverage the Cisco IOS® software features. Initially, the Enterprise Associate program will focus on the integration of TCP/IP and SNA networks. Over time, this initiative will expand to add focus to other technology areas.

The following companies will be the first members of the Enterprise Associates program:

• Attachmate with EXTRA! and HostView Server to provide access to SNA 3270 applications over TCP/IP networks
• Interlink Computer Sciences with TCPaccess to provide TCP/IP protocols for MVS mainframe computers
• Microsoft with Microsoft SNA Server to provide a platform for host application integration
• Open Connect Systems with OC://WebConnect Pro to provide Web access to host applications and OC://WebConnect SNA Access Server to provide a platform for applications integrating SNA and TCP/IP networks for large, mission-critical, enterprise-wide implementations
• Sterling Software, Inc.'s Operations Management Division with SOLVE:NetMaster for TCP/IP to provide management of Cisco's CIP, CPA and TN3270E Server
• StarQuest Software, Inc. with StarSQL Pro to provide access to host databases over TCP/IP networks
• Wall Data with Rumba to provide access to SNA 3270 applications over TCP/IP networks

New Cisco Products and Enhancements

As part of this announcement, Cisco is offering a suite of products and product enhancements that simplify access to mainframe data regardless of the client software including:

• Cisco DataBase Connection, a new Cisco IOS feature that enables access to IBM DB2 databases from end users at TCP/IP workstations
• OC://WebConnect Pro which adds print, copy and file transfer capabilities, providing all the essential functionality of 3270, 5250, VT220 or TN3270 client software from a Web browser (includes Open Vista, a rejuvenation tool)
• OC://WebConnect Pro and Cisco's TN3270 Server enhancements to scalability, security and manageability
• New TN3270 Server capability that leverages the Cisco IOS QoS features by enabling setting of TCP/IP precedence
• Cisco's support of SNA High-Performance Routing (HPR), offering new channel access capabilities that simplify configuration, improve performance for interactive traffic, and facilitate migration from older Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) technologies

With these announcements, Cisco Systems proves its continued commitment to the IBM internetworking world-allowing customers to capitalize on their investment in IBM mainframes and applications while leveraging the Internet.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information areavailable athttp://www.cisco.com.

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