SAN JOSE, Calif. -- June 1, 1998 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today introduced three new Wide Area Network (WAN) edge products designed to deliver the next generation of carrier-class, IP-based services by seamlessly integrating IP and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technologies through Tag Switching, the first implementation of the emerging Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) standard.
The new switches, the Cisco BPX. 8650 IP+ATM switch; the Cisco MGX 8800 wide area switch; and the Cisco BPX 8680 universal service node, feature Cisco IOS. software and support for IP+ATM service management tools to enable seamless interoperability.
Service providers' edge platforms are critical to service delivery and differentiation because the edge is where those platforms directly interface with their customers' networking environment. Cisco's WAN edge solutions enable service providers to deploy the industry's widest range of value-added services and provide solutions that scale with low-cost entry points for small sites up to unprecedented port density and scalability for the very largest sites.
Cisco is now shipping the BPX 8650 IP+ATM switch, a product that incorporates MPLS for dynamic IP switching over the ATM fabric. Using Cisco's upgrade package, service providers can upgrade their existing installed base of BPX 8600 series switches to incorporate MPLS for IP+ATM capabilities.
Cisco designed the MGX 8800 wide area switch to meet the needs of small to large points of presence (PoPs) or central offices (COs), where service providers need to scale to 1,400 DS1 interfaces. For very large sites that need to handle up to 16,000 DS1 interfaces, Cisco designed the BPX 8680 universal service node.
The Cisco MGX 8800 wide area switch represents the next generation in high-capacity edge switches. Featuring the industry's widest breadth of service interfaces, the MGX 8800 wide area switch enables service providers to deliver a complete portfolio of differentiated service offerings. The MGX 8800 platform provides the lowest-cost edge infrastructure for volume services such as Frame Relay by reducing the entry cost and surpassing the port densities of competitive switches.
The MGX 8800's universal chassis raises the bar for high-capacity edge switches, scaling from DS0 to OC-48c/STM-16 speeds with 45 Gbps switching throughput. The flexible form factor easily accommodates a mix of high-density narrowband and broadband interfaces, enabling network engineers to collapse multi-box solutions onto a single platform. The switch design of the MGX 8800 represents a lower entry cost for carrier-class edge switches, thus allowing service providers to cost-effectively deploy the product on customer premises for carrier-managed services.
The MGX 8800 wide-area switch gives service providers the ability to offer their customers a tremendous breadth of WAN services, including Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), voice-over-IP, Frame Relay, extranets, intranets, managed-voice-and-data services, SNA outsourcing and provisioned Data/Voice/Video.
"Service providers are looking for solutions they can deploy now and still prepare themselves for the high-demand services of the future," said Rob Keil, group product manager in Cisco's WAN Business Unit. "The MGX 8800 wide-area switch delivers this capability in a flexible and scalable package that futureproofs the edge of the WAN network."
The BPX 8680 universal service node leverages MGX technology to bring the latest Cisco IOS software functionality to large, centralized POPs. Through a multishelf architecture, the BPX 8680 universal service node provides unprecedented port scalability in single node that delivers services for sites up to 16,000 DS1 ports.
The BPX 8650 IP+ATM switch is now available and lists for $80,000. The MPLS upgrade bundle for the BPX 8600 series switch is priced at $30,000. The MGX 8800 wide area switch starts at $23,000 and the BPX 8680 universal service node starts at $100,000. Both platforms will be available by the end of the year.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is theworldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information areavailable athttp://www.cisco.com.For more information visit Cisco PR Contacts
MGX is a trademark and BPX, Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
