MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. and SAN JOSE, Calif. -- August 17, 1998 -- Centron DPL Co., a leading value-added reseller and network services provider, and Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced that the two companies have signed a Global Systems Integrator Agreement. Under this agreement, Centron will be reselling and supporting Cisco technology for integrating legacy mainframe computers with Internet Protocol (IP) networks. The market that Centron is pursuing begins in the mainframe environment with channel connectivity and encompasses the router and switching network infrastructure. Fortune 1000 companies will benefit from this agreement that couples Centron's mainframe-to-desktop expertise with Cisco's leading technology.
"By adding Cisco to our stable of business partners, we can offer an even broader portfolio of networking products and services to our customers," said Bill Franta, Centron's vice president of marketing.
Some of the most widely accepted solutions for integrating IP and SNA networks include Cisco routers with the Channel Interface Processor (CIP), TN3270 Server and Data Link Switching (DLSw). The CIP provides a high- performance connection to IBM or IBM-compatible mainframes, eliminating the need to manage multiple dedicated mainframe channel controllers. Cisco's TN3270 Server, a scalable, standards-based application available on the CIP, allows TN3270 clients access to IBM mainframes while offloading 100 percent of the TCP/IP and TN3270 cycles from the mainframe. Cisco's DLSw is a method for encapsulating SNA traffic for transport over an IP backbone.
"Together, Cisco and Centron can help customers migrate their legacy mainframes to create a distinct business advantage," said Selby Wellman, senior vice president of Cisco's InterWorks Business Unit. "Given Centron's expertise in SNA-to-IP integration, companies can lower network costs and make information more easily accessible to employees, customers and suppliers."
Mainframe-based data and applications remain a critical part of business operations. With more than 60 percent of business data stored on some 30,000 mainframe computers worldwide, enterprises need to leverage their investments in legacy systems. Enterprises are seeking to replace or augment traditional technology used to access and transport mainframe-based data with router and Internet Protocol (IP)-based solutions that use a standard Web interface. According to a recent IDC study, Cisco equipment is being used in 80 percent of the SNA-to-IP integration solutions worldwide.
About Centron
Centron, a wholly owned subsidiary of GATX Capital Corporation, is a value-added reseller and network services provider. The company meets its customers' business needs by building and supporting large, complex networks worldwide. Centron is a licensed reseller for Cisco, IBM, 3Com, Bay Networks, and CNT.GATX Capital is a diversified international financial services company which provides asset-based financing for transportation, industrial and information technology equipment. GATX Capital is a subsidiary of GATX Corporation (NYSE: GMT), which provides approximately $6 billion of service-enhanced assets primarily used to help its customers transport, store or distribute their products and information.
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. athttp://www.cisco.com.Cisco, Cisco Systems and 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.
