SAN JOSE, Calif. -- July 1, 1999 -- Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced enhanced frame relay and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) capabilities on its award-winning Catalyst. 8500 series multiservice switch router (MSR). These new capabilities help customers integrate frame relay and ATM networks seamlessly over scalable campus, metropolitan area network (MAN) and wide area network (WAN) environments while lowering network cost of ownership.

Demonstrating Cisco's ongoing commitment to extending its ATM and frame relay networking solutions, new features unveiled today include a channelized DS3 interface and a 16-port multi-mode OC3 module.

"Integrating ATM technology into an existing network is a complex process," said Scott Genung, manager of networking systems at Illinois State University. "The Catalyst 8540 is a great match for our requirements in this transition, which includes a high density, scalable solution that extends our existing network infrastructure investment. Above and beyond the product's attributes, an essential component to the success of this effort has been the extensive resources and support services Cisco has committed to ATM technology and the Catalyst 8500 product," noted Genung.

Mauro Fernandez Dabouza, manager of systems and communication services at the Hospital Xeral de Santiago in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, noted, "The Catalyst 8540 MSR provides us with a single-platform solution for simple, cost-effective integration of our frame relay and ATM networks. These features, combined with advanced quality of service and security capabilities, made the Catalyst 8540 the clear choice for our network."

Channelized DS3 Port Adapter Module

Now available on the Lightstream 1010 and Catalyst 8500 platforms, the new single-port channelized DS3 port adapter module supports channelized frame relay services with 28 individual T1-equivalent circuits multiplexed together in a single, low-cost physical interface. For seamless operation between frame relay and ATM networks, Frame Relay Forum FRF5 and FRF8 specifications for Network Internetworking and Service Internetworking are also supported. In addition, Cisco now offers an equivalent channelized four-port E1 module for European applications.

Facilitating internetworking between a frame relay network, an ATM network and network users, these new port adapter modules allow service providers to more economically offer frame relay services while maintaining the efficiencies and higher bandwidth of their ATM core infrastructure. Enterprise users also benefit from the economical and higher speed DS3 interface, which eliminates the need for costly T1 line subscriptions. Because the modules operate at the individual DS0 level, both service provider and enterprise users have the option to combine the DS0 channels into higher capacity serial streams for better efficiency and improved cost of ownership.

Catalyst 8540 16-Port OC3 Multi-Mode Fiber Module

Providing a cost-effective solution for interconnecting ATM switching fabrics and network elements to the Catalyst 8540 platform, the 16-port OC3 multi-mode fiber module delivers four times the density per chassis than its Lightstream 1010 equivalent. Featuring ATM Forum-compliant, industry-standard UNI interfaces, the module can be used for intercampus applications, backbone trunking and high-speed, high-performance desktop connectivity. In addition, network designers can apply the quality of service (QoS) benefits of ATM technology to the wiring closet and high-performance centers such as server farms deployed in Internet, intranet and campus backbone applications.

Extensive Network Integration on a Single Platform

Announced March 1999, the Catalyst 8500 MSR Series also supports Cisco's VSC2700, industry's first call control solution. Using simple gateway control protocol (SGCP) to support packet telephony traffic and establish voice connections across the data network, the VSC2700/Catalyst 8500 solution integrates voice and data services onto a single ATM infrastructure that allows calls to pass directly between various sites over the meshed data infrastructure.

"The Cisco IOS.-managed Catalyst 8500 Series is enjoying widespread market acceptance as customers take full advantage of its unique capabilities to manage the convergence of Layer 3 and ATM technologies," said Carl Engineer, Cisco director of marketing for the Catalyst 8500 platform. "Continuing enhancements for the 8500 will extend Layer 3/ATM convergence, permitting further integration of voice and data services."

The Catalyst 8500 Series of Multiservice Switch Routers integrate multiservice ATM switching with wire-speed multi-protocol routing and layer 2 switching for gigabit ethernet in a single platform. Also supporting advanced Cisco IOS services for QoS and security, the Catalyst 8500 family combines best-of-breed capabilities for routing, gigabit ethernet switching and ATM switching into a single platform - simplifying technology migration while eliminating technology choice dilemmas faced by network managers.

Cisco Systems

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