SANTA CLARA and SAN JOSE, Calif. -- March 19, 2002 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc.(NASDAQ: SUNW), the leader in systems and solutions that make the Net work, and Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced the Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations for network management applications. Designed to offer the highest levels of service availability, the joint offerings are a combination of Sun and Cisco products and software that have been jointly tested to make it easier for enterprises and service providers to quickly and cost-effectively deploy mission-critical networking capabilities.
Motorola has already chosen to integrate one of the first applications of this joint Sun-Cisco cooperation, a high availability version of the Cisco Access Registrar product built on the SunTM Cluster 3.0 application, into Motorola's Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Server component of its cdma2000 Packet Data Network solution. "There is real value in the cooperative efforts Sun and Cisco are undertaking because it has improved the availability of packet data services across the network," said Bruce Stone, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola's CDMA Systems Division. "The platforms are easy to order and save significant deployment time. We look forward to more offerings with performance benefits from these two industry leaders so we can continue to extend the benefits to our customer base."
The Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations include a set of Sun system configurations from the NetraTM and Sun FireTM product families with Sun Cluster 3.0 software designed to run at top performance the full suite of Cisco network management applications, thus greatly enhancing customers' business-critical operational support system (OSS) infrastructure. In addition to easing the testing and integration burden on customers, the new Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations provide:
--Highest levels of service availability. The Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations have been developed to optimize availability. Joint efforts between Cisco and Sun have resulted in the qualification of Cisco's network management applications with Sun Cluster 3.0 software on specific Sun hardware configurations.
--Easier, faster orderability. Sun has assigned unique, Cisco part numbers for network management bundles tested and certified for specific applications. IT managers no longer need to waste time researching and compiling long lists of part numbers across the two companies. This is the first time that Sun has offered Reference Sale part number bundles in alliance with another company.
"Service providers and network operators are looking for open, scalable platforms from vendors that understand the demanding computing requirements of this market," said Anil Gadre, vice president and general manager, Solaris, Sun Microsystems. "The Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations represent a new business model between the two companies and ultimately help Sun and Cisco to deliver superior customer service to the service provider industry."
"This unique joint offering will enable Cisco and Sun to meet our common goal of making it easier for our customers to deploy a highly available OSS architecture, including network directory and security services," said Anson Chen, vice president and general manager, Intelligent Network Services Management Business Unit, Cisco Systems.
The following applications are available immediately under the Sun-Cisco Optimized Platform Recommendations:
- Cisco Access Registrar (AR) management application, which provides access for emerging mobile wireless IP connectivity.
- Cisco VPN Solution Center (VPNSC), which permits a customer to provision and manage Virtual Private Networks.
- Cisco Network Registrar (CNR) a DNS/DHCP system which provides scalable naming and addressing services for enterprise and service provider networks.
