Cisco Announces ATM Software Capabilities for Emerging Technologies

Strategic Insights -

Cisco Systems today announced a package of software capabilities for its Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) platforms, enabling them to be used in building larger, easier-to-deploy ATM networks that support emerging technologies such as virtual networking, videoconferencing, and multimedia. The new software features will enhance the Cisco LightStream 100 and LightStream 2020 ATM switches and the Cisco 7000 router's ATM Interface Processor (AIP). Larry Lang, Cisco marketing director for ATM products, stated that the new capabilities enhance the only complete end-to-end ATM solution from any vendor, providing a single source for ATM products starting at the network backbone.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new software capabilities for Cisco's ATM platforms will enable the support of emerging technologies such as virtual networking, videoconferencing, and multimedia.
  • The software will enhance the Cisco LightStream 100 and LightStream 2020 ATM switches and the Cisco 7000 router's ATM Interface Processor (AIP).
  • The new features for the Cisco 7000 AIP card include LAN Emulation (LANE), point-to-multipoint signaling, and support for RFC 1577, which maximizes the operation of IP over ATM.
  • New features for the LightStream 100 modular workgroup/campus ATM switch include point-to-multipoint signaling and Dynamic IISP and ILMI, which enable the switch to automatically set up connection paths and map addresses.
  • The LightStream 2020 enterprise ATM backbone switch will feature high performance multicast service utilizing point-to-multipoint connections, application-specific Quality of Service, T1/E1 circuit emulation, and a frame relay network node interface.
  • An eight-port T3/E3 card is being introduced to boost the 2020's port density and provide increased performance to "line speed" (45 or 34 Mbps).
  • A white paper on Cisco IOS for ATM is available on request.

Statistics:

  • Up to 45 Mbps line speed performance with the eight-port T3/E3 card.
  • Up to 34 Mbps line speed performance with the eight-port T3/E3 card.
  • 1 T1/E1 circuit emulation connection per port on the LightStream 2020.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, "Cisco Systems to Deliver ATM Software Capabilities" (June 19, 1995).
  • Cisco Systems, Inc.
  • Steve Bauer, Cisco Systems, Inc.
  • William Orrange, Ulevich & Orrange, Inc.
  • Janis Ulevich, Ulevich & Orrange, Inc.