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Cisco Introduces Virtual LAN Solution for Unprecedented Network Flexibility

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Cisco Systems, a leader in networking, introduced a virtual LAN (VLAN) solution that will allow users to design, modify, and configure their networks with unprecedented flexibility. This solution, which will be available across Cisco's router, switch, and ATM product lines, is a major step forward in network management and will give users the ability to contain traffic, increase security, and minimize costs associated with moves, adds, and changes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Cisco VLAN solution will consist of three key elements: a family of switching platforms that support embedded VLAN capabilities, support for VLAN communication standards, and a series of switched network management applications.
  • Cisco will introduce a complete family of switching platforms that support embedded VLAN capabilities on the new Catalyst 5000 and Kalpana ProStack switching systems in June and on Cisco routers this summer.
  • The company will support the development of VLAN communication standards, including the IEEE 802.10 standards for transporting VLANs across common shared-media LAN technologies such as FDDI and ATM Forum-defined LAN Emulation.
  • Cisco will introduce VLAN View, a graphically-based VLAN configuration and management tool, in July for $2,995 as a stand-alone application or integrated with the CiscoWorks application suite for $10,000.
  • The Cisco Catalyst 5000 switching system will deliver enterprise-wide VLAN communications by handling up to 1,024 switched virtual LANs without any switching performance degradation.
  • The solution will use three high-speed backbone technologies: 100Base-T Fast Ethernet, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) to interconnect VLANs between switches and routers.

Statistics:

  • Cisco will support up to 1,024 switched virtual LANs without any switching performance degradation on the Cisco Catalyst 5000 switching system.
  • The Catalyst 5000 switching system and Kalpana ProStack switching systems will support embedded VLAN capabilities in June.
  • The VLAN View application will be available in July for $2,995 as a stand-alone application or integrated with the CiscoWorks application suite for $10,000.

Sources:

  • EDGE: WORK-GROUP COMPUTING REPORT, Cisco Systems, April 3, 1995.
  • EDGE: WORK-GROUP COMPUTING REPORT, Cisco Systems, accompanying releases (no date specified in the original text).

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