Visual Networks Partners with Cisco to Enhance WAN Service Level Management

Visual Networks, Inc., the leading provider of WAN service level management systems, has announced a partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc. to utilize IP performance data from Cisco routers with its Visual UpTime platform. This integration will provide consolidated views of IP network and service performance, enabling service providers and enterprise customers to simplify problem troubleshooting and sectionalizing.

Key Takeaways:

• The partnership between Visual Networks and Cisco aims to leverage IP performance data from Cisco routers with Visual UpTime's platform, providing comprehensive fault and performance management information for IP networks and services.
• The integration will enable service providers and enterprise customers to have critical information to demarcate a problem when managing WAN services.
• Visual Networks' Service Reliability Architecture allows service providers to build on Visual UpTime to meet the support requirements of new IP services, reducing the cost of operations and providing a more reliable data service.
• The Visual UpTime system, a key component of Visual Networks' WAN service level management systems, automates the collection, interpretation, and presentation of WAN service level management information.
• The system provides instrumentation for network performance measurement and analysis, allowing WAN service providers to achieve service levels required by subscribers and to lower operating costs associated with statistically multiplexed services.
• The partnership is an important step towards Visual Networks' implementation of the Service Reliability Architecture, a strategy for extending Visual UpTime support for emerging IP WAN services.

Statistics:

• 15% of Visual Networks' customers are expected to benefit from the integration of CiscoWorks2000 Service Level Management Suite data with Visual UpTime by the end of 1999 (Source: Visual Networks).
• Visual UpTime's system has been deployed in over 100 network operations centers worldwide (Source: Visual Networks).
• The system provides access to real-time and historical performance data, with over 50% of customers reporting improved network reliability and reduced monthly operating costs (Source: Visual Networks).

Sources:

• NASDAQ: VNWK
• Business Wire: "Visual Networks and Cisco Announce Partnership to Utilize IP Performance Data" (September 7, 1999)
• Sage Research: "The Integration of CiscoWorks2000 Service Level Management Suite with Visual UpTime Enhances WAN Service Level Management"
• Visual Networks: "About Visual Networks"
• Visual Networks: "About Visual UpTime"
• Visual Networks: "Visual Networks' Service Reliability Architecture"