Cisco stacks the switch deck
Cisco unveils a new stackable switch to integrate remote branch offices into high-speed virtual local area networks and provide the building blocks for robust Net connectivity.
The Catalyst 3200 extends the capabilities of enterprise switches to remote sites and combines LAN switching with integrated wide area network capabilities, giving branch offices Internet connectivity and easy access to centrally located corporate resources, the company said.
The Catalyst 3200 combines LAN switching with built-in WAN capabilities and supports Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, 100VG-AnyLAN, and ATM switching to give remote users the speed they need for Web-based intranets.
Cisco says that the new product is a chassis-based stackable switch with seven slots available for any combination of switching modules. IS managers can plug the new WAN module into a "flex-slot" to support high-speed serial as well as ISDN WAN connections. The slot is designed to support new technologies such as Layer 3 switching.
Catalyst 3200 also includes remote monitoring capabilities to give managers information on statistics, events, history, and alarms.
The new switch will support all modules in the Catalyst 3000 series of products, Cisco says. Up to eight switches can be stacked and interconnected to form a system that provides up to 3.84 GB/sec and can be managed as a single device.
The Catalyst 3200 LAN switch chassis will be available in October for $4,995 and the WAN module will be available in November for $1,695.
Related Stories:
Cisco plays traffic cop
Cisco eases access to private networks