Cisco Systems Inc has announced new network modules and planned software additions for its Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 mid-range routers. The new offerings include a long-reach ATM OC-3 module, a mixed version of the high-density serial interface, NetFlow accounting and Tag Switching. A new long-reach ATM OC-3 module, the NP-1A-SM-LR, supports distances of up to 40km over high- quality fiber. The existing limit for Cisco’s intermediate-reach ATM OC-3 single mode module was limited 15km. The long-reach ATM OC-3 module starts at $15,000 and will start shipping this month. Existing Cisco 4000 and Cisco 4000-M users will be able to trade in existing Cisco 4000 and Cisco 4000-M routers for Cisco 4500-M or Cisco 4700-M’s under the Cisco Technology Migration Plan. In addition, Cisco says it will have versions of its NetFlow Accounting traffic statistics collecting software as well as its Tag Switching IP-over-ATM backbones software ready for the 4500 and the4700. Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) is a new switching mechanism that is optimized for the changing internet and enterprise network traffic patterns resulting from increasing numbers of shorter-duration flows typically associated with web- based applications and interactive-type sessions. NetFlow Accounting, Tag Switching and Express Forwarding will be available as software upgrades for the Cisco 4500 and Cisco 4700 series routers in the second half of 1998 as part of Cisco IOS Release 12.0.
