Cisco Systems Inc has unveiled its system for the management of multi-layer switched internetworks. It comprises two main elements – a suite of switch management applications, dubbed CiscoWorks for Switched Internetworks, plus new embedded network agents that reside within Cisco’s Internetwork Operating System. The agents are intended to provide topology and traffic management information, enabling CiscoWorks to display the network’s physical and logical layers: Cisco claims the new application is the first to display the physical configuration of the links between switches, and enable network managers to perform graphical drag and drop configuration link functions. Applications offered as part of the suite include CiscoView for graphical device management; VlanDirector, for virtual local network management; TrafficDirector, designed to provide traffic management and options for Asynchronous Transfer Mode and design management tools in the shape of AtmDirector. The agents include the Cisco Discovery Protocol for topology and discovery mapping; traffic management agents, based on RMON or external switch probes; virtual local network communications agents and Simple Network Management Protocol MIB 11 agents. The suite – claimed to run under all major Unix systems – is due to ship in the first quarter of this year at $8,000. CiscoView and VlanDirector are out but no prices were given; TrafficDirector and AtmDirector are due this quarter and next respectively.
