San Jose, California-based Cisco Systems Inc has announced the Cisco 7500 line of high-end multiprotocol routers. At the heart of the offerings is a new, distributed multiprocessor architecture. This consists of an integrated Route/Switch Processor, said to boost performance of the routing and switching processing functions by using a high-speed MIPS R-series RISC engine and custom ASICs made by LSI Logic Corp; a new Versatile Interface Processor board, also using an R-series RISC, and the first to provide intelligent multilayer switching and run Cisco’s Internetworking Operating System software, thereby enabling 7500 routers to make local switching decisions based on data received from the Route/Switch Processor; and a high-speed CyBus, which enables the 7500s to provide up to 2.1Gbps of bandwidth – four times the capacity of the Cisco 7000’s single CxBus. The 7500 series comprises three models. The 7505 provides five chassis slots and 1Gbps of bandwidth, with one Route/Switch Processor and one power supply. The 7507 and 7513, with seven and 13 slots respectively, provide over 2Gbps of bandwidth and optionally can be equipped with dual Route/Switch Processors and power supplies. All models accommodate the full range of interface processors supported by the 7000 series, including Ethernet, Token Ring, Fast Ethernet, FDDI, serial, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, channelised E1/T1, and IBM channel-attachment. Base system prices go from $10,900 for the 7505, through $19,900 for the 7507, to $28,900 for the 7513, with software options listing for $4,000 to $8,000. All are available now. In terms of the Versatile Interface Processor, a Fast Ethernet version will list for $12,000, two Fast Ethernets for $16,000, and a four Ethernet/one Fast Ethernet for $17,000. All will be out next quarter. A four-Ethernet/four Serial version will ship in the first quarter of next year for $17,000. Cisco also said the Versatile Interface Processors can be installed in its 7000 and 7010 routers.
