San Jose, California-headquartered Cisco Systems Inc has launched a three-pronged attack on the remote access market with the launch of a single-box access server, two dial-in access software packages, and a new security protocol. The AS5100 Integrated Access Server is said to integrate the Cisco Internetwork Operating System with a bank of modems. It combines a version of the company’s Model 2500 Access Server with the Total Control Enterprise Network Hub from Skokie, Illinois-based US Robotics Inc – the result of an Internetwork Operating System alliance between the two last January – and is said to support 48 dial-up connections, triple the density of Cisco’s stand-alone access servers. According to the company, it is designed to link either individuals or remote local networks to enterprise networks, or serve as a connection for service providers offering dial-up access to the Internet. It will cost from $70,000 for a fully loaded chassis and is available now. The two software packages are third party offerings that provide access to Internet Protocol- and Internet Packet Exchange-based corporate networks: TCP Pro Remote Access Client, from Network TeleSystems Inc of Santa Clara, California; and Remote Office Gold v2.0 from Stampede Technologies Inc of Dayton, Ohio. Both are compatible with any Cisco access server, and operate on laptop or desktop personal computers running Windows, Windows for Workgroups and MS-DOS. According to Kevin Kennedy, product management director of Cisco’s remote access products, the decision to offer two client options is to enable user choice. He suggested that some clients might choose TCP Pro for its integrated Internet Protocol stack, while others might opt for Remote Office Gold because it can be upgraded to remote control capabilities. They are available now but no prices were given. The new security offering is, in fact, an enhanced version of Cisco’s Terminal Access Controller Access Control Protocol, TACACS. TACACS+ is said to add support for independent user authentification, authorisation and accounting, and will be included in the Cisco Internetwork Operating System this quarter.
