Systems/Enterprise:
CISCO PUSHING ENTERPRISES DRIVE &
GRID MANAGEMENT
Cisco Systems Inc extended the capabilities of an Enterprise Content
Delivery
Network (ECDN) with its Cisco Application and Content Networking System
(ACNS). New Cisco ACNS Software, Version 5.0, and new hardware appliances and
router-integrated modules bring significant performance, manageability and
scalability enhancements to application and content delivery.
Cisco also announced the availability of a new best-practices guide and
"quick
start" video solution to help customers deploy and implement content delivery
solutions such as video for training and communications.
As the Cisco next-generation ECDN solution, the Cisco ACNS provides
customers
with highly scalable, flexible options to extend mission-critical business
applications, Web content, Web-based portals and video to branch users to
maximize security, employee productivity and network efficiency.
Enterprise customers across many industries are benefiting from Cisco ACNS,
including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Sprint, and Curtin
University of Technology.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which administers benefits and
other
services to veterans, their dependents and associated beneficiaries, wanted to
increase customer focus, improve corporate communications and employee
training through a technology-based education system. "We needed a solution
that could enable us to cost-effectively deliver 40 hours of training annually
to each of our more than 180,000 employees around the country," said Craig
Davis, Information Technology coordinator, Employee Education Systems, U.S.
Department of Veteran Affairs.
"We found that our satellite network could effectively deliver live
broadcasts
and media rich content to our medical centers across the country, but we also
needed a solution that could optimize our infrastructure to manage the bulk of
content delivery at our various sites. Cisco ACNS allowed us to scale to
deliver content from Web servers anywhere in the country. We can deliver
content to 180,000 desktops across hundreds of locations. With other features
like content and application acceleration, content filtering, virus scanning,
and file or software distribution, we can also enhance content security,
optimize WAN usage and improve overall network performance."
New Cisco ACNS Software And Hardware
With simple additions to their existing IP networks, customers can use the
Cisco ACNS to generate near-term ROI through reduced WAN usage, improved
application performance and online delivery of video-enabled training and
business communications. Cisco ACNS also helps customers extend their network
capabilities to support emerging and future applications.
The new Cisco ACNS Software 5.0 gives customers greater scalability,
security
and manageability to simplify deployment and operations. In addition, the
software provides the functional foundation of an enterprise-class system that
can optimize business applications, such as enterprise resource planning,
customer relationship management and video-based training and communications,
which drive productivity.
There are also four new appliance-based content delivery devices for Cisco
ACNS:
- Cisco 510 Content Engine
- Cisco 565 Content Engine for branch-office locations, and the
- Cisco 7305 Content Engine
- Cisco 7325 Content Engine for large-branch or data-center deployments. The
new platforms, which all support
Cisco ACNS Software 5.0, offer a significant increase in price-performance
ratio, memory and storage so organizations can take advantage of multiple
application and content services on a single device. Cisco ACNS Software 5.0
also runs on the new Cisco Content Engine Network Module that is integrated
with the 2600, 3600 and 3700 branch routers and all previous Cisco Content
Engine platforms.
With Cisco ACNS, customers have:
- Scalable, Manageable Services:
Cisco ACNS delivers critical new services to improve branch and remote
employee productivity and reduce costs. With intelligent, automated and
resilient content acquisition, distribution and management, Cisco ACNS scales
to thousands of origin servers and edge delivery devices. The system's
integrated multicast replication further boosts scalability of business video
applications. Finally, for central management of all Cisco ACNS services, a
new, roles-based Web graphical interface enables secure management and
publishing across multiple user communities.
- Comprehensive Security That Protects Productivity:
With integrated virus and worm blocking, plus content filtering, Cisco ACNS
delivers strong security for branch offices by conserving and controlling WAN
bandwidth use for sanctioned business information.
Additional Cisco ACNS security features include:
- authentication
- authorization
- access control services to protect mission-critical applications and
information from unauthorized use
- Improved Network, Application And Device Integration:
Cisco ACNS also provides enhanced integration with customers' existing
networks and applications. Router-integrated network modules and
interoperability with both direct-attached and switched storage area networks
augment customers' existing infrastructure investments.
Flexible, integrated multi-protocol support for MPEG, Microsoft Windows Media
Technologies and RealNetworks streaming servers provides simplified
deployment. Set-top box integration provides cost-effective video delivery to
classrooms and retail kiosks.
Ready-To-Use Deployment Solutions
In addition to new software and hardware, Cisco also introduced new
deployment
programs to help customers quickly implement video applications to maximize
productivity, reduce costs, and ensure network readiness for advanced
video-based applications such as e-learning and Web-enhanced point of
sale.
The first available offering, Cisco Video on Demand solution, provides a
prescribed solution that includes recommended video and audio capture studio
components, integrated Web portal, and content authoring and management
application, as well as detailed operational and deployment guides. Designed
for enterprise customers, it is a cost effective vehicle for rapid
implementation and management.
"In today's business climate, enterprises are investing in new technologies
with clear, near-term ROI. These technologies allow enterprises to deliver
strategic business applications to branch and remote employees to elevate
enterprise-wide productivity and profitability," said Zeus Kerravala, vice
president of Enterprise Infrastructure at The Yankee Group.
"Cisco recognized this trend and has delivered an innovative system that
expands the parameters of the traditional ECDN. Cisco's end-to-end product
offering, ecosystem of partners and deployment programs and guides give
customers the tools to cost-effectively optimize existing IP networks to
better handle applications that impact the branch."
Pricing, Projected Availability And Additional Information
Cisco ACNS Software 5.0 Is Available Immediately For New Cisco Content
Engines
At The Following Prices:
- Cisco 510 Content Engine: $5,500
- Cisco 565 Content Engine: $11,000
- Cisco 7305 Content Engine: $25,000
- Cisco 7325 Content Engine: $60,000
Cisco ACNS Software 5.0 is scheduled to be available for the Cisco
2600/3600/3700 Series Content Engine Network Module beginning in April
2003.
The Cisco Video on Demand solution is scheduled to be available in April
2003
from Cisco content networking partners.
http://www.cisco.com/go/content
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems Inc is a worldwide leader in networking for the Internet.
|
