http://www.hp.com/pressrel/20feb96g.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
Palo Alto, California. February 20, 1996
Hewlett-Packard Company and Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced their commitment to a significant marketing and technical relationship. The relationship expands an existing agreement between the two companies to ensure full internetworking compatibility and interoperability for a wider range of customers and channels. It complements the long-standing relationship between the two companies, wherein HP provides authorized maintenance to Cisco products worldwide and acts as a Cisco value-added reseller.
HP and Cisco together provide a complete end-to-end networking solution for customers. The strengths of the two companies span the internetworking requirements from small to central offices, providing them with the necessary products from routers, switches, hubs, LAN adapters and network management.
HP and Cisco say they will develop an integrated router module that HP will market for its AdvanceStack hubs. Plugging directly into the HP AdvanceStack expansion slot, the router module will run Cisco's Internetwork Operating System (Cisco IOS) software and provide customers with a fully interoperable, integrated routing-hub solution ideal for branch-office applications. The integrated router module should be available from HP by the fall. Cisco IOS software, which has become the industry standard for value-added internetworking software and services, enables application data to transmit smoothly through devices across the network.
"With Cisco IOS software and 100VG as the unifying elements, Cisco and HP will provide customers with improved flexibility and interoperability when building workgroups and enterprise-backbone networks," said Peter Clarke, director of business development at Cisco Systems.
The relationship also calls for Cisco to develop 100VG-AnyLAN interfaces for some of its routing platforms during 1996-97. Cisco plans to roll out 100VG interfaces for the high end of its product line in mid-1996, initially introducing modular interfaces for its Cisco 7500 series of routers. The new interfaces will enable HP 100VG workgroups to easily connect to Cisco backbones, giving customers superior performance and advanced functionality for multimedia and other high-speed applications. In the future, Cisco plans to migrate these interfaces onto lower price/performance platforms.
"Cisco and HP are committed to supporting industry standards and delivering solutions to our customers. By responding to customer requests for 100VG technology standards, we are taking a leadership role in providing our customers with total networking solutions," said Gary McAnally, general manager of HP's Roseville (Calif.) Networks Division.
In addition, both companies will incorporate a full cross-reference marketing program, including joint sales calls, technical support, network design assistance and product demonstrations. Under the program, Cisco will promote HP's stackable, shared-media hubs as fully tested, complementary products to its customers, while HP will reference Cisco as its preferred router vendor.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the leading global supplier of internetworking solutions, including routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access servers and network management software. These products, integrated by the Cisco IOS software, link geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM networks. Cisco Systems news and product/service information are available at World Wide Web site http://www.cisco.com. Cisco Systems is headquartered in San Jose, Calif.
HP's Roseville (Calif.) Networks Division and HP's Network Server Division deliver a complete line of network workgroup solutions. The Network Server Division makes the NetServer line of file servers and is one of the fastest-growing file-server suppliers. Roseville Networks Division is a leading supplier of stackable hubs, print servers and high-speed network products. Its products include AdvanceStack 10Base-T and 100VG hubs, AdvanceStack 10/100 switches, AdvanceStack routers and remote-access products, OpenView network-management applications, JetDirect print servers, 10Base-T and 10/100VG LAN Adapters and the NetBeamIR infrared LAN access point.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 102,300 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.
Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
Information in this release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in non-U.S. markets.
