Cisco and Microsoft Help Customers Integrate Windows-Based Networks With Mainframes

Solution Combines Cisco Routers With Microsoft SNA Server

SAN JOSE, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash. - March 30, 1998 - Cisco Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp. today announced a new program to help customers deploy a combination of Cisco and Microsoft® products to achieve high-performance gateway and application integration between Microsoft Windows® operating system-based solutions and IBM-compatible mainframes.

This program responds to enterprise customers who have asked Cisco and Microsoft to help them preserve their existing mainframe investment while taking advantage of applications built on the Windows platform as well as new networking technologies.

To help customers successfully deploy this combination of products, Cisco and Microsoft will execute joint performance and interoperability testing and will make tuning and configuration guidance available to customers. Tested products will include Cisco's mainframe channel-attached router, Cisco 7xxx router family with the Channel Interface Processor (CIP) and the new Channel Port Adapter (CPA), and Microsoft SNA Server. The combination of Cisco's channel-attached routers and Microsoft SNA Server forms a powerful, high-speed solution.

"Westpac's business depends on Cisco's routers and Microsoft SNA Server to carry mission-critical mainframe traffic to our 1,500 branch offices 24 hours a day," said Loran Fite, CIO of Westpac Banking Corp. "We're delighted to see Cisco and Microsoft add mainframe integration to their technology alliance as it gives us an assurance that both vendors are committed to solving our host access issues and needs today and in the future."

"Companies everywhere are migrating their traditional SNA networks to router-based TCP/IP networks," said Selby Wellman, senior vice president and general manager, InterWorks business unit at Cisco. "By combining Microsoft's market-leading SNA Server with Cisco's leading high-performance channel-attached routers, we can provide best-of-breed solutions for our customers' host access requirements."

"Our enterprise customers tell us they continue to need reliable, high-performance access to legacy data and transactions from a rapidly growing number of applications based on Windows NT® Server and the BackOffice® family," said Steve Ballmer, executive vice president of sales and support at Microsoft. "With this announcement, we will enable our customers to combine Cisco and Microsoft products to achieve integration of new and legacy technologies."

Cisco and Microsoft will jointly promote and support the deployment of Cisco's channel-attached routers and Microsoft SNA Server within mainframe data centers. Customers benefit by utilizing Cisco's high-performance channel access to their mainframes in conjunction with Microsoft's terminal, database, file system, transaction, printing and security integration.

Under this program, new areas in which the companies will work together will include these:

• Compatibility testing and verification. Cisco and Microsoft will verify the integrated use of these products.
• Joint support. Cisco and Microsoft will work together to provide support for these combined products.
• Performance optimization. Cisco and Microsoft will work together to optimize the performance of their products and provide customers with performance tuning information.

Cisco and Microsoft have concluded preliminary testing and verification of the interoperation of their respective products. The initial result is a joint white paper that includes

an explanation of the integration of the products and Cisco configuration parameters. The white paper can be found on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/sna/, or on the Cisco Web site at (http://www.cisco.com/).

This announcement is the latest in a series of activities within the Cisco and Microsoft alliance. Cisco and Microsoft have previously announced collaboration in the areas of directory services, multimedia and security.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq "CSCO") is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information about Cisco are available at (http://www.cisco.com/).

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Cisco is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems Inc.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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