Cisco updates its enterprise networking with the Catalyst 6800 backbone switching line, a new supervisor engine for the 4500-E access switch, a high-end ISR branch router and extensions on the ASR 1000 edge router.
All the product additions make part of the Cisco Enterprise Networks Architecture as part of Open Network Environment (ONE), the Cisco answer to software-defined networking (SDN). According to Cisco ONE adds software programmability to ASICs, operating systems, networking functions, and services across the data centre, WAN and LAN.
The Catalyst 6800 series is an update of the 10-year old Catalyst 6500 switch series. Built for campus backbone 10/40/100Gbps services, the switches feature network progammability and are supervisor- and line card-compatible with the 6500, meaning the 6500 series is not ready for retirement just yet.
So far the 6800 features three products-- the 6807-XL modular campus backbone switch (with a 7-slot, 10RU chassis, 880Gbps per slot support and 11.4Tbps of switch capacity), the 6880-X 3-slot, 4.5RU semi-fixed switch (with 16 fixed 10Gbps port supervisor engine and support up to 80 10G ports or 20 40G ports) and the 6800ia "Instant Access" switch (supports automated deployment and provisioning via "one touch" programming").
Meanwhile the Supervisor Engine 8E for the Catalyst 4500-E switch includes the programmable UADP ASIC for wired and wireless convergence.
For large branch applications Cisco offers the ISR 4451-AX router-- with up to 2Gbps forward performance with native Cisco WAAS-based WAN optimisation for what the company claims is a "LAN-like experience at the branch."
And finally the ASR 100-X WAN edge router integrated Application Visibility and Control and AppNav capabilities with virtual WAAS WAN optimisation providing application control and services on WAN links aggregated from branch sites.
The ISR 4451-AX is available now, the ASR 100-AX and 4500-E supervisor engine 8E will be available from July 2013, and the Catalyst 6800 switches should ship on November 2013.