Cisco Enters Desktop Software Market With Fully Integrated Suite of Remote Access Client Software; Low-Cost CiscoRemote Software First to Incorporate Remote Node Accelerator, Enables Up to Six-Fold Increase in Remote Computing Performance

Business Wire, Nov 20, 1995

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 1995--Cisco Systems, Inc., the leading global supplier of internetworking solutions, today announced its entry into the desktop software market with CiscoRemote, a comprehensive, high-value suite of remote access client software.

This easy-to-use, fully integrated application suite extends corporations by providing desktop and laptop PC users with low-cost, high-speed remote access to enterprise networks and the Internet using a single Cisco software product.

CiscoRemote is the first software product on the market to incorporate AirSoft, Inc.'s Powerburst remote node accelerator, advanced software that increases remote computing performance by up to six times over competing access client software products.

Ideal for telecommuters and mobile users, CiscoRemote provides enterprise users an end-to-end solution for remote computing at a fraction of the cost of individual components.

In addition, CiscoRemote's built-in Powerburst remote node accelerator lowers the connection costs required for dial-up access, enabling companies to reduce recurring costs when providing employees with remote access.

"The introduction of CiscoRemote complements our other dial-up products and provides users with a single-source, standards-based solution for remote access," said Dale Jantzen, senior product line manager for Cisco Access Servers in the company's Access Business Unit (ABU).

"This makes Cisco the only vendor that can offer complete end-to-end solutions in both of the primary dial-up technologies -- ISDN for telecommuters and small offices and modem dial-up for mobile users and casual telecommuters."

"Until CiscoRemote became available, I had to evaluate, integrate, support, purchase, and perform compatibility testing of a variety of remote computing applications," said Ken Hurst, vice president at Valley Communications, a systems integrator in North Highlands, Calif.

"Now, I can reduce my variables to one source for the `best-in-class' applications and know it will work. Standardizing on CiscoRemote for our mobile workforce has saved us hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars."

Complete Functionality in a Single Package

CiscoRemote eliminates the problems associated with incompatibilities among different remote computing applications. In a single package, users have access software for the Internet (TCP/IP), such as a browser, electronic mail, file transfer, and terminal emulation, plus remote node and remote control.

CiscoRemote is the only multiprotocol (IP and IPX), remote access client software on the market to include the fully integrated, high-performance virtual device driver (VxD) TCP/IP stack from Network TeleSystems, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. at no extra charge. VxD requires 0k of DOS memory.

It also allows users to connect at speeds of up to 115.2 kbps. This fully integrated approach also offers additional benefits: -0-

-- Guaranteed compatibility between Cisco Access Servers and

the client, allowing maximum performance tuning

-- Automatic installation of the VxD driver and remote access

client using Cisco's single-step installation procedure

-- Reduced support costs by decreasing variables to one complete

product -0-

CiscoRemote extends the benefits of the Cisco Internetwork Operating Systems (IOS), the networking software and services that form the foundation of all Cisco solutions, and provides a complete remote access solution on its own or with Cisco's Access Server product line.

For instance, users can link their PCs over basic dial-up phone lines to other computing resources within an enterprise network or to the Internet, where they can browse the World Wide Web, transfer files, log on to remote hosts, and access Internet newsgroups. Users can also easily link their PCs to bulletin boards or other PCs.

Flexible, High-Speed Enterprise Connectivity

CiscoRemote includes AirSoft's Powerburst remote node accelerator for improved performance over any type of wide-area link.

Powerburst employs a suite of high performance, patent-pending algorithms to reduce unnecessary network traffic across a slow WAN link. As a result, CiscoRemote performance increases by two to six times. This dramatic speed improvement is an industry first for dial-up links.

In addition, Cisco has incorporated Farallon Computing's Timbuktu Pro remote control application into CiscoRemote for peer-to-peer communication. Timbuktu Pro allows users to remotely control another PC and also provides drag and drop file transfer and chat capabilities.

Productivity is enhanced by allowing users to work together, in real time, from any location. Timbuktu Pro is especially useful for network administrators who need to support users, including troubleshooting, software updates, screen sharing and just-in-time training.

CiscoRemote includes the Network TeleSystem's protocol software for dial-up access to the corporate network or an Internet service provider. The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) and Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) are bundled into a single, high-performance VxD driver. PPP and SLIP are fully integrated with the TCP/IP VxD protocol stack.