Cisco this week announced several new virtual private networking (VPN) products and enhancements, including a VPN-optimized router.
The Cisco 7100 Series router integrates routing with six VPN components: tunneling, data encryption, security, firewall, bandwidth management and service level validation. The router is designed to combine the function of numerous single-purpose devices, Cisco says.
The 7100 also features an optional Integrated Services Module to support up to 2,000 simultaneous VPN tunnel sessions with Triple Data Encryption Standard encrypted throughput at full-duplex DS-3 speeds, Cisco says. Cisco also unveiled similar modules for the 7200/7500 series of routers called the Integrated Services Adapter.
Cisco also developed a proprietary Tunnel Endpoint Discovery (TED) protocol to enhance scalability by enabling tunneled connections to self-configure according to network security policy.
TED eliminates the time-consuming process of defining every point-to-point tunnel on the VPN, Cisco says.
The Cisco 7100 Series encompasses two VPN routers - the Cisco 7120 for T1 to T3 connections and the Cisco 7140 for T3 and above. Starting at approximately $12,000, these VPN routers will be available in July.
But wait, there's more
Cisco also announced other VPN products this week. The Cisco VPN Client software provides Microsoft Windows 95/98 and NT 4.0 users with an implementation of IPSec standards, including support for DES and Triple DES encryption and authentication with digital certificates, one-time password tokens and pre-shared keys.
The Cisco PIX 515 firewall is a dedicated firewall appliance that provides two integrated 10/100 Ethernet ports and two accessory slots, supporting up to 125,000 concurrent connections at wire speed.
Cisco also upgraded its IOS Firewall Feature Set software to include embedded intrusion detection and VPN authentication and authorization.
Cisco says customers with immediate needs for IPSec-based remote-access VPNs should purchase licenses from IRE for its SafeNet/Soft-PK software. IRE is the developer of the Cisco VPN Client software. SafeNet/Soft-PK starts at $79 per client, with volume discounts. In the third quarter, Cisco will make the VPN client software available directly via multiple license levels priced according to the range of Cisco VPN platforms.
The PIX Firewall 515 will be available in June for a base list price of $5,000. Available in early July, the extensions to the Cisco IOS Firewall range from $900 to $5000, depending on the platform. The Integrated Services Module and Integrated Services Adapter will be available in Q399, with pricing announced at that time.
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