Following the recent introduction of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode board for its mid-range 4500 router (CI No 2,646), San Jose, California-based Cisco Systems Inc has introduced two ISDN Primary Rate Interface modules for its 4000 and 4500 family of three-slot routers. One of the boards, designed for use in North and South America and Japan, supports up to 23 64Kbps ISDN B channels for data transmission, said the company, while the other, intended for the European and Australian markets, supports up to 30 64Kbps ISDN B channels. Channellised T1 and E1 services, where available, are also supported by the boards, said Cisco. The two Primary Rate Interface boards installed in a Cisco 4500, in conjunction with its remote-site 1003 or 2500 ISDN routers, can support up to 60 local area networks or individual remote users dialling in simultaneously to a major site. Cisco said that, combined with its Lan2Lan Personal Office for ISDN – or other Point-to-Point Protocol-based offerings, the 4000 series with ISDN Primary Rate Interface boards can now also function as ISDN remote-node servers, enabling up to 60 home or small-office personal computer or workstation users to access corporate resources. To provide secure communications in such environments, support for the TACACS+, Terminal Access Controller Access Control Protocol security mechanism will be introduced sometime later this year. The boards are shipping now, at $5,500.
