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Cisco Switches and Routers Internet Protocol (IP) routingIn the not too distant past, businesses owned and operated numerous networks of information that delivered multiple services to their customers and employees. For each application delivered, a custom network was built. Voice communications required a telephone network, video broadcasting required a broadcast network, and data networks were constructed to transport computer data. More recently, storage-area networks were created to move information from disk arrays to servers.One network - the Internet, based on the Internet Protocol (IP) - was designed to transport all forms of applications. Individual organisations could now take advantage of IP to build their own unified networks. Operational and capital expenses are greatly reduced, the complexity of operating separate networks is eliminated, the unified network can achieve dramatic scale and robustness, and information that previously only existed on one isolated medium can now be shared across the IP network, making employees more productive and increasing the organisation's return on investment. Switches are at the heart of all computer networks, including unified IP networks. They can be simple devices that connect components to the network, select a path for sending a data unit to its next destination, or, like routers, they can select both the route and the network point for a data unit. Providing capacity and speed, switches are used to connect networks, easily transmitting both low and high bandwidth data. Switches deliver multiple advanced services and applications over a unified network, eliminating the cost of building and maintaining more than one network. |
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Cisco Switches and Routers Internet Protocol (IP) routing - UK and IrelandWe recommend Cisco Catalyst Switches to our customers because of their ability to support future applications and the advantages of single-vendor end-to-end solutions utilizing Cisco routers, firewalls, and switches. Innovation in Internet Protocol (IP) routing is one of Cisco Systems' strongest commitments. As new uses for the Internet are created, the need for a "smart" network becomes even more critical. Cisco technology provides the intelligence on the network and serves as the foundation for delivering services such as voice and video, quality of service, and security. Internet Protocol (IP) routing is the foundation of the Internet and one of the most important technologies of the past 20 years. IP routing technology forwards packets of data to the appropriate networks, creating efficient use of network bandwidth. Innovation in IP routing is one of the strongest technology commitments at Cisco. As new uses for the Internet are created, the need for a "smart" network becomes even more critical. Software, specifically the Cisco IOS Software Family, provides the intelligence on the network and serves as the foundation for delivering services such as voice and video, quality of service, and security. These network services are helping to drive the growth of the Internet through the creation of new applications such as real-time trading, interactive support, on-demand media, multisite communications, and unified messaging. |