Cisco Modules Enhance Routers

The new content engine network modules allow end users to use content caching to reduce WAN costs at small branch locations without having to invest in more expensive dedicated content delivery appliances, said Jeanne Dunn, senior director of technology marketing at Cisco.

Because the new modules provide a quick return on investment, they present an immediate opportunity for solution providers to upgrade customers that already have one of the routers installed, Dunn said. Customers of Cisco's content solutions have seen WAN savings of 40 percent to 80 percent in the first year, she said.

Ken McKinnon, president and CEO of Planetary Networks, a Sunnyvale, Calif., solution provider, agreed. "It's a great opportunity to upgrade customers who were interested in the technology in the past but found the appliance-based solutions cost-prohibitive," McKinnon said. "Anytime you can squeeze more performance out of an existing platform without a heavy investment, customers are very interested."

The content engine modules are the latest in a series of products that integrate additional functions into Cisco's branch routers. Other modules provide switching, firewall, VPN, intrusion-detection and voice functionality. Because the modules are integrated into the router, maintenance is covered under the maintenance contract for the router, Dunn said.

Paul Zucker, vice president of technology at RMS Business Systems, Buffalo Grove, Ill., said integrating functions such as content caching and filtering into the access router makes a lot of sense. "That's extremely helpful," Zucker said. "It makes a lot more sense to have just one box at the remote site. That saves on management and maintenance costs."

Available now, the 20-Gbyte module lists for $3,900, and a 40-Gbyte version lists for $4,500. Pricing for a SCSI version that connects to an external disk array was not available at press time.