Cisco Expands Networking Capabilities

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) announced three enhancements to its Evolved Programmable Network (EPN) portfolio to integrate programmability, virtualization and orchestration capabilities into its core and edge networking portfolio. EPN, which works via open APIs with the company's Evolved Services Platform, is intended as an open, application-centric network infrastructure framework.

The new technologies include Cisco Application Engineered Routing, Cisco IOS XRv 9000 Virtual Router and 100GE line cards for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series.

Application-Engineered Routing is designed to enable applications to communicate directly with the network to build an agile service-creation environment, combining standards-based segment routing with SDN.

The IOS XRv 9000 Virtual Router, to be available in the second quarter of 2015, is designed to provide a low-cost entry point for the IOS XR family. It operates on x86-based hardware for on demand service deployment and is intended to complement existing Cisco Cloud Services Routers (CSR1000v) targeted at the enterprise and managed services markets.

Cisco's 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) line cards for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series, available in both four- and eight-port versions, are designed to support Cisco silicon photonic CPAK technology and enable each 100GE port to be configured as 100GE, 40GE, or 10x10GE based on customer requirements.