Well Mr. FA, now that LSI is doing the 7 ASICs for the Cisco GSR
(http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/733/12000/literature.shtml)
12000 Router to be shipped in March, this might be a good time for
a run-down on the current state of CSCO and networking:
Industry Briefing - Networking
March - 1998
REINING IN THE CISCO MONOPOLY - Yes, Cisco still leads the market
in a variety of data networking technologies, most notably LAN
routers and hubs. But the rise of the Internet, the growth of the
WAN market, and the accompanying convergence of data, telecommun-
ications, and video networking all present opportunities for
Cisco's challengers. This convergence will pit Cisco against
even-bigger Lucent and Nortel, and startups unencumbered by legacy
architecture are already developing chips, software, and equipment
for the new infrastructure that could eat into Cisco's potential
market share. Though Cisco clearly continues to grow--CEO
John Chambers predicts that sales will triple by 2000--the market
is growing even faster.
redherring.com
While interesting, I found the above story a bit sketchy but
comprehensive even when combined with its URLs to other stories
in this issue:
VC WHISPERS - Venture capitalists are backing Cisco's potential
rivals.
A NETWORKING ROAD MAP - The Herring's guide to the major
technologies.
3COM-ING TO YOUR HOME - How Eric Benhamou plans to usher 3Com into
the mainstream.
CHIPPING AWAY AT THE OLD BLOCK - As more networking technology is
integrated into silicon, what will become of Cisco's monopoly?
CONTROL FREAKS - Control networks are turning office buildings,
factories, and even homes into smart operations.
PHOTONIC SYNTHESIS - Juniper Networks is racing to develop the
optoelectronic technology that will drive the new, universal
network. Everyone but Cisco is backing it.
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE - Whistle Communications thinks its
easy-to-use Internet-access box is in tune with small businesses'
needs.
STREET TALK - Analysts have many questions about Cabletron, but
few answers. (http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue52/talk.html)
And, last year's look:
ROUTING THE COMPETITION (March 1997)- Cisco Systems has used
aggressive acquisitions and attention to its customers to join
Microsoft and Intel as the industry's third major monopoly.
o~~~ O |
