Specifications

Chapter 9 IOS® Software and Network Management
9-3
Cisco IOS® Software
Cisco IOS® Software
The family of Cisco IOS Software products (T, S and XR) enables Cisco to meet the
network infrastructure requirements of Large and Small Enterprises, as well as Service
Providers, because each software product is architected to meet the needs of a given
customer type. Customers benefit from shared intellectual property and technologies
between family members and all Cisco IOS products deliver the consistent look and feel.
Key Features
• Availability—Automatically recover from errors; adapt to network infrastructure changes
• Security—Protects network devices allowing them to remain operative, and thereby
controllable, even during an attack
• Manageability—Instrumentation required to manage devices, technologies and network
• Flexibility—Adapts to evolving requirements
• Scalability—Allows networks to expand in size and capability
Security
Cisco IOS network security is integrated into Cisco switches, routers, and wireless access
devices to protect the network and secure information. It delivers a sophisticated set of
security capabilities such as Encrypted IPSEC VPNs , Firewall , Intrusion Detection
Systems , Trust & Identity, 802.1x Wireless LAN Security, some of which may be
hardware-assisted. Cisco IOS security technologies work with Cisco security appliances to
provide the right type of security, where customers need it most.
High Availability
Cisco offers a comprehensive solution to High Availability Networking (HAN) that
minimizes network outages and ensures non-stop access to the most business critical
applications. Cisco HAN takes a network-wide approach, delivering the most cohesive and
collaborative solution to maintain high network availability. Cisco’s software using various
technologies targets potential causes of downtime allowing customers to build networks
with a high Mean Time Between Failure and a low Mean Time To Recovery
Management Instrumentation
Cisco IOS Software provides a rich set of embedded features that enable customers to
efficiently measure and manage network and application bandwidth to set and meet
performance expectations. Whether using Cisco IOS SNMP MIBs with centralized network
management software, purposed appliances, or making changes to configurations with
Cisco IOS CLI, the management instrumentation benefits operators in all areas of the
network. It rapidly incorporates new network services and devices; Reduces downtime with
adaptive fault management; and, enables SPs to manage the performance of differentiated
services, while Enterprises can verify the SLAs they purchase.