Cisco IOS Introduction

IOS Definition

Cisco's Internet Operating System IOS) is a complex operating system optimized for the Internet-like a local operating system NOS), such as Novell's NetWare, Which is optimized for LANs. IOS provides unified rules for maintaining an interconnected network economically and effectively for a long time. In short, it is a software architecture separated from hardware. With the continuous development of network technology, it can be dynamically upgraded to adapt to the changing technical hardware and software ). IOS can be regarded as an Internet hub: a highly intelligent administrator responsible for managing and controlling complex distributed network resources.

IOS adequacy

IOS is the initial brand name of Cisco routing software. With the development of Cisco technology, IOS has continued to expand and become a series of closely connected Internet interconnection software products referred to by Cisco Central ENgineering Department ". Although IOS may still be equivalent to routing software in its brand name recognition, its continuous development has transitioned to support LAN and ATM switches, it also provides important proxy functions for network management applications. It must be emphasized that IOS is a Cisco-developed technology: An enterprise asset. It provides the company with a unique competitive advantage in the market. At present, many competitors permit IOS to run in its hub and Middle-end modules. IOS has become the de facto industrial standard for Internet interconnection software.

Advantages of Cisco IOS

Flexibility
Cisco product-based engineering development gives users the flexibility to adapt to changes. The IOS software provides an extensible platform, and Cisco will integrate new features as demand and technology develop. Cisco can bring new products to the market faster, and our customers can enjoy this advantage.

Scalability
IOS is available in the Internet market. A wide range of Cisco partners and competitors support IOS on their products. The IOS software architecture also allows it to integrate all parts of an enterprise's interconnected network. Cisco has defined four:

Core/hub: network hub and WAN services, including large backbone network routers and ATM switches.
Working Group: porting shared LAN to LAN switching VLANs) provides better network segmentation and performance .)
Remote Access: remote LAN connection solution, edge router, modem, etc.
IBM Internet interconnection: SNA and LAN are integrated in parallel, from SNA to IP.
Cisco IOS extends all these areas and provides robust support for end-to-end Internet interconnection.

Operability
IOS provides the widest range of standard-based physical and logical protocol interfaces-more than any other vendors in the industry: From twisted pair wires to optical fiber cables, from LAN to campus networks to Wan, Novell NetWare, UNIX, SNA and many other interfaces. That is to say, a network built around IOS will support a wide range of applications. Cisco has also been an industry standard pioneer and an active member and supporter of many well-known industry standard organizations, such as IETF and ATM forums.

Manageability
IOS allows Cisco to implant embedded intelligence into network devices: management interfaces, such as the IOS diagnostic interface and agent software for smart network applications, allowing for face-to-face and wide range of network device faults. As Cisco switches to intelligent proxy and policy-based automated management for large-scale deployment, IOS will be a key technical component.

Investment Protection and cost reduction over time)
IOS provides customers with investment protection for information infrastructure. Many features supported by IOS today are required by most customers in the future. As a company grows and expands to a new territory, with the complexity of basic institutions brought about by mergers and acquisitions and the emergence of protocol conversion or new traffic models, the architecture provided by IOS enables organizations to flexibly apply changes and economically and effectively scale to meet new needs. IOS allows our customers to quickly adapt to the new model and maintain their information infrastructure investment for a longer period of time. The result is investment protection over time and cost of ownership reduction.

Solid-state architecture

IOS Solid State Architecture

IOS design goals

IOS is designed around the following goals:

Modularity: IOS provides support for a large number of protocols and protocol families, runs on multiple platforms, and adheres to the design standard hardware isolation independent of hardware ).
Fastest speed: IOS enables Cisco to provide the fastest platform for network protocols.
Network Interconnection: IOS supports the requirements of routing, bridging, and switching technologies.
High-performance platform: IOS is supported by multiple CPU architecture MIPS Rxxxx and Motorola 680xx.
Distributed: IOS provides the foundation for distributed architecture deployment.
Environment: IOS provides a software development environment that supports the needs of large enterprises.
Multi-dimensional support

IOS is a LAN medium, WAN protocol, and a variety of features, including routing, switching, set order, IBM, protocol conversion, and many other services.

Design Results

The IOS design provides customers with the ability to complete the following tasks:
Build a super-large network.
Maintain multi-protocol support in remote access links.
Fully integrated with the IBM/SNA and Internet environment.
Develop a wide range of security policies based on IOS features.
Design and maintain excellent traffic control and service quality parameters in the interconnected network.
Optimize network bandwidth and operating resources.
Supports multimedia applications on interconnected networks

Core Services and network services

The IOS architecture provides two types of services: core services and network services. The core IOS Service provides all the functions required to achieve IOS's multi-platform portability and scalability.

Network services are all functional services built on core services and provide IOS Internet interconnection features. For example, Classified Network Services is an interface that connects LAN, WAN media and protocols, as well as bridging, switching Services, and service quality features, such as protocol encapsulation and queue management. Core Services can be considered to provide basic IOS engineering reference platforms, while network services include all value-added features that reside on the operating system.