cisco it@work case study: integrating the linksys … · cisco it@work case study: integrating the...

1© 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rich Gore

Cisco IT@Work Case Study:Integrating the Linksys Network Infrastructure

Cisco Information TechnologySeptember 5, 2005

http://www.cisco.com/go/ciscoitatwork

222© 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.Rich Gore

Overview

• ChallengeIntegrate two very different companies, achieving a balance between standardized processes and agility

• SolutionSelective integration, focusing on network infrastructure

• ResultsBetter network performance, greater security, more functionality, lower costs, and room to grow!

• Next StepsBusiness process integration


Challenge: Integrating Two Very Different Companies

• Different productsCisco: highly-configurable products to order

Linksys: off-the-shelf products to forecast

• Different sales processCisco: directly to enterprise and service provider customers

Linksys: exclusively through channels

• Different engineering and manufacturing approachesCisco: in-house

Linksys: outsource to Taiwan

• Different growth ratesCisco: 40,000 employees and 2 percent growth per quarter

Linksys: 150 employees and 70-80 percent growth per quarter


Challenge: Integrating Two Very Different Companies

“The challenge is that the division prizes its agility, and the corporate parent prizes standardized processes. The trick is to accommodate both desires in a way that results in the best overall business growth.”

– Tim MerrifieldDirector of IT Acquisition Integration


Solution: Selective Integration

• Typically, Cisco fully integrates an acquired company’s IT infrastructure, applications, business processes, and IT governance

• This time, Cisco would selectively integrate elements that made the most sense

• Goal: Avoid overloading Linksys with costs, processes, and procedures that would impede its agility.


Solution: Types of Integration Considered

LAN infrastructure

Local IP telephony infrastructure / local voicemail

Fully secured, extended corporate network(WAN, telephony / voicemail, remote access, LAN access)

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Layer 5

Layer 6

Communication services (e-mail, file sharing, etc.)

Data center services, (backup, disaster recovery, hardware standards)

Desktop environment support

Oracle-dependent

“core” applications

Peoplesoft-dependent


Siebel-dependent


Other-dependent


Layer 7

ProposedServiceLayer

Partial Service


Solution: Integrate Linksys and Cisco Infrastructures, including Governance

• Global IP network• Productivity applications

such as e-mail, Active Directory, printing, meeting scheduling, and file sharing

• Core software set on desktop PCs

• Enterprise management system (EMAN)

• Cisco Enterprise Print System (CEPS)

• Data center

• Linksys network

• IP telephony and video

• Secure DMZ

• Wireless connectivity

• Contact center

• Partner access


Solution: Data Center Integration

• Challenge: Expand data centerLinksys headquarters building lacked space, power, backup, and environmental controls for expansion

• Solution: Use space in an existing Cisco data center eight miles away

Provide high-speed access to Linksys servers in the Cisco Irvine site via DS-3 circuits with six T-1s as back up

Route Linksys traffic to Cisco intranet and Internet point of presence

• Cost savings: $3,000/month plus $1000 for backup T1 lines, compared to $17,000 for direct connection from Irvine to Redwood City


Results: Linksys Network Integration

• Challenge: Existing hub topology lacked redundancy

• Solution: Replace hubs with Cisco Catalyst 6500 switches

Dual supervisor modules and power supplies, for redundancy

Cisco 3745 Series Routers as WAN gateways, terminating DS-3 and T1 connections to Cisco Irvine data center

Cisco 2621XM router for out-of-band access to network devices


Solution: Network Integration


Solution: IP Telephony and Video

• Challenge: Give Linksys employees access to same telephony and voicemail services as other Cisco offices

• Solution: Connect Linksys headquarters to Cisco CallManager server at Irvine data center over DS-3 link

• Cisco Media Communication Module (CMM) in Cisco Catalyst 6500 switch at Linksys headquarters provides:

Primary rate interface (PRI) terminationBack-up to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) via survivable remote site telephony (SRST)Transcoding for voice conferencing

• End-to-end multicast enables Linksys employees to watch real-time video of corporate meetings and training sessions


Solution: Secure DMZ

• Challenge: Co-location facility hosts 22 servers that serve as the front-end to www.linksys.com, but was vulnerable to a single point of failure

• Solution: Redundant design for DMZ:Cisco PIX® Firewalls

Cisco Catalyst 3750 switches to replace existing hubs

Cisco Local Director for load balancing

• Front-end connects to back-end servers at Cisco Irvine data center via a Cisco Catalyst 6500 switch

http://www.linksys.com/


Solution: Wireless Connectivity

• Challenge: Allow all people in a meeting at Linksys headquarters to connect, although rooms have just 1-3 cable drops

• Solution: Cisco Aironet 1200 access pointsEmployees can use wireless laptops, PDAs, and Cisco 7920 wireless IP phones anywhere in building

Guests have limited access using Cisco Guest Wireless Hotspot solution

• Future: Wireless applications for the warehouse to increase logistics accuracy and productivity


Solution: Contact Center Integration

• Challenge: Linksys paid $20,000/month for two International Private Line (IPL) E1 circuits from Irvine to outsourced service providers in Manila, Philippines

• Solution: Provide contact center partners with access to Cisco extranet hub in Singapore

• Now traffic travels from the hub in San Jose across the Cisco All Packet Network (CAPnet)—at no cost


Solution: Partner Access

• Challenge: Linksys partners previously accessed the extranet directly, without benefit of the Cisco network’s redundancy, security, and standardized support

• Solution: Now partners connect through Cisco extranet hubs in San Jose, California and Singapore

Cisco installed new circuits to accommodate the additional volume


Results: Success!

• Better network performance

• Greater security

• More functionality

• Lower cost

• An infrastructure capable of supporting the most ambitious growth plans


Next Steps: Further Integration

• Application integration, especially HR

• Business process integration

For additional Cisco IT Case Studies on a variety of business solutions, go to Cisco IT @ Work

www.cisco.com/go/ciscoitatwork

This publication describes how Cisco has benefited from the deployment of its own products. Many factors may have contributed to the results and benefits described; Cisco does not

guarantee comparable results elsewhere.CISCO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER

EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties, therefore this disclaimer may not apply to you.

Bob Scarbrough 181818© 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisco.com/go/ciscoitatwork

cisco it@work case study: integrating the linksys … · cisco it@work case study: integrating the...

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