Cisco 1721 DATA SHEET

Cisco 1700 Series Modular Access Router

Cisco 1721

The Cisco 1721 Modular Access Router is designed to help organizations embrace
the productivity benefits of e-business applications. The Cisco 1721 router enables
e-business by delivering secure Internet, intranet, and extranet access with virtual
private networks (VPNs) and firewall technology. The Cisco 1721 router offers:

Data Sheet

• Wide array of WAN access options,
including high-speed business-class
digital subscriber line (DSL)

• High-performance routing with
bandwidth management

• Inter-virtual LAN (VLAN) routing

• VPN access with firewall option

The Cisco 1721 supports standards-based
IEEE802.1QVLAN routing, whichenables
enterprises to set up multiple VLANs and
route between them for added security
within the internal corporate network.

Powered by Cisco IOS
Cisco 1721 router provides a cost-effective
solution for small and medium businesses
and enterprise small branch offices to
support e-business applications through a
comprehensive feature set in a compact
design.

®

Software, the

The Cisco 1721 router offers the following
key features:

• A RISC processor to support
high-performance routing, encryption,
and broadband services

• One autosensing 10/100 Fast Ethernet
port

• Two WAN interface card (WIC) slots
that support the same data WAN
interface cards as the Cisco 1600, 2600,
and 3700 routers

• One auxiliary (AUX) port (up to

115.2-kbps asynchronous serial)

• One console port

• One internal expansion slot for the
hardware-assistedVPN encryptioncard
(MOD1700-VPN)

Figure 1:

The Cisco 1721 Router
delivers a versatile
e-businessWANaccess
solution.

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The Cisco 1700 Series supports the value of end-to-end Cisco network solutions with the following benefits:

• Flexibility—The modular Cisco 1721 adapts easily tofit the needs of growingbusinesses. Interchangeable WAN
interface cardsenable easy additionsor changes in WANtechnologies withoutrequiring a forkliftupgrade of the
entire platform. Modular data slots enable users to tailor data services as needed.

• Security—The Cisco1721 supports hardware-assisted wire-speed TripleDigital Encryption Standard IP Security
(3DES IPSec) VPN encryption (using optional VPN module), a Cisco IOS Software-based stateful inspection
firewall, and an intrusion detection system (IDS) that allows customers to keep their data safe.

• Business-class DSL—Business-class DSL is delivered through the optional asymmetric DSL (ADSL) or
symmetrical high-bit rate DSL (G.shdsl) WICs. The Cisco 1700 Series business-class DSL solution combines the
cost benefits of DSL service with the advanced routing capability required for business use of the Internet.
Throughenhanced DSLquality-of-service(QoS) features,performancelevels formission-criticalapplications and
toll-quality voice/data integration are guaranteed.

• Traffic management—The Cisco 1721 is based on Cisco IOS Software, the accepted standard for Internet
operations. Cisco IOS Software allows traffic prioritization by user or application, ensuring that the most
strategic e-business applications and time-sensitive applications perform as expected.

E-Business Applications

VPN and Security

The Cisco1721 routeris part ofthe end-to-endCisco VPN solution.VPNs createsecure connections viathe Internet
to connect geographically dispersed offices, business partners, and remote users while providing security, traffic
prioritization, management, and reliability equal to that of private networks.

By supporting industry standards, IPSec, Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), and DES and 3DES, the Cisco 1721
router delivers robust VPN solutions to ensure data privacy, integrity, and authenticity.

The optional VPN hardware encryption module for the Cisco 1721 router further optimizes VPN encryption
performance. By offloading encryption tasks to the VPN module, the router processor is freed to handle other
operations. The VPN module accelerates the rate at which encryption occurs, speeding the process of transmitting
secure data, a critical factor when using 3DES encryption.

The Cisco1721 router offers integrated security features, including statefulinspection firewall functionalityand IDS
as anoptional Cisco IOSSoftware feature. By deploying Cisco IOS Software firewallfunctionality,customers do not
need to purchase or manage multiple devices, thus simplifying network management and reducing capital costs.
Additionally, remote management applications, such as Cisco Security Device Manager (SDM), make it easier than
ever to deploy and monitor Cisco IOS Firewall and VPN on your Cisco 1721 router.

Cisco IOS Software firewallsecurity features include access controllists (ACLs),user Authentication, Authorization,
and Accounting (such as Password Authentication Protocol/Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol [PAP/
CHAP], TACACS+,and Remote AccessDial-In User Service[RADIUS]). These security features providethe optimal
level of firewall protection to customers.

The Cisco 1700 Series routers support the Cisco Easy VPN Remote feature that allows the routers to act as remote
VPN clients. As such, these devices can receive predefined security policies from the headquarters’ VPN head-end,
thus minimizing configuration of VPN parameters at the remote locations. This solution makes deploying VPN
simpler for remote offices with little IT support or for large deployments where it is impractical to individually

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configure multiple remote devices. While customers wishing to deploy and manage site-to-site VPN would benefit
from Cisco Easy VPN Remote because of its simplification of VPN deployment and management, managed VPN
service providers and enterprises who must deploy and manage numerous remote sites and branch offices with
Cisco IOS routers for VPN will realize the greatest benefit.

The Cisco1700 Series routersalso support theCisco Easy VPNServer feature thatallows a Cisco 1700 router to act
as a VPN head-end device. In site-to-site VPN environments, the Cisco 1700 router can terminate VPN tunnels
initiated bythe remote officerouters using the Cisco Easy VPN Remote. Security policies canbe pushed downto the
remote office routers from the Cisco 1700 router. In addition to terminating site-to-site VPNs, a Cisco 1700 router
running the Unified VPN Access Server can terminate remote access VPNs initiated by mobile and remote workers
running CiscoVPN client softwareon PCs. This flexibility makes it possiblefor mobile andremote workers, such as
sales people on the road, to access company intranet where critical data and applications exist.

Business-Class DSL

The Cisco 1721 router supports business-class DSL through the optional ADSL or G.shdsl WICs.
The Cisco 1721 business-class DSL solution combines the cost benefits of DSL service with the advanced routing

capability required for business use of the Internet. Through enhanced DSL QoS features, performance levels for
mission-critical applications are guaranteed. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2

The Cisco 1700 Series Deployed with an ADSL WIC

Small Branch

Office

Cisco 6X00

Headquarters

(DSLAM)

ADSL WAN

Cisco 1700 Series

Cisco 7X00

Router with ADSL WIC

When equipped with optional Ethernet WICs,the Cisco1700 Seriessupports atwo- orthree-Ethernet configuration,
enabling deployment with an external broadband modem (such as DSL, cable modem, or wireless modem)—often
supplied bya service provideras a demarcation point and deployment of ademilitarized zone (DMZ).(See Figure 3.)

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Figure 3:

The Cisco 1700 Series Deployed with an Ethernet WIC and an External DSL or Cable Modem

Internet

DSL/Cable

Modem

Ethernet

Cisco 1700 Series Router

with Cisco IOS Firewall

and an Ethernet WIC

WIC

LAN

Comprehensive Feature Set and Benefits

The Cisco 1721 offers a broad set of features designed to allow businesses to attain maximum benefits on their
investment and to easily deploy e-business solutions. See Table 2 for key features and benefits.

Table 1 Cisco 1721 Key Features and Benefits

Features Benefits

Flexibility and Investment Protection

Modular Architecture

• Wide array of WAN options provide flexibility and
investment protection by accommodating future
technologies while providing a solution to meet
today’s needs

WAN Interface Cards Shared with Cisco 1600, 2600, and
3700 Routers

Full Cisco IOS Support, including Multiprotocol Routing,
QoS

Cisco Systems, Inc.

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• Reduces cost of maintaining inventory

• Offers lower training costs for support personnel

• Protects investments through reuse on various
platforms

• Provides industry’s most robust, scalable, and
feature-rich internetworking software support using
the accepted standardnetworking software for Internet
and private WANs

• Constitutes part of the Cisco end-to-end network
solution