The process of transforming IBM network customers into Cisco customers can begin in earnest now that the government has given its formal blessing. To ease the migration path of NHD customers to Cisco gear, the companies plan to begin interoperability testing between their separate products, sources say. It is also likely that Cisco will tweak its management software to handle IBM devices. There appears to be little apprehension among customers about moving from IBM to Cisco, although one manager expressed concern about narrowing market options. We always want to have two vendors, and in this area, we don't.
Cisco is the networking company.
Most users expressed greater confidence, however. They have a mature service organization, and they know how to get things done. Haile believes NHD customers should be reassured by the fact that Cisco is populated by a number of ex-IBMers, including company CEO John Chambers. Fidelity's massive network includes thousands of Sun servers and several mainframes attached to Cisco routers via Channel Interface Processors. One network manager at a large insurance company who asked not to be named is more upbeat today than he was when the Cisco-IBM deal was first announced.