Linksys
Encyclopedia
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, though once a separate company founded in 1995 before being acquired by Cisco in 2003. Products currently and previously sold under the Linksys brand name include broadband and wireless routers, consumer and small business grade Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
switching, VoIP
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
equipment, wireless internet video camera, AV products, network storage systems, and other products. Linksys products were widely available in North America off-the-shelf from both consumer electronics stores (CompUSA
CompUSA
CompUSA is a retailer and reseller of consumer electronics, technology products and computer services. Its headquarters are in Miami, Florida.Until its reorganization, CompUSA, Inc. was a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Commercial Corp S.A.B...
and Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
), internet retailers, and big-box retail stores (WalMart). Linksys' significant competition as an independent firm were D-Link
D-Link
D-Link Corporation was founded in June 1986 in Taipei as Datex Systems Inc. It began as a network adapter vendor and has gone on to become a designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking solutions for both the consumer and business markets.In 2007, it was the leading networking company in...
and NetGear
Netgear
Netgear is a U.S. manufacturer of computer networking equipment and other computer hardware....
, the latter for a time being a brand of Cisco competitor Nortel.
In 2007, Cisco CEO John Chambers described the long-term plan to kill the independent Linksys brand: "It will all come over time into a Cisco brand. The reason we kept Linksys' brand because it was better known in the US than even Cisco was for the consumer. As you go globally there's very little advantage in that." From 2008, all Linksys products sold were packaged and branded as "Linksys by Cisco"; some former Linksys products were merged into the "Valet" brand (albeit with a large Cisco logo and smaller Linksys name still on the product). The formerly-independent Linksys website currently redirects to Cisco's. Small-business inquiries into former Linksys products are directed to Cisco's products and reseller network.
History
Linksys was founded in 1988 in a garage in Irvine, California. The founders, Janie and Victor Tsao (who received a master's degree in computer science from Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
in 1980), were immigrants from Taiwan who held second jobs as consultants specializing in pairing American technology vendors with manufacturers in Taiwan. The company's first products were printer sharers that connected multiple PCs to printers. From this it expanded into Ethernet hubs, network cards, and cords. By 1994, it had grown to 55 employees with annual revenues of $6.5 million.
The company received a major boost in 1995, when Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
released Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
with built-in networking functions that expanded the market for its products. Linksys established its first U.S. retail channels with Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics is a big-box store and retailer of software, consumer electronics, computer hardware, with in store computer repair and custom computer building services and household appliances with a chain of superstores headquartered in Silicon Valley...
(1995) and Best Buy (1996).
In 1999, the company announced the first Fast Ethernet PCMCIA Card for notebook PCs. In 2000, it introduced the first 8-port router with SNMP
Simple Network Management Protocol
Simple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...
and QoS, and in 2001 it shipped its millionth cable/DSL router. By 2003, when the company was acquired by Cisco, it had 305 employees and revenues of more than $500 million.
Cisco continued to invest to expand the company's product line. In April 2005, Cisco acquired VoIP maker Sipura Technology
Sipura Technology
Sipura Technology, Inc. was a Voice over IP startup company based in San Jose, California founded in 2003 with its siblings VideoCore and Komodo Technology, Inc....
and made it part of the Linksys division.
For a time, VoIP products based on Sipura technology were offered under the Linksys Voice System brand. (They are now sold by Cisco as part of the Linksys Business Series.)
In July 2008, Cisco acquired Seattle-based Pure Networks, a vendor of home networking-management software. Pure Networks had previously provided the tools and software infrastructure used to create the Linksys Easy Link Advisor.
Pure Networks was integrated into Linksys, with employees remaining in Seattle and continuing to work on making it easier for users to set up and manage work and home networks --
Routers
- BEFSR41 EthernetEthernetEthernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
router - BEFSX41 Ethernet router
- WRT54G was notable for having firmware based on the LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
operating systemOperating systemAn operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
. Subsequently, a relatively large open-source community dedicated to modifying Linksys router firmware developed, with the 54G model being the commonly modded component. Since version 5, flash memoryFlash memoryFlash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data...
is reduced from 4MB to 2MB, and Intel's VxWorksVxWorksVxWorks is a real-time operating system developed as proprietary software by Wind River Systems of Alameda, California, USA. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems.- History :...
was used instead of Linux. The original Linux model with 4MB is now available as WRT54GL. Linksys, and subsequently Cisco's marketing and use of Linux was alleged by the Free Software FoundationFree Software FoundationThe Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software...
in its 2008 lawsuit Free Software Foundation v. Cisco SystemsFree Software Foundation v. Cisco SystemsFSF v. Cisco was a lawsuit initiated by the Free Software Foundation against Cisco Systems on December 11, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York....
which was ultimately settled out-of-court. - WRT54G2 Router was an easy-to-set-up router that enables the user to use their internet connection without running wires. It contains a firewallFirewall (computing)A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
that protects the user from some unwanted hackersHacker (computer security)In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
that may try to take access to the networkComputer networkA computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
. This router supports the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless standards. - Wireless-N (draft 802.11nIEEE 802.11nIEEE 802.11n-2009 is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11-2007 wireless networking standard to improve network throughput over the two previous standards—802.11a and 802.11g—with a significant increase in the maximum net data rate from 54 Mbit/s to 600 Mbit/s with the use of four...
) series products.- WRT150N featured a 4-port 10/100 switch and claimed three times the range and nine times the speed over a standard wireless-G router.
- WRT310N featured a 4-port 10/100/1000 switch and claimed four times the range and twelve times the speed over a standard wireless-G router.
- 610N featured a 4-port 10/100/1000 switch, broadcasts simultaneous dual (2.4 and 5 GHz) wireless bands, multimedia streaming features, and a USB 2.0 storage link to accommodate an external hard drive.
Modems
WAG200G has a 211 MHz AR7 MIPS32 CPU with 4 MB of flash memory and 16MB of DRam on the PCB. The WAG200G measures 5.5×5.5×1.25 inches (14×14×3.2 cm) (W×H×D) and weighs .77 pounds (.35 kg). The WAG200G all-in-one device functions as a high speed ADSL2+ Modem, a Wireless G Access Point, router and 4-port Ethernet switch. The built-in wireless Access Point function complies with the specifications of the 802.11g standard, which offers transfer speeds of up to 54 Mbit/s. It is also backwards compatible with 802.11b devices at speeds of 11 Mbit/s. The Access Point can support the connection of up to 32 wireless devices. It also offers 4 built-in 10/100 8P8C ports to connect Ethernet-enabled computers, print servers and other devicesUSB Wireless
- WUSB54G series of USB wireless adapters use the RalinkRalinkRalink Technology, Corp. is a Wi-Fi chipset manufacturer which is mainly known for their WLAN chipsets. Now headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Ralink was founded in 2001 in Cupertino, California and it was bought in 2009 by the taiwanese company MediaTek....
RT2500 chipset. They support the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless network standards, and have Open Source drivers available for LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. Drivers are also available for use on Macintosh systems. Only the Version 4 contains the Ralink chipset. Modification of the driver to work with Macintosh was discovered by Kramer2k.
Powerline Network Adapter
The firm offered a variety of HomePlugHomePlug
HomePlug is the family name for various power line communications specifications that support networking over existing home electrical wiring. Several specifications exist under the HomePlug moniker, with each offering unique performance capabilities and coexistence or compatibility with other...
-based Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
-to-Power line communication
Power line communication
Power line communication or power line carrier , also known as power line digital subscriber line , mains communication, power line telecom , power line networking , or broadband over power lines are systems for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission.A wide range...
products:
- PLTE200 – Powerline Network Adapter
- PLTS200 – Powerline 4-Port Network Adapter
- PLTK300 – Powerline Network Kit
- PLE300 – Powerline AV Network Adapter
- PLS300 – Powerline AV 4-Port Network Adapter
- PLK300 – Powerline AV Network Kit
Network Attached Storage
The NSLU2 is a network attached storage device with 8 MB of flash memory, 32MB of SDRAM, a 100Mb Ethernet port, and two USB ports. The NSLU2 was discontinued in 2008, but is still in demand because of the numerous enhancements developed by open-source community projects. The NAS200 added SATASata
Sata is a traditional dish from the Malaysian state of Terengganu, consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a grill.It is a type of Malaysian fish cake, or otak-otak...
ports.
Network Media Hub
The Media Hub 300 and 400 series are network attached storage devices that allow users to share digital media across a network. Once theMedia Hub is connected to the network, it searches for media content residing within the network and aggregates it into one centralized location, including all UPnP devices found. The Built-in Media Reader can directly import photos from compact Flash devices, SD cards and memory sticks without the need of a computer. Memory capacity options are 500GB or 1TB, with an extra empty bay.
The Media Hub's GUI gives a holistic view of the media located on the network regardless of where the actual file is located. Albums are consolidated, artwork, track numbers, and other metadata are downloaded, and all information can be sorted by a variety of different criteria. Included is Automated Backup Software that helps preserve the data through continuous storage backup.
VoIP
- Linksys PAP2Linksys PAP2-Hardware:The Linksys PAP2 is an analog telephony adapter , which allows for the connection of up to two analog telephones to a softswitch or VoIP carrier using Session Initiation Protocol . The physical connections on the device are two RJ11 jacks for the telephones and one 8P8C jack for...
(and PAP2T) is an analog telephony adapter (commonly referred to as ATA), which allows for the connection of one or two “normal” telephones to a VoIP provider using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol.
- SPA2102SPA2102The SPA2102 is a VoIP gateway and router. It is sold by Cisco under the Linksys brand.- Hardware :The SPA2102 has:* Two RJ-11 POTS Foreign exchange station ports.* Two 100BaseT RJ-45 Ethernet ports....
is a gateway router with two FXS ports.
- SPA3102SPA3102The SPA3102 is a VoIP gateway and router powered by Linux. It is sold by Cisco under the Linksys brand.- Hardware :The SPA3102 has:* One RJ-11 POTS Foreign exchange station port....
is a gateway router with both a FXO & FXS port.