Cisco, one of the most important manufacturers of network-related devices, is backing up its AON, and fights the people saying that it's nothing more than a hardware-based XML translator.

Cisco CTO Charles Giancarlo said that AON will work with XML and "multiple" protocols to lessen the network infrastructure needed to link disparate transaction protocols. AON will offer three core capabilities: message handling, application security and visibility into network events, and through this product Cisco is going into the business of providing intelligent routing, security, transaction processing monitoring, and other application-level functions based on examining XML documents as they traverse the network.

AON will have both hardware and software components, according to Cisco documents. A Catalyst 6500 AON Services Module will be fitted into a blade slot of the Catalyst 6500 data center switch, and completed with dual processor hardware acceleration for message parsing and Secure Socket Layer termination. A smaller Cisco 2500/2800/3700/3800 Series AON Network Module with a single processor will be fitted into the Cisco Integrated Services Routers employed in the branch office locations.

"Application-Oriented Networking is the ability of the network to understand and, if necessary, act on messages as they are in transit. By speaking their language, the network can provide more value, making the dialogue between the applications more secure, more optimized and more flexible" stated Taf Anthias, vice president and general manager of Cisco's new AON business unit.