Thanks to Internet, Cisco is today one of the most important and largest hardware (and software) companies: talking about routers is talking about Nortel Networks, Motorola and some others, but when you say “router” one always thinks first of Cisco.
Siliconvalley.com carries a story about the beginning of Cisco. It wasn’t easy, man! But patience has its (well paid $$$) rewards.
Read also Slashdot comments on this topic.