<PAGE>   1

   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999
                                                   Registration No. ____________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                             ---------------------
                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               CALIFORNIA                                 77-0059951
      (State or other jurisdiction             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation or organization)

             170 WEST TASMAN DRIVE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134-1706
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
                             ---------------------

                     SENTIENT NETWORKS, INC. 1997 STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                             ---------------------
                                JOHN T. CHAMBERS
                 PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
             170 WEST TASMAN DRIVE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134-1706
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (408) 526-4000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================

                                                        Proposed          Proposed
            Title of                                    Maximum           Maximum
           Securities                  Amount           Offering         Aggregate         Amount of
              to be                    to be             Price            Offering       Registration
           Registered              Registered(1)      per Share(2)         Price             Fee
           ----------              -------------      ------------     -------------     -------------
<S>                                <C>                <C>              <C>               <C>
 Sentient  Networks,  Inc. 1997       111,748            $9.81         $1,096,247.88        $304.76
 Stock Plan
 Common Stock

======================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the Sentient
        Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock
        split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without
        the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase
        in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)     Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
        Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the weighted average
        exercise price of the outstanding options.

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

            Cisco Systems, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

        (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended July 31, 1999, filed with the Commission on September 28,
            1999, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
            as amended (the "1934 Act");

        (b) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the
            Commission on August 13, 1999, as amended on Form 8-K/A filed with
            the Commission on August 13, 1999, August 26, 1999, September 27,
            1999 and October 20, 1999 and November 4, 1999.

        (c) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-18225 on Form 8-A
            filed with the Commission on January 11, 1990, together with
            Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed with the Commission on February
            15, 1990, and including any other amendments or reports filed for
            the purpose of updating such description, in which there is
            described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
            Registrant's Common Stock, and;

        (d) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-18225 on Form 8-A
            filed with the Commission on June 11, 1998, including any amendments
            or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, in
            which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable
            to the Registrant's Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.

            All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities

               Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

               Not Applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

            Section 317 of the California Corporations Code authorizes a court
to award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) under certain circumstances for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). The
Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and
Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the California
Corporations Code. In addition, the Registrant has entered into Indemnification
Agreements with each of its directors and officers.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>   3

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

               Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------
<S>                   <C>
  4                   Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                      is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                      000-18225 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                      exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by
                      reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and 3(d).

  5                   Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

  23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

  23.2                Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

  24                  Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

  99.1*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

  99.2*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Summary of Stock Purchase.

  99.3*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

  99.4*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Option Agreement.

  99.5*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant.

  99.6*               Form of Option Assumption Agreement.
</TABLE>

  *    Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.6 are incorporated herein by
       reference to Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.10,
       respectively of Registrant's Registration Statement No.
       333-83277 on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on July 20, 1999.

Item 9. Undertakings

            A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during
any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Sentient
Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

            B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6 or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the

                                      II-2

<PAGE>   4

Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

                                      II-3

<PAGE>   5


                                   SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California on this
12th day of November, 1999.


                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.


                               By: /s/ John T. Chambers
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                       John T. Chambers
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

            KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints John T. Chambers and Larry R. Carter, and
each of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such
person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                              Title                                     Date
---------                              -----                                     ----

<S>                                    <C>                                      <C>
/s/ John T. Chambers                   President, Chief Executive               November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Officer and Director
John T. Chambers                       (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Larry R. Carter                    Senior Vice President, Finance           November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      and Administration, Chief Financial
Larry R. Carter                        Officer and Secretary
                                       (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                       Officer)


/s/ John P. Morgridge                  Chairman of the Board and                November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Director
John P. Morgridge


/s/ Donald T. Valentine                Vice Chairman of the Board and           November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Director
Donald T. Valentine
</TABLE>


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                    <C>                                      <C>
/s/ James F. Gibbons                   Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
James F. Gibbons


/s/ Steven M. West                     Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Steven M. West


/s/ Edward R. Kozel                    Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Edward R. Kozel


/s/ Carol A. Bartz                     Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz


/s/ James C. Morgan                    Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
James C. Morgan


/s/ Mary Cirillo                       Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Mary Cirillo


/s/ Arun Sarin                         Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Arun Sarin
</TABLE>

                                      II-5

<PAGE>   7


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.


<PAGE>   8


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------
<S>                   <C>
  4                   Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                      is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                      000-18225 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                      exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by
                      reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and 3(d).

  5                   Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

  23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

  23.2                Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

  24                  Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

  99.1*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

  99.2*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Summary of Stock Purchase.

  99.3*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

  99.4*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Option Agreement.

  99.5*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant.

  99.6*               Form of Option Assumption Agreement.
</TABLE>


  *    Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.6 are incorporated herein by
       reference to Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.10,
       respectively of Registrant's Registration Statement No.
       333-83277 on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on July 20, 1999.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 19424}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CISCO SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000858877", "assigned-sic": "3576", "irs-number": "770059951", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0731"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-90885", "film-number": "99750590"}, "business-address": {"street1": "170 WEST TASMAN DRIVE", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134-1706", "phone": "4085264000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "225 WEST TASMAN DRIVE", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134-1706"}}
1

   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 1999
                                                   Registration No. ____________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                             ---------------------
                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               CALIFORNIA                                 77-0059951
      (State or other jurisdiction             (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation or organization)

             170 WEST TASMAN DRIVE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134-1706
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
                             ---------------------

                     SENTIENT NETWORKS, INC. 1997 STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                             ---------------------
                                JOHN T. CHAMBERS
                 PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
             170 WEST TASMAN DRIVE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134-1706
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (408) 526-4000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================================================================================

                                                        Proposed          Proposed
            Title of                                    Maximum           Maximum
           Securities                  Amount           Offering         Aggregate         Amount of
              to be                    to be             Price            Offering       Registration
           Registered              Registered(1)      per Share(2)         Price             Fee
           ----------              -------------      ------------     -------------     -------------
Sentient  Networks,  Inc. 1997       111,748            $9.81         $1,096,247.88        $304.76
 Stock Plan
 Common Stock

======================================================================================================
(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the Sentient
        Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock
        split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without
        the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase
        in the number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)     Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
        Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the weighted average
        exercise price of the outstanding options.

================================================================================
2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

            Cisco Systems, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

        (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended July 31, 1999, filed with the Commission on September 28,
            1999, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
            as amended (the "1934 Act");

        (b) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the
            Commission on August 13, 1999, as amended on Form 8-K/A filed with
            the Commission on August 13, 1999, August 26, 1999, September 27,
            1999 and October 20, 1999 and November 4, 1999.

        (c) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-18225 on Form 8-A
            filed with the Commission on January 11, 1990, together with
            Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed with the Commission on February
            15, 1990, and including any other amendments or reports filed for
            the purpose of updating such description, in which there is
            described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
            Registrant's Common Stock, and;

        (d) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-18225 on Form 8-A
            filed with the Commission on June 11, 1998, including any amendments
            or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, in
            which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable
            to the Registrant's Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.

            All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities

               Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

               Not Applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

            Section 317 of the California Corporations Code authorizes a court
to award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) under certain circumstances for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). The
Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and
Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the California
Corporations Code. In addition, the Registrant has entered into Indemnification
Agreements with each of its directors and officers.

                                      II-1
3

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

               Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------
4                   Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                      is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                      000-18225 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                      exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by
                      reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and 3(d).

  5                   Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

  23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

  23.2                Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

  24                  Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

  99.1*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

  99.2*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Summary of Stock Purchase.

  99.3*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

  99.4*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Option Agreement.

  99.5*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant.

  99.6*               Form of Option Assumption Agreement.
*    Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.6 are incorporated herein by
       reference to Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.10,
       respectively of Registrant's Registration Statement No.
       333-83277 on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on July 20, 1999.

Item 9. Undertakings

            A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during
any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Sentient
Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

            B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6 or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the

                                      II-2
4

Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

                                      II-3
5

                                   SIGNATURES

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California on this
12th day of November, 1999.

                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.

                               By: /s/ John T. Chambers
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                       John T. Chambers
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

            KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints John T. Chambers and Larry R. Carter, and
each of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such
person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might
or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:
Signature                              Title                                     Date
---------                              -----                                     ----
/s/ John T. Chambers                   President, Chief Executive               November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Officer and Director
John T. Chambers                       (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Larry R. Carter                    Senior Vice President, Finance           November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      and Administration, Chief Financial
Larry R. Carter                        Officer and Secretary
                                       (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                       Officer)

/s/ John P. Morgridge                  Chairman of the Board and                November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Director
John P. Morgridge

/s/ Donald T. Valentine                Vice Chairman of the Board and           November 12, 1999
---------------------------------      Director
Donald T. Valentine
II-4
6
/s/ James F. Gibbons                   Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
James F. Gibbons

/s/ Steven M. West                     Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Steven M. West

/s/ Edward R. Kozel                    Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Edward R. Kozel

/s/ Carol A. Bartz                     Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz

/s/ James C. Morgan                    Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
James C. Morgan

/s/ Mary Cirillo                       Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Mary Cirillo

/s/ Arun Sarin                         Director                                 November 12, 1999
---------------------------------
Arun Sarin
II-5
7

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
8

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------
4                   Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                      is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                      000-18225 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                      exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by
                      reference pursuant to Items 3(c) and 3(d).

  5                   Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

  23.1                Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

  23.2                Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

  24                  Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

  99.1*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

  99.2*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Summary of Stock Purchase.

  99.3*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

  99.4*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Stock Option Agreement.

  99.5*               Sentient Networks, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant.

  99.6*               Form of Option Assumption Agreement.
*    Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.6 are incorporated herein by
       reference to Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5 and 99.10,
       respectively of Registrant's Registration Statement No.
       333-83277 on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on July 20, 1999.