Cisco Systems reported that it's acquiring privately held NeoPath Networks, a provider of high performance and highly scalable file storage management systems. Cisco, which had been an investor in NeoPath, didn't disclose the financial terms of the deal.

Founded in 2002, NeoPath has 55 employees. Cisco cited NeoPath's patented Smart virtualization technology and its File Director product line. NeoPath's products are designed to simplify the management of network-attached storage and other file servers.

Cisco was among a group of venture investors that invested nearly $30 million in the startup company.

Cisco indicated that NeoPath's technology would work well with Cisco's Service-Oriented Network Architecture.

"Enterprise customers are asking Cisco how they can make better use of their existing IT infrastructure, and NeoPath is part of the answer," said Jayshree Ullal, senior VP of the Cisco Datacenter Switching and Security Technology Group, in a statement.

NeoPath will be integrated into Ullal's group, Cisco said.