Cisco Catalyst Switches - WS-C2900, C3500, C3700, and Modular Switches Series
Second, switches normally have combinations of 10 (ethernet), 100 (fast ethernet) and 1000 (gigabit ethernet) ports. The most common switches today have 10/100 ethernet ports to individual devices, with 1 or 2 (and sometimes more) gigabit ethernet uplink ports to connect to the network. However, some older switches are 10-base with 1 or 2 gigabit ports. With respect to the gigabit ports, they can have GBIC (fiber) or RJ (copper/wire) ports, although in the case of GBIC fiber ports, adaptors exist to convert them to copper. The most recent GBIC ports are 'SFP' small form factor switch ports - which can be thought of as miniGBIC interfaces.
| Overview
of Catalyst Switches & Documentation Links
|
||
| Switch Line | Description | Cisco Documentation |
| C1900XL | Up to 24 10-base ethernet with up to 2 10/100 uplink ports | Documentation |
| C2900XL | Up to 24 10/100-base ethernet. 'EN' version has enhanced software. | Documentation |
| C2948G | 48 10/100-base ethernet & 2 gigabit uplink ports. Optional PoE. | Documentation |
| C2950 | Up to 48 10/100 ports & 2 gigabit uplink ports. | Documentation |
| C2960 | Up to 48 10/100/1000 ports & 4 additional gigabit ports. | Documentation |
| C3550 | 10/100/1000 ports & 4 additional gigabit ports. EMI version is layer 3 type. SMI version is layer 2 type. Optional PoE. | Documentation |
| C3560 | Up to 48 10/100/1000 ports & 4 additional gigabit ports. Layer 3 switch with enhanced QoS & IPv6 support. Optional PoE. | Documentation |
| C3750 | Up to 48 10/100/1000 ports & 4 additional gigabit ports. Layer 3 switch with enhanced QoS & IPv6 support. Stackwise enabled. | Documentation |
| CE500 | Catalyst Express. Up to 24 10/100 or 12 10/100/1000, plus up to 4 PoE and gigabit uplink ports. | Documentation |
| C4500 | Modular router with up to ten expansion slots. | Documentation |
| C6500 | Modular router with six, nine, or thirteen expansion slots. | Documentation |
FIXED
CONFIGURATION CATALYST SWITCHES
There are several main
fixed configuration series: C2900, C3500, and C3750. The WS-C2900
series of switches layer 2 switches include earlier WS-C2924-XL-EN (C
indicates a catalyst switch, the 29 is the series) and include the WS-C2940,
WS-C2950, 50, WS-C2960, WS-C2970 (like the 2960 but 1.5U height and
only in a gigabit version),
and 2980G. The 2960 is more recent, with
faster processing speeds, additional gigabit interface features, and stronger
security and manageability. Model numbers include specification of number of ports as
well as any special features. The WS-C2950-24 for instance has 24 10/100 ports,
while the WS-C2950T-24 adds 2 gigabit ports. The
exact model numbers can be confusing as to features, so it is a good idea to
confirm both hardware and software capabilities from cisco.com. For example, a
WS-C2950G-24-EI has 24 10/100 ports, 2 gigabit GBICs, and enhanced (EI)
software, while the WS-C2960G-24TC-L has 24 10/100/1000 ports and four mini
10/100/1000 SFP (mini GBIC)
ports. In fact, catalyst switches with a
"G" at the end of the main model line name indicate that it is a
10/100/1000 switch for C2960 and above switches, while it only indicates the
presence of additional GBIC ports in the C2948G and C2950 lines. The
2980G/2980G-A has the highest density among Cisco's small,
fixed-configuration models. The 1U WS-C2980G has
80 10/100 ports and 2 gigabit GBICs and is an exceptional value for its
features.
WS-C35XX, C3560, and 3750 series switches add advanced hardware as well as
manageability as compared with the WS-C2950. Original versions of the 3500 series
(WS-C35124-XL-EN and WS-C3524-XL-EN)
parallel the functionality of the WS-C2924
except that they add
dual GBIC ports. An in-line power (PoE) version of the 3524 also exists, denoted "PWR"
in the model, which add power over ethernet to provide electricity to VOIP
phones and similar VOIP devices. A WS-C3548 adds two gigabit uplink ports in
additon to the 48 10/100 ports. The newer WS-C3550 series comes in a layer 2
version (with the 'SMI' software) or layer 3 version (with the 'EMI' software). Thus you could have a WS-C3550-24-SMI or -EMI. Furthermore, the WS-C3550 series
also has in-line power capabilities, denoted "PWR". The WS-C3560 and WS-C3750 add QoS
enhancements, small form factor (SFP) connections, IPv6 hardware support, and
TDR support. The "G"
suffix in model numbers indicates full 10/100/1000 capabilities on all ports. In place of "SMI"
and "EMI", these lines use "S" and "E" at the end
of each model to indicate that is has standard or enhanced software.
Models with "TS" or "PS" have 2 or 4 small form factor (SFP)
mini GBIC ports, and the "P" in the model indicates PoE. Other lettering shows
additional capabilities in hardware or software. The WS-C3750 adds Cisco's
stackwise technology, allowing separate 3750s to be managed together as a single
switch.
Available WS-C3550 switch models are listed in the table below. Click here for a list of WS-C3560 models. and here for a list of WS-C3750 models.
CATALYST EXPRESS SWITCHES
are Cisco's entry in the
economy-oriented, small-business switch market. The CE500 line offers
several configurations combining PoE, 10/100 switches with gigabit uplink
ports, and small-scale dedicated 10/100/1000 switches. The CE line is a layer 2,
nonblocking, wired switch that is best suited as a stand-alone unit, although it
can be managed effectively as part of an overall switch infrastructure.
GBIC and SFP transceiver modules for
switches
Switches with GBIC, SFP, or X2 gigabit interfaces can use one of several adaptor modules, depending on the type
of cabling and cable distance.
| WS-G5483= | 1000BASE-T GBIC |
| WS-G5484 | 1000BASE-SX Short Wavelength GBIC (Multimode only) |
| WS-G5486 | 1000BASE-LX/LH long haul GBIC (singlemode or multimode) |
| WS-G5487 | 1000Base-ZX extended reach GBIC(singlemode) |
| GLC-T | 1000BASE-T SFP |
| GLC-SX-MM | GE SFP, LC connector SX transceiver |
| GLC-LH-SM | GE SFP, LC connector LX/LH transceiver |
| GLC-FE-100BX-D | 100BASE-BX10-D SFP |
| GLC-FE-100BX-U | 100BASE-BX10-U SFP |
| GLC-FE-100FX | 100BASE-FX SFP for FE port |
| GLC-FE-100LX | 100BASE-LX SFP for FE port |
| GLC-BX-D | 1000BASE-BX SFP, 1490NM |
| GLC-BX-U | 1000BASE-BX SFP, 1310NM |
| GLC-ZX-SM= | 1000BASE-ZX SFP |
| X2-10GB-CX4 | 10GBASE-CX4 X2 Module |
| X2-10GB-SR | 10GBASE-SR X2 Module |
| X2-10GB-ER= | 10GBASE-ER X2 Module |
| X2-10GB-LX4 | 10GBASE-LX4 X2 Module |
| X2-10GB-LR | 10GBASE-LR X2 Module |
MODULAR CATALYST SWITCHES
(45XX and 65XX Series)
Cisco
also has a number of modular switches - they are generally designed for
larger scale needs. Like
modular routers, the components of modular switches are installed to meet
specific needs - so a variety of network routing cards are available for most
modular routers that enable fast ethernet, gigabit ethernet, as well as more
exotic STM, OC3, ATM, POS, and other switching functions over STM. Current
popular platforms are the Cisco WS-C4500 (the WS-C4506 specific model is pictured at right with multiple
switch expansion cards installed). The even larger
WS-C6500 series includes the WS-C6506, C6509, and C6513. Pictured left is the popular
WS-C6509/C6509E
configured with two "SUP" CPU supervisory engines (blue tabbed cards),
multiple switch blades (red tabbed cards), and dual power supplies). Modular
switches are typically given model names with the number of slots as the final
number - thus the 6509 has 9 slots and the 4506 has 6 slots. Modular switches typically are provisioned with power supplies,
supervisory engine CPUs (such as the WS-X6K-SUP1A-2GE or WS-X6K-S2-MFSC2 on the
C6500 series, and the WS-X4515 on the C4500 series), and a variety of switching modules.
Compatible switch modules are labeled with an 'X'. For example, the
WS-X6548-RJ-45 48-port 10/100BASE-T switching module provides 48 switched,
10/100-Mbps for the WS-C6506, WS-C6509, and WS-C6513. The WS-X4148-RJ provides
the same for the WS-C4000 platform. We have both current and older Cisco
4000 and 6000 switches, bundles, and components available within 24 hours, so request
a
or call us at 216-896-9967.
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