Fixed Configuration Catalyst Switches

• WS-C2924-XL-EN and WS-C3524-XL-EN and C3548-XL-EN, are decent 10/100 switches, including a useful but little-known 2924M DC powered switch (small DC powered switches are hard to find). The 3548 had two built-in gigabitGBIC uplink ports. The 3524 came in a variety supporting PoE for supporting devices, although using a nonstandard protocol.
• WS-C2950 series comes in 12, 24, and 48 port versions, and was the followup to the the 2924. The base WS-C2950 was a virtual copy of the C2924-XL-EN. Other versions, including 2950C, 2950T, and 2950G all had dual gigabit ports of one or another type. Cisco also introduced a small office version, the WS-C2940 (also with gigabit uplink ports), plus heavy duty commercial grade WS-C2955T and C2955C switches with built-in DC power and optional AC power supply for warehouse and manufacturing environments. Also grouped with this line is the WS-C2980G, offering 80 10/100 ports and twin gigabit uplink ports.
• Similar to the 2950, the WS-C3550 followed up the C3524, with SMI and EMI software versions, Cisco's initial foray into differing versions of management software, later abbreviated to "S" for standard load and "E" for enhanced load (also found in some of the 2950 switches). Including C3550-12T and C3550-12, with 12 gigabit copper and fiber ports, respectively. Another PoE version of the 24 port model is also available.
• WS-C2970G-24T and WS-C3750G-24T are economical fully-gigabit switches without any dedicated uplink ports.


• With the C3560 and C3750 lines, Cisco offers a powerful switch supporting voice and video, with a wide range of features and a new naming system for identifying them. The principal difference between them is that the 3560 is designed for standalone use, while the 3750 has Cisco's 'stackwise' capability, offering a special cabling port so the multiple independent switches can be managed as a single switch. In terms of nomenclature, a "G"
  following the model sequence (C3560G or C3750G) indicates that all the ports are gigabit. This is followed by a dash and then the number of ports, whether the switch supports PoE, the type of uplink ports, a final dash, and then an "S" or "E" indicating whether a standard or enhanced software image is installed. So the deciphering of a WS-C3750G-48TS-S is as follows: it is a 3750 line (stackable) switch, all the ports are gigabit (that's the "G" following the 3750), with 48 ports that are all non PoE (the "T") with SFP uplink ports (the "S" following the "T") and a standard software image (the final "S"). Another small office version - the WS-C3560-8PC, is also offered, along with a variety of niche switches.
• In meeting the needs for a more affordable easily managed switch, Cisco came up with the WS-C2960 and C2960G, whose naming is fairly similar to the 3560/3750 lines, and the Catalyst Express (CE) switches, which completely eliminate a command line interface and console port and are web manageable only, including the WS-CE500 and WS-CE520. Both come in 24 and 48 port versions and offer PoE type models as well.
• The WS-C3560E and WS-C3750E extend the 3560/3750 series by (1) offering 10gig uplink ports and (2) modular power supplies and blower modules. The various power supplies include a 265 watt DC (as well as AC) power supply for non-PoE applications, plus two higher powered AC power supplies for better PoE support. A WS-C3750E-48PD-EF would be a 3750 stackable switch with 48 gigabit ports, supporting PoE (P) and with 10Gig uplinks (indicated by both the "E" after 3750 and the "D" in 48PD. It has an "E" enhanced software image installed, and has the high powered "F" 1150WAC power supply installed (the alternative would be a 750WAC
switch with NOTHING following the final E. Clearly hard to keep the models straight.

• The WS-C3560-X and C3750-X were launched in 2010 as additional extensions of the 3560E-3750E lines, with higher powered modular AC power supplies (single and dual supported), new 1Gig and 10Gig uplink modules, and higher powered PoE support.

There are a few concepts that are fundamental in understanding switch functionality

1. A switch can be unmanaged or managed. An unmanaged switch is sometimes referred to as a hub - both terms mean that traffic is broadcast over all the network, through all the various connections, much like a radio, and it is up to the receiving devices to determine which traffic is for them. Only those devices 'tuned in' to the particular traffic pertaining to them process it. Unmanaged switches are fine for small networks, but this feature quickly clogs up networks of any size because all the traffic is flowing everywhere. Managed switches allow traffic to be directed to particular network segments and devices, rather than broadcast everywhere. The ability to manage switches has been divided into so-called 'layers', such that less sophisticated managed switches are called 'layer 2 switches' while more sophisticated ones are called 'layer 3 switches'.


2. Switches also vary in their port features: the number of ports, the speed of the individual connections (ports) 10 (ordinary ethernet), 100 (Fast ethernet), 1,000 (1gig), or 10,000 (10gig), whether there are dedicated 'uplink' ports (ports designed to connect to switches or routers closer to the 'core' of a network), and the media type supported for the various ports (copper, fiber, cable, etc). Even among these media there are various specific types of modules to create the connection to the port. For example, there are large (GBIC) and small (SFP) optical modules to connect to a fiber port, as well as ones varying the distance allowed for the span between devices.


3. Switches vary in their processing capabilities - you need a switch with a much faster CPU to support high quality voice and video, for example, than to support ordinary data transmission.
4. Some switches can be 'stacked' so that multiple switches can be managed as a single physical switch, while other switches are strictly stand-alone.

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-C2970G (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.

Cisco 2940/2955 Series Switches (Small Office Switches)
WS-C2940-8TF-S	8 10/100 Ethernet ports and 1 100BASE-FX Ethernet ports
WS-C2940-8TT-S	8 10/100 Ethernet ports and 1 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports
WS-C2955T-12	12 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports

Cisco 2950 Series Switches
WS-C2950-12	12 port, 10/100 Catalyst Switch, Standard Image only
WS-C2950-24	24 port, 10/100 Catalyst Switch, Standard Image only
WS-C2950C-24	24 10/100 ports with 2 100BASE-FX uplinks, Enhanced Image
WS-C2950G-12-EI	Catalyst 2950, 12 10/100 with 2 GBIC slots, Enhanced Image
WS-C2950G-24-EI-DC	24 10/100 + 2 GBIC slots, Enhanced Image, DC version
WS-C2950G-48-EI	Catalyst 2950, 48 10/100 with 2 GBIC slots, Enhanced Image
WS-C2950SX-24	24 10/100 ports w/2 1000BASE-SX ports, Standard Image only
WS-C2950SX-48-SI	48 10/100 and 2 1000BASE-SX uplink ports, Standard Image
WS-C2950T-24	24 10/100 ports w/ 2 10/100/1000BASE-T ports, Enhanced Image
WS-C2950T-48-SI	48 10/100 and 2 10/100/1000BASE-T uplinks, Standard Image
WS-C2955C-12	2955 12 TX w/MM Uplinks
WS-C2955S-12	2955 12 TX w/Single Mode Uplinks
WS-C2955T-12	2955 12 TX ports w/ copper uplinks

Cisco 2960/29709/2980 Series Switches
WS-C2960-8TC-L	Catalyst 2960 8 10/100 + 1 T/SFP LAN Base Image
WS-C2960-24TC-L	Catalyst 2960 24 10/100 + 2T/SFP LAN Base Image
WS-C2960-24TT-L	Catalyst 2960 24 10/100 + 2 1000BT LAN Base Image
WS-C2960-48TC-L	Catalyst 2960 48 10/100 + 2 T/SFP LAN Base Image
WS-C2960-48TT-L	Catalyst 2960 48 10/100 Ports + 2 1000BT LAN Base Image
WS-C2960G-8TC-L	Catalyst 2960 7 10/100/1000 + 1 T/SFP LAN Base
WS-C2960G-24TC-L	Catalyst 2960 24 10/100/1000, 4 T/SFP LAN Base Image
WS-C2960G-48TC-L	Catalyst 2960 48 10/100/1000,  4 T/SFP  LAN Base Image
WS-C2970G-24TS-E	Catalyst 2970 24 10/100/1000 + 4 T/SFP  LAN Base Image
WS-C2980G/2980G-A	Catalyst 2980 with 80 10/100 ports + 2 GBIC slots

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-C2924except 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.

3500 Model Switches
ws-c3524-xl-en
ws-c3548-xl-en
ws-c3524pwr-xl-en
WS-C3550-12G	10 GBIC + 2 10/100/1000 Standard Image
WS-C3550-12T	10 10/100/1000 + 2 GBIC Standard Image
WS-C3550-24-SMI	24 10/100 + 2 GBIC Standard Multilayer Image
WS-C3550-24-EMI	24 10/100 + 2 GBIC Enhanced Multilayer Image
WS-C3550-48-SMI	48 10/100 + 2 GBIC Standard Multilayer Image
WS-C3550-48-EMI	48 10/100 + 2 GBIC Enhanced Multilayer Image
WS-C3550-24PWR-SMI	24 10/100 PWR + 2 GBIC Standard Multilayer Image
WS-C3550-24PWR-EMI	24 10/100 PWR + 2 GBIC Enhanced Multilayer Image

Catalyst 3560 Series 10/100/1000 Workgroup Switches
WS-C3560G-48PS-S	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560G-48PS-E	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560G-24PS-S	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560G-24PS-E	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560G-48TS-S	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560G-48TS-E	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560G-24TS-S	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560G-24TS-E	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
Catalyst 3560 Series 10/100 Workgroup Switches
WS-C3560-8PC-S	Catalyst 3560 8 10/100 PoE + 1 T/SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560-48PS-S	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100 PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560-48PS-E	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100 PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560-24PS-S	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100 PoE + 2 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560-24PS-E	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100 PoE + 2 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560-48TS-S	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100 + 4 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560-48TS-E	Catalyst 3560 48 10/100 + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
WS-C3560-24TS-S	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100 + 2 SFP Standard Image
WS-C3560-24TS-E	Catalyst 3560 24 10/100 + 2 SFP Enhanced Image

Catalyst 3750 Series 10/100/1000, GE, 10GE Workgroup Switch
	WS-C3750G-24T-S	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000T Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750G-24T-E	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000T Enhanced Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750G-24TS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000 + 4 SFP Std Multilayer; 1.5RU
	WS-C3750G-24TS-E	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000 + 4 SFP Enhcd Multilayer;1.5RU
	WS-C3750G-24TS-S1U	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000 + 4 SFP Std Multilayer;1RU
	WS-C3750G-24TS-E1U	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000 + 4 SFP Enh Multilayer;1RU
	WS-C3750G-24PS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
	WS-C3750G-24PS-E	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
	WS-C3750G-48TS-S	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Standard Multilayer
	WS-C3750G-48TS-E	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100/1000T + 4 SFP Enhanced Multilayer
	WS-C3750G-48PS-S	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
	WS-C3750G-48PS-E	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100/1000T PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
	WS-C3750G-16TD-S	Catalyst 3750 16 10/100/1000BT+ 10GbE (req XENPAK) Std Image
	WS-C3750G-16TD-E	Catalyst 3750 16 10/100/1000BT+ 10GbE (req XENPAK) Enh Image
	WS-C3750G-12S-S	Catalyst 3750 12 SFP Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750G-12S-SD	Catalyst 3750 12 SFP DC powered Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750G-12S-E	Catalyst 3750 12 SFP Enhanced Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750-24FS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 100BaseFX + 2 SFP Standard Multilayer Image
	SWLC3750-50-K9	IP BASE W/O CRYPTO WITH WEB BASED DEV MGR
Catalyst 3750 Series 10/100 Workgroup Switches
	WS-C3750-24FS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 100BaseFX + 2 SFP Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750-24PS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100 PoE + 2 SFP Standard Image
	WS-C3750-24PS-E	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100 PoE + 2 SFP Enhanced Image
	WS-C3750-24TS-S	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100 + 2 SFP Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750-24TS-E	Catalyst 3750 24 10/100 + 2 SFP Enhanced Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750-48PS-S	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100 PoE + 4 SFP Standard Image
	WS-C3750-48PS-E	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100 PoE + 4 SFP Enhanced Image
	WS-C3750-48TS-S	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100 + 4 SFP Standard Multilayer Image
	WS-C3750-48TS-E	Catalyst 3750 48 10/100 + 4 SFP Enhanced Multilayer Image

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.

Catalyst Express 500 Series
	WS-CE500-24TT	24 10/100 and 2 10/100/1000BT uplinks, GUI software
	WS-CE500-24LC	24 10/100 (4 PoE) and 2 10/100/1000BT or SFP uplinks, GUI
	WS-CE500-24PC	24 10/100 (24PoE) and 2 10/100/1000BT or SFP uplinks, GUI sw
	WS-CE500G-12TC	8 10/100/1000BT and 4 10/100/1000BT or SFPs, GUI software

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