Description
Product Overview for the Cisco WS-C2960-24PC-L 24 Ports Switch
In the ever-evolving landscape of networking, the WS-C2960-24PC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 24 Ports Ethernet Switch stands out as a reliable and versatile solution. This comprehensive guide aims to provide a detailed understanding of the key features, specifications, and benefits of this networking powerhouse.
Unveiling the WS-C2960-24PC-L
- Design and Form Factor: The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series is renowned for its robust design and compact form factor. The WS-C2960-24PC-L, in particular, features 24 Ethernet ports, offering seamless connectivity in a 1U rack-mountable chassis. This design makes it ideal for both small to medium-sized businesses and larger enterprise environments.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capability: One standout feature of the WS-C2960-24PC-L is its Power over Ethernet capability. This means that the switch can deliver power to connected devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points through the same Ethernet cables used for data transmission. This simplifies the network infrastructure, reduces cable clutter, and enhances flexibility in device placement.
- Network Performance: At the heart of the WS-C2960-24PC-L lies its ability to deliver high-performance networking. With 24 ports supporting Fast Ethernet connectivity, this switch ensures swift and reliable data transfer within the network. The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series is known for its efficiency in handling data traffic, making it a dependable choice for businesses with demanding network requirements.
- Enhanced Security Features: Security is a top priority in today’s digital landscape, and the WS-C2960-24PC-L doesn’t disappoint. It comes equipped with advanced security features, including access control lists (ACLs), port security, and IEEE 802.1X authentication. These features help safeguard the network from unauthorized access and potential security threats, ensuring a secure and protected environment for critical business data.
Key Specifications
To delve deeper into the capabilities of the WS-C2960-24PC-L, let’s explore its key specifications:
- Ethernet Ports: The switch boasts 24 Ethernet ports, providing ample connectivity for devices across the network. These ports support Fast Ethernet, ensuring efficient data transfer for various applications.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) Budget: With a PoE budget, the WS-C2960-24PC-L can deliver power to connected devices, eliminating the need for separate power sources. This feature simplifies installation and adds flexibility to the network layout.
- Switching Capacity: The switching capacity of the WS-C2960-24PC-L is a critical metric that defines its ability to handle simultaneous data traffic. This switch offers substantial switching capacity, making it suitable for environments with high data transfer requirements.
- Form Factor: The 1U rack-mountable form factor ensures easy integration into existing network setups. The compact design makes it suitable for environments where space is a consideration.
- Layer 2 Features: As a Layer 2 switch, the WS-C2960-24PC-L operates at the data link layer, providing functionalities such as VLAN support, MAC address filtering, and link aggregation. These features contribute to efficient network management and optimization.
Advantages of Choosing the WS-C2960-24PC-L
- Reliability and Durability: Cisco has a longstanding reputation for producing networking equipment that stands the test of time. The WS-C2960-24PC-L is no exception, offering reliability and durability that businesses can depend on for their critical networking needs.
- Scalability: Scalability is a crucial consideration for businesses anticipating growth. The WS-C2960-24PC-L provides scalability options, allowing organizations to expand their network infrastructure as needed without compromising performance.
- Simplified Network Management: Effective network management is simplified with the WS-C2960-24PC-L. Its user-friendly interface and management tools make it easy for IT professionals to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the network efficiently.
- Cost-Effective PoE Solution: The Power over Ethernet capability of this switch eliminates the need for separate power sources for connected devices, resulting in cost savings on infrastructure and installation.
Use Cases
To truly appreciate the versatility of the WS-C2960-24PC-L, let’s explore some common use cases where this switch shines:
- Office Environments: In office settings, where a multitude of devices such as computers, printers, and IP phones need connectivity, the WS-C2960-24PC-L proves to be a reliable workhorse. Its PoE capability simplifies cable management, and its robust design ensures uninterrupted network performance.
- Surveillance Systems: For businesses deploying surveillance systems with IP cameras, the WS-C2960-24PC-L’s PoE capability becomes a game-changer. It streamlines the installation process by delivering both power and data through a single Ethernet cable.
- Educational Institutions: In schools and universities, where a large number of devices like computers and access points are distributed across different departments, the WS-C2960-24PC-L’s scalability and efficient network management features make it an ideal choice.
Benefits and Features
The WS-C2960-24PC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 24-port switch offers a variety of benefits and features that make it a suitable option for small to medium-sized businesses looking to improve their network infrastructure. Some of the key benefits and features of the WS-C2960-24PC-L include:
- Advanced Features and Functionality: The switch runs on Cisco IOS software, which provides advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), security, and network management. This allows businesses to optimize their network performance and security.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) Support: The switch has 24 ports, with a combination of 10/100Base-T and PoE ports. This allows the switch to power devices such as IP phones and wireless access points directly through the Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for separate power supplies.
- Energy-efficient: The switch supports Cisco EnergyWise technology, which helps to reduce energy consumption by monitoring and managing the power usage of network devices.
- Flexibility: The switch supports Cisco FlexStack, which allows for the stacking of up to four switches, providing a single, logical switch with 80 Gbps of stack throughput. This allows businesses to easily expand their network as their needs grow.
Resiliency and High Availability
The WS-C2960-24PC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 switch is a fixed-configuration, standalone switch that provides 24 ports of Fast Ethernet connectivity. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices.
In terms of resiliency and high availability, the part includes features such as:
- Redundant Power Supplies: The switch can be configured with an optional redundant power supply, which ensures that the switch will continue to operate even if the primary power supply fails.
- Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) support: LACP allows multiple physical links to be grouped together to form a single logical link, providing increased bandwidth and redundancy in case of link failure.
- Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) support: STP prevents network loops by ensuring that only one active path exists between two network devices. This provides redundancy in case of a link failure.
- FlexStack: FlexStack is a stacking technology that allows multiple part switches to be connected together to form a single, logical switch. This provides increased bandwidth and redundancy in case of a switch failure.
General Information about this Cisco WS-C2960-24PC-L
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# WS-C2960-24PC-L
- Product Line: Catalyst
- Product Series: 2960
- Product Model: 2960-24PC-L
- Product Name: Catalyst 2960-24PC-L Ethernet Switch with PoE
Technical Specifications
- Memory: 64 MB RAM, 32 MB Flash Memory
- Ports: 24 Ethernet Ports (10base-t, 100base-tx)
- Data Transfer Rate: 100 Mbps
- Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
- Auxiliary Network Ports: 2×10/100/1000base-t/sfp (uplink)
Management and Communication
- Remote Management Protocols: SNMP 1, RMON 1-3, Telnet, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH-2
- Communication Modes: Half-duplex, Full-duplex
- Features: Auto-sensing, DHCP Support, Power Over Ethernet (PoE), Auto-negotiation, VLAN Support, Auto-uplink (Auto MDI/MDI-X), IGMP Snooping, DHCP Snooping, Quality of Service (QoS)
Standards Compliance
- IEEE Standards: 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z, 802.1d, 802.1q, 802.3ab, 802.1p, 802.3af, 802.3x, 802.3ad (LACP), 802.1w, 802.1x, 802.1s, 802.3ah, 802.1ab (LLDP)
Power Management
- Power Over Ethernet (PoE): Yes
- Power Input: AC 120/230 V (50/60 Hz)
In short, the WS-C2960-24PC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 24 Ports Ethernet Switch stands as a robust and feature-rich networking solution. From its Power over Ethernet capability to advanced security features and scalability options, this switch caters to the diverse needs of modern businesses. Whether you’re running a small office, managing a surveillance system, or overseeing a large educational institution, the WS-C2960-24PC-L is designed to meet your networking requirements with reliability and efficiency. Choose Cisco for a networking solution that goes beyond connectivity – choose a catalyst for success.
