Description
Product Overview of the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch
The Cisco WS-C2960-48TC-L Catalyst 2960 switch is a powerful networking device designed to facilitate smooth communication between multiple devices within a network. This switch, belonging to Cisco’s Catalyst 2960 series, serves as a crucial component in building efficient and reliable network infrastructures for businesses, organizations, and various industries.
Understanding the Port
One of the key features of this Cisco switch is its 48 Ports T RJ-45 configuration. These ports are essential connectors that enable devices to link together within a network. RJ-45 ports are commonly used for Ethernet connections, allowing devices to communicate and share data seamlessly.
Management Capabilities and Layer 2 Functionality
The WS-C2960-48TC-L switch is described as a “manageable Layer2” device. Let’s break down what this means:
- Manageable: This indicates that the switch can be configured and controlled by administrators or network engineers. It offers a range of settings that can be adjusted to suit the specific needs of a network.
- Layer 2: The switch operates at Layer 2 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. Layer 2, known as the Data Link Layer, manages data transfer between devices within the same network. It handles tasks such as MAC address assignment and frame forwarding.
Rack-Mountable Design and 1U Size
The switch is designed to be easily installed in standard equipment racks. Its “rack-mountable” feature allows for efficient utilization of space in data centers or server rooms. Furthermore, the switch occupies 1U of vertical space in the rack. This compact size optimizes space utilization while providing robust networking capabilities.
Gigabit Ethernet Uplink for High-Speed Connections
The Cisco WS-C2960-48TC-L Catalyst 2960 switch boasts 2x Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports. These uplink ports support Gigabit Ethernet speeds, capable of transmitting data at rates of up to 1000 megabits per second (Mbps). These high-speed connections are crucial for linking this switch to other networking devices, ensuring rapid data transfer and efficient communication across the network.
Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Flexibility
This switch is equipped with Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) interfaces. These interfaces offer versatility in connectivity by allowing different types of SFP modules to be inserted into the switch. SFP modules enable the switch to connect to various types of networking equipment or to different types of cables, enhancing the switch’s adaptability and flexibility in accommodating diverse network setups.
Power and Innovation
The WS-C2960-48TC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 is a managed Ethernet switch with 48 Fast Ethernet ports. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices. The switch features advanced security and QoS features, as well as energy-efficient technology. Additionally, it supports Cisco EnergyWise technology, which helps organizations manage the energy consumption of connected devices and reduce their energy costs. The switch also supports Cisco FlexStack stacking technology, which allows multiple switches to be stacked together and managed as a single unit, providing increased scalability and ease of management.
Resiliency and High Availability
The WS-C2960-48TC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 is designed to provide resiliency and high availability in network environments. Some of the features that contribute to this include:
- Redundant Power Supply: The switch supports the use of a redundant power supply, which can help ensure that the switch remains operational even if one power supply fails.
- Spanning Tree Protocol (STP): The switch supports STP, which helps prevent loops in the network by blocking certain ports and allowing only one active path between two devices.
- Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): The switch supports LACP, which can be used to bundle multiple physical ports together to create a single logical link, providing increased bandwidth and redundancy.
- Hot-swappable modules: The switch supports the hot-swap feature, which allows you to replace or upgrade the switch module without shutting down the device.
- FlexStack: The switch is equipped with the Cisco FlexStack stacking module, which allows multiple switches to be stacked and managed as a single unit, providing increased scalability and ease of management.
Robust Security and Dynamic Quality
The WS-C2960-48TC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960 is designed to provide robust security and dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) features to help protect and prioritize network traffic.
Security: The switch offers a variety of security features to help protect your network, such as:
- Access Control Lists (ACLs): It allows you to define which traffic is allowed or denied on the switch.
- IEEE 802.1X network login: It provides a secure method for authenticating users on the network.
- DHCP Snooping: It helps to prevent DHCP spoofing attacks by only allowing DHCP messages from authorized DHCP servers.
Quality of Service (QoS): The switch supports advanced QoS features that allow you to prioritize different types of network traffic to help ensure that important traffic, such as voice and video, is given priority over less critical traffic.
- Class of Service (CoS): It allows you to assign different levels of priority to different types of traffic.
- Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED): It helps to prevent network congestion by randomly dropping lower-priority traffic when the network becomes congested.
Additionally, the switch is also equipped with the Cisco EnergyWise technology, which helps organizations manage energy consumption and reduce costs. The EnergyWise technology allows the switch to monitor and control the power usage of connected devices, helping to reduce energy costs and improve the overall efficiency of the network.
General Information about this Cisco WS-C2960-48TC-L
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# WS-C2960-48TC-L
- Product Type: Ethernet Switch
Interfaces/Ports for 48 Ports Ethernet Switch
- Total Number of Network Ports 48
- Uplink Port Yes
- Number of Network (RJ-45) Ports: 48
- Port/Expansion Slot Details 2 x Fast Ethernet Expansion Slot
- Port/Expansion Slot Details 48 x Fast Ethernet Network
- Port/Expansion Slot Details 2 x Gigabit Ethernet Uplink
Performance of Catalyst 2960-48TC Managed Switch
- Media Type: Supported Twisted Pair
- Twisted Pair Cable Standard Category: 5
- Ethernet Technology: Fast Ethernet
- Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T
- Network Technology: 10Base-T
Network & Communication of Layer2 Switch
- Layer Supported: 2
I/O Expansions
- Number of Total Expansion Slots 2
- Expansion Slot Type SFP
- Number of SFP Slots 2
Memory
- Standard Memory 64 MB
- Memory Technology DRAM
- Flash Memory 32 MB
Power Description
- Input Voltage 110 V AC
- Input Voltage 220 V AC
- Power Source Power Supply
- Redundant Power Supply Yes
In summary, the Cisco WS-C2960-48TC-L Catalyst 2960 48 Ports T RJ-45 Manageable Layer2 Rack-mountable 1U Switch with 2x Gigabit Ethernet Uplink Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Manageable Switch is a robust and versatile networking device. Its multitude of features, including the extensive port configuration, manageability, Layer 2 functionality, rack-mountable design, high-speed Gigabit Ethernet uplink, and adaptable SFP interfaces, make it a reliable choice for establishing and maintaining efficient and scalable network infrastructures. Cisco’s reputation for quality and reliability further underscores the value and trustworthiness of this switch for businesses and organizations seeking high-performance networking solutions.
