Description
Product Overview
The Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S Catalyst Compact Switch is a type of network switch manufactured by Cisco Systems. It falls under the category of managed switches, which means it offers advanced features for controlling and managing network traffic. This particular switch model is known for its compact size and robust performance, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, branch offices, and enterprise networks.
Features
The Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S Catalyst Compact 8 Ports Switch comes with several key features designed to enhance network connectivity, security, and manageability:
- 8 Ethernet Ports: This switch has eight Ethernet ports, allowing multiple devices to connect to the network simultaneously. Ethernet ports are commonly used for wired connections, providing stable and high-speed data transfer.
- 2 Shared Gigabit Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Ports: In addition to the Ethernet ports, this switch also includes two shared Gigabit SFP ports. SFP ports offer flexibility by supporting various types of SFP modules, including fiber-optic modules for long-distance connections.
- Managed Switch Capabilities: As a managed switch, the Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S offers advanced management features such as VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) support, Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, and SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) monitoring. These features allow administrators to optimize network performance and security.
- Compact Design: The compact form factor of this switch makes it ideal for deployment in space-constrained environments, such as small offices, retail stores, and classrooms. Despite its small size, it delivers powerful networking capabilities.
- Layer 2 Switching: The switch operates at Layer 2 of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, which means it can forward and filter traffic based on MAC (Media Access Control) addresses. Layer 2 switching is essential for building efficient local networks.
- Energy-Efficient Operation: Cisco switches are designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring technologies such as Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and low-power consumption components. These features help reduce energy costs and minimize the environmental impact of network operations.
Use Cases
The Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S Catalyst Compact Switch can be deployed in various scenarios to meet the networking needs of different organizations:
- Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) Networks: Small businesses and home offices can benefit from the compact size and versatile features of this switch. It provides reliable connectivity for computers, printers, VoIP phones, and other network devices.
- Branch Office Connectivity: Branch offices often require a reliable and secure connection to the main corporate network. The Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S switch can serve as a cost-effective solution for connecting branch office networks while ensuring consistent performance and manageability.
- Retail and Hospitality Environments: Retail stores, restaurants, and hotels rely on network connectivity to support various operations such as point-of-sale systems, guest Wi-Fi access, and security cameras. This switch can be installed discreetly to provide reliable networking without taking up much space.
- Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities can use this switch to create robust campus networks that support student access to online resources, multimedia content, and collaborative learning tools. The switch’s management features enable administrators to control network access and prioritize traffic effectively.
- Industrial Applications: In industrial environments such as manufacturing facilities and warehouses, network connectivity is essential for controlling equipment, monitoring processes, and collecting data. The rugged design of the Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S switch makes it suitable for deployment in harsh conditions.
Performance and Scalability
The WS-C2960C-8TC-S Cisco Catalyst Managed 8 Ports Switch is a highly performant and scalable switch that is designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a wide range of features and capabilities that make it ideal for use in a variety of different environments.
In terms of performance, the WS-C2960C-8TC-S offers fast data transfer speeds and low latency, making it ideal for use in environments where high-speed data transfer is critical. It also supports advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features, allowing you to prioritize different types of traffic and ensure that critical applications receive the bandwidth they need.
In terms of scalability, the WS-C2960C-8TC-S is highly flexible and can be easily expanded as your network grows. It supports a wide range of network protocols and standards, including IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS, making it easy to integrate into existing networks. Additionally, it supports Cisco StackWise technology, which allows you to easily connect multiple switches together and manage them as a single entity.
Deployment and Management
Deployment:
- Unpack the WS-C2960C-8TC-S Cisco Catalyst switch and ensure that all components are present and in good condition.
- Connect the switch to a power source and turn it on.
- Connect the switch to a computer or laptop using a console cable.
- Launch a terminal program such as PuTTY and configure the connection settings to match the switch’s default settings (e.g. 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit).
- Press Enter to access the switch’s command-line interface (CLI).
- Configure the switch’s basic settings, such as the hostname, IP address, and default gateway.
Management:
- Connect to the switch using the CLI or a web-based interface.
- Configure VLANs and assign ports to specific VLANs as needed.
- Configure port security settings to control access to the network.
- Set up Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize different types of traffic.
- Monitor the switch’s performance and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
- Schedule regular firmware upgrades to ensure that the switch is running the latest software version.
- Back up the switch’s configuration regularly to prevent data loss in case of a failure.
- Use security features such as access control lists (ACLs) and port security to protect the network from unauthorized access.
- Monitor and analyze network traffic to identify and resolve any performance issues.
- Use tools such as Cisco Prime or SolarWinds to manage and monitor multiple switches from a central location.
Security and Access Control
The WS-C2960C-8TC-S Cisco Catalyst Managed 8 Ports Switch provides several security and access control features to protect against unauthorized access and network attacks. These include:
- Access Control Lists (ACLs): ACLs are used to filter traffic and restrict access to the network based on specific criteria such as IP address, port number, and protocol type. This allows administrators to control who can access the network and what resources they can access.
- Port Security: Port security allows administrators to restrict access to specific ports on the switch. This can be used to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network or to limit the number of devices that can be connected to a specific port.
- VLANs: Virtual LANs (VLANs) are used to segment a network into smaller, isolated segments. This can be used to create separate networks for different departments or groups within an organization.
- IEEE 802.1x: IEEE 802.1x is an authentication protocol that is used to control access to a network. It requires users to provide valid credentials before they can access the network.
- SSH and Telnet: SSH and Telnet are used to remotely access and manage the switch. SSH provides a secure, encrypted connection while Telnet provides an unencrypted connection.
- Secure Boot: The switch supports secure boot, which ensures that only authorized firmware images can be loaded on the switch. This prevents unauthorized firmware from being loaded, which could potentially compromise the security of the switch.
- SNMPv3: SNMPv3 is used to monitor and manage the switch remotely. It provides secure authentication and encryption for remote management.
- Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) Guard: CDP guard is used to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the switch by disabling CDP on a specific port.
General Information about this Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU # WS-C2960C-8TC-S
- Product Line: Catalyst
- Product Series: 2960-C
- Product Name: Catalyst 2960-C Ethernet Switch
- Product Type: Ethernet Switch
Interfaces/Ports
- Total Number of Network Ports: 8
- Token Ring Port: No
- LRE Port: No
- Uplink Port: Yes
- USB: Yes
- Number of Network (RJ-45) Ports: 8
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 8 x Fast Ethernet Network
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet Uplink
Performance
- Media Type Supported: Twisted Pair
- Ethernet Technology: Fast Ethernet
- Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology: 10/100Base-TX
- Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T
I/O Expansions
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 2
- Expansion Slot Type: SFP
- Shared SFP Slot: Yes
- Number of SFP Slots: 2
Network & Communication
- Layer Supported: 2
Memory
- Standard Memory: 128 MB
- Memory Technology: DRAM
- Flash Memory: 64 MB
Power Description
- PoE (RJ-45) Port: No
- Input Voltage: 110 V AC
- Input Voltage: 220 V AC
- Power Source: Power Supply
In general, the Cisco WS-C2960C-8TC-S Catalyst Compact Switch is a versatile and reliable networking solution suitable for a wide range of applications. Its compact size, advanced features, and robust performance make it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses, branch offices, educational institutions, and industrial environments. By following best practices for installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting, you can ensure that the switch meets your organization’s networking needs effectively and efficiently.
