Description
Product Overview for the Cisco WS-X4516-10GE Supervisor Module
In the ever-evolving landscape of networking equipment, the WS-X4516-10GE Cisco Catalyst Management Module Supervisor Engine V-10GE stands out as a crucial component in Cisco’s Catalyst series. This module serves as the brain of a network switch, providing essential management functions and ensuring the efficient operation of the entire network. In this detailed exploration, we will delve into the key features, functionalities, and significance of the WS-X4516-10GE Supervisor Engine, shedding light on its role in network management and performance optimization.
Understanding Supervisor Engines
Before delving into the specifics of the WS-X4516-10GE, it’s essential to grasp the concept of a Supervisor Engine. In networking terms, a Supervisor Engine is a critical component that oversees and controls the operation of a switch or router. It manages various tasks, including packet forwarding, device configuration, and monitoring network performance. The choice of a Supervisor Engine significantly influences the capabilities and performance of the entire networking device.
Features of WS-X4516-10GE
- 10 Gigabit Ethernet Support: One of the standout features of the WS-X4516-10GE is its support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE). This capability enables high-speed data transfer, making it suitable for networks with demanding bandwidth requirements. Whether in a data center or an enterprise environment, the Supervisor Engine’s 10GE support ensures that the network can handle large volumes of data with minimal latency.
- Scalability: Scalability is a crucial consideration in network design, especially as organizations grow and their networking needs expand. The WS-X4516-10GE Supervisor Engine offers scalability, allowing network administrators to adapt to changing requirements. This scalability is particularly valuable in environments where the demand for network resources can vary over time.
- Advanced Security Features: Security is paramount in any network, and the WS-X4516-10GE is equipped with advanced security features to safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of data. From access control mechanisms to threat detection capabilities, the Supervisor Engine plays a pivotal role in creating a secure networking environment.
- Enhanced Performance Monitoring: Monitoring network performance is essential for identifying bottlenecks, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring a smooth user experience. The WS-X4516-10GE provides enhanced performance monitoring tools, allowing administrators to gain insights into traffic patterns, device utilization, and overall network health.
- Redundancy and High Availability: Network downtime can have significant consequences for businesses. The WS-X4516-10GE addresses this concern by incorporating redundancy and high-availability features. Redundant components and failover mechanisms ensure that the network remains operational even in the face of hardware failures.
Use Cases
- Data Centers: In data center environments where high-performance networking is paramount, the WS-X4516-10GE finds a natural fit. Its support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet proves crucial in handling the substantial data flows typical of data centers, while its scalability accommodates the dynamic nature of these environments.
- Enterprise Networks: Large enterprises with diverse networking requirements benefit from the WS-X4516-10GE’s versatility. Whether connecting numerous departments within an organization or facilitating communication between geographically dispersed offices, this Supervisor Engine provides the performance and reliability needed for enterprise-level networking.
- Service Providers: For service providers delivering connectivity solutions to customers, the WS-X4516-10GE offers a robust foundation. Its scalability allows service providers to adapt to varying customer demands, while the emphasis on security ensures the integrity of the services provided over the network.
Performance and Scalability
The WS-X4516-10GE Cisco Catalyst 4500 Supervisor Engine V-10GE is designed to deliver high performance and scalability for large enterprise networks. Some of the key performance and scalability features of this engine include
- High-Speed Networking: The engine supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) interfaces, providing high-speed networking capabilities to support bandwidth-intensive applications.
- Large-Scale Switching: The engine is capable of supporting up to 928 10GE ports or up to 1,248 Gigabit Ethernet ports, making it suitable for large-scale switching environments.
- Advanced Traffic Management: The engine supports advanced traffic management features, such as Quality of Service (QoS), to ensure that critical applications receive the necessary network resources they require to operate effectively.
- High Availability: The engine supports High Availability (HA) features, such as redundant power supplies and redundant supervisors, to ensure that network services remain available even in case of hardware failures.
- Scalable Software: The engine runs on the Cisco IOS-XE operating system, which is designed for scalability and provides a wide range of features and functionalities to support the needs of large enterprise networks.
High Availability and Redundancy
The WS-X4516-10GE Cisco Catalyst 4500 Supervisor Engine V-10GE supports high availability and redundancy through several mechanisms.
- Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP): HSRP allows multiple routers to share a virtual IP address, making it appear as a single virtual router to clients. This provides redundancy in case of a supervisor engine failure, as traffic can be automatically forwarded to a standby router.
- Redundancy groups: The supervisor engine supports redundancy groups, which allow multiple supervisor engines to operate as a single logical unit. In the event of a supervisor engine failure, another supervisor engine can automatically take over, ensuring seamless operation and no downtime.
- Dual power supplies: The supervisor engine also supports dual power supplies, which provide redundancy for the power supply, ensuring continuous operation even in the event of a power supply failure.
- Redundant supervisors: The supervisor engine supports the use of redundant supervisors in the chassis, which provide automatic failover in the event of a supervisor engine failure, ensuring the availability of network services.
General Information about this Cisco WS-X4516-10GE
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part Number or SKU# WS-X4516-10GE
- Product Name: Supervisor Engine V-10GE
- Product Type: Supervisor Engine
Technical Specifications
- Application/Usage: Data Networking
Interfaces/Ports
- Interfaces/Ports Details: 1 x RJ-45 Console RS-232 Management
- Interfaces/Ports Details: 1 x RJ-45 10/100Base-TX Network Management
I/O Expansions
- Expansion Slots: 2 x X2 Uplink
- Expansion Slots: 4 x SFP (mini-GBIC)
- Expansion Slots: 1 x CompactFlash Card Slot
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature: 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature: 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating: 10 – 90%
Management & Protocols
- Management:
- CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution (LMS)
- CiscoView
- Cisco Network Assistant
- IEEE 802.1Q VLAN
- IEEE 802.1p QoS
- SNMP
- CLI
- DHCP
- Telnet
Miscellaneous
- Additional Information:
- Total centralized switching capacity: 136Gbps
- Throughput: 102mpps
- Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM): 512 MB
- 64-MB onboard flash memory
Compatibility
- Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switches
In short, the WS-X4516-10GE Cisco Catalyst Management Module Supervisor Engine V-10GE plays a pivotal role in the success of modern networking infrastructures. Its advanced features, scalability, and emphasis on security make it a versatile choice for various environments, from data centers to enterprise networks and service providers. Understanding the installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting aspects of this Supervisor Engine is crucial for network administrators seeking to optimize their networking infrastructure for performance and reliability. As technology continues to advance, Supervisor Engines like the WS-X4516-10GE will remain at the forefront of network management, ensuring the seamless operation of interconnected systems.
