Description
Overview of the Switch
the Cisco WS-C2960XR-24PS-I from the Catalyst 2960 X Series stands out as a robust and versatile 24-port Ethernet switch. Packed with features and designed for ease of management, this rack-mountable switch is a game-changer for businesses seeking reliable connectivity. In this detailed exploration, we delve into the key aspects, specifications, and benefits of the Cisco WS-C2960XR-24PS-I.
Key SpecificationsPort Configuration
- The Cisco WS-C2960XR-24PS-I is equipped with 24 ports for Ethernet connectivity, providing the foundation for a high-performance network. Notably, it supports 10/100/1000 Megabits Per Second (MBPS), ensuring seamless data transfer at varying speeds.
Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Slots
- Enhancing its versatility, the switch comes with 4 Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Gigabit ports. SFP slots accommodate a range of transceivers, enabling flexible connection options and facilitating the integration of various network types.
Rack-Mountable Design
- Designed for convenience, the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I features a rack-mountable design. This allows for efficient use of space in data centers or network closets, contributing to a well-organized and accessible networking infrastructure.
Managed Switch Capabilities
- As a managed switch, this Cisco model provides advanced control over network configurations. This includes the ability to monitor traffic, manage VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks), and implement security protocols, offering administrators a comprehensive set of tools for network optimization.
Performance FeaturesGigabit Ethernet Technology
- The incorporation of Gigabit Ethernet technology ensures swift data transfer across the network. Whether handling large files, supporting video conferencing, or facilitating seamless online collaboration, the Gigabit Ethernet capabilities of the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I contribute to a responsive and efficient network.
Network Layer Support
- With support for Layer 3 networking, the switch enables advanced routing capabilities. This is crucial for managing and directing traffic efficiently within complex network infrastructures.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Functionality
- The WS-C2960XR-24PS-I is equipped with Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities on 12 RJ-45 ports. This feature simplifies the deployment of network devices such as IP cameras and VoIP phones by delivering both data and power over a single Ethernet cable.
SFP Uplink and Expansion Slots
- The inclusion of 4 SFP uplink ports expands connectivity options. These slots support various SFP modules, enhancing the switch’s flexibility in connecting to other network devices or uplinking to additional switches.
ProtocolsComprehensive Management Options
- This Cisco switch offers a range of management options, making it a versatile choice for administrators. From traditional Telnet to modern SSH support, the switch accommodates various protocols, providing flexibility in managing and configuring the device.
Network Security
- Security is a top priority, and the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I addresses this with support for authentication methods such as Kerberos, Secure Shell (SSH), RADIUS, and TACACS+. These protocols ensure secure access to the switch, safeguarding the integrity of the network.
VLAN Support and Traffic Management
- With support for 1023 VLANs, the switch allows for efficient traffic segmentation, enhancing network performance and security. Additionally, features like Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) support and Access Control List (ACL) support contribute to effective traffic management and control.
Advanced FeaturesEnergy-Efficient Technologies
- Cisco EnergyWise technology is integrated into the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I, promoting energy efficiency. This feature intelligently monitors and manages power consumption, contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective network operation.
IPv6 Support
- In alignment with the evolving landscape of networking, this Cisco switch includes IPv6 support. This ensures compatibility with the latest Internet Protocol standards, future-proofing the network infrastructure.
Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching
- The WS-C2960XR-24PS-I excels in both Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, providing versatility in handling different network requirements. Whether optimizing for performance (Layer 2) or implementing advanced routing (Layer 3), this switch adapts to diverse networking needs.
Processing Power and MemoryProcessor Specifications
- Running on a 600 MHz processor, the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I delivers responsive performance, efficiently handling data processing and network management tasks.
Ample Memory Resources
- With 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of flash memory, the switch provides ample resources for storing configurations, handling firmware updates, and ensuring smooth operation even in demanding network environments.
Expansion and ConnectivityDiverse Interface Options
- The switch boasts diverse interface options, including 24 x 1000Base-T RJ-45 ports, 4 SFP uplink ports, and 2 USB Type A ports. These interfaces cater to various connectivity needs, accommodating devices ranging from computers to network storage solutions.
Stacking Module Slot
- Featuring a Stacking Module slot, the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I supports the expansion of its capabilities by allowing the connection of multiple switches. This facilitates scalability and simplifies network management as a cohesive unit.
Reliability and PowerImpressive MTBF Rating
- The Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) for the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I is an impressive 321,290 hours. This reliability metric underscores the switch’s robust design and durability, ensuring consistent performance over an extended period.
Power Source and Redundancy
- The switch operates with an internal power supply, providing 640 Watts of power. Additionally, the option for power redundancy adds an extra layer of reliability, ensuring continuous operation even in the event of a power supply failure.
Voltage and Frequency Requirements
- Designed to be adaptable, the switch supports a voltage range of AC 120/230 V and operates at frequencies of 50/60 Hz. This flexibility makes it suitable for deployment in various regions with different power standards.
Environmental ConsiderationsOperating Temperature Range
- The switch accommodates diverse environmental conditions with an operating temperature range spanning from 23 °F to 113 °F. This ensures reliability even in challenging climates.
Humidity Tolerance
- With a humidity range of 10% to 95% (non-condensing), the switch can operate in a wide range of humidity levels. This flexibility is crucial for deployments in different geographic locations.
Storage Conditions
- For storage, the switch handles temperatures from -13 °F to 158 °F and maintains operational integrity within a humidity range of 10% to 95% (non-condensing). These specifications contribute to the switch’s durability during transportation and storage.
Advanced Security Features and Services
- The WS-C2960XR-24PS-I Cisco Catalyst 2960 X Series 24-Ports Managed Ethernet Switch is a high-performance, managed switch that provides advanced security features and services to help protect the network from unauthorized access and malicious attacks.
- The switch supports Access Control Lists (ACLs) which can be used to restrict access to specific parts of the network. This feature allows network administrators to create granular security policies that control who has access to specific parts of the network and what they are allowed to do.
- The switch also supports Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) which provides identity-based security policies for endpoint devices. This feature allows network administrators to create security policies based on the identity of the user or device, rather than their IP address, providing a more secure and flexible security solution.
- The switch also supports Cisco TrustSec which provides identity-based security for the entire network. This feature allows network administrators to create security policies that are based on the identity of the user or device, and enforce them throughout the network, providing end-to-end security.
- The switch also supports DHCP snooping and IP Source Guard which help to prevent DHCP and ARP spoofing attacks. DHCP snooping verifies DHCP messages and IP Source Guard verifies IP source addresses.
- The switch also supports advanced security features such as Port security and Storm Control which help to control access to the switch ports and prevent traffic floods.
- Additionally, the switch supports Cisco’s Flexible Netflow (FNF) which provides the ability to collect, classify, and analyze network traffic flows for use in network security, performance, and troubleshooting.
Simplifying Network
The WS-C2960XR-24PS-I Cisco Catalyst 2960 X Series 24-Ports Managed Ethernet Switch is a powerful and feature-rich network switch that can be managed using various methods. Simplifying the management of this switch can help make it easier to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the network.
- Use a network management software such as Cisco Network Assistant (CNA) to manage multiple switches from a single interface. CNA is a free software that allows you to manage, configure and troubleshoot multiple Cisco switches and routers. This can save time and effort by allowing you to make changes to multiple switches at once, rather than having to log into each switch individually.
- Use Cisco’s command-line interface (CLI) to automate tasks and configure multiple switches at once using scripts. CLI is a powerful tool that allows you to configure switch settings and monitor the switch’s performance using commands. Scripts can be created to automate repetitive tasks and make changes to multiple switches at once.
- Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to monitor and manage the switch remotely. SNMP is a standard protocol that allows network devices to be monitored and managed remotely. This can be useful for monitoring the switch’s performance and troubleshooting issues from a remote location.
- Use Access Control Lists (ACLs) to control network access and improve security. ACLs are used to control access to the network by allowing or denying traffic based on specific criteria. This can help improve security by limiting access to only authorized users and devices.
- Regularly update the switch’s firmware to ensure it has the latest security patches and features. Keeping the switch’s firmware up to date can help fix bugs and improve performance.
- Make use of Cisco’s Smartports which are pre-configured templates that simplify the configuration of specific network topologies. Smartports are pre-configured templates that are designed to make it easy to set up and configure the switch for specific network topologies, such as a server farm or a wireless network.
Layer 3 Routing Capabilities
The WS-C2960XR-24PS-I Cisco Catalyst 2960 X Series 24-Ports Managed Ethernet Switch is a Layer 2 switch, which means it is primarily designed to handle data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model and it does not have full routing capabilities of a Layer 3 switch.
However, it does support some Layer 3 functionality such as:
- Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing protocols to help route traffic between different networks.
- IP version 4 and IP version 6 static routing which allows you to manually configure routes to specific destinations.
- DHCP relay, which allows the switch to forward DHCP requests to a DHCP server on a different network
- Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing different types of network traffic.
It should be noted that the switch lacks some advanced routing features of a full-fledged Layer 3 switch such as VLAN routing, support for multiple routing protocols, IP routing with access control lists, and support for advanced routing protocols like BGP, EIGRP, etc.
Detail Information about this Cisco WS-C2960XR-24PS-I
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part Number or SKU# WS-C2960XR-24PS-I
- Product Line: Catalyst
- Product Series: 2960-XR
- Product Model: 2960XR-24PS-I
- Type: Networking
- Product Type: Ethernet Switch
Ports and Connectivity
- Total Number of Network Ports: 24
- Number of PoE (RJ-45) Ports: 12
- Number of PoE+ (RJ-45) Ports: 12
- Port/Expansion Slot Details:
- 24 x Gigabit Ethernet Network Ports
- 4 x Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slots
I/O Expansions of L3 Switch
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 4
- Expansion Slot Type: SFP
- Number of SFP Slots: 4
Media & Performance
- Media Type Supported: Twisted Pair
- Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T
Network & Communication
- Layer Supported: 3
Management & Protocols
- Manageable: Yes
Networking
- Virtual interfaces (VLANs): 1023
- Jumbo Frame Support: 9216 bytes
- Max Units In A Stack: 8
- Routing Protocol: OSPF, RIP-1, RIP-2, HSRP, VRRP, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, PIM-SSM, policy-based routing (PBR), RIPng
- Remote Management Protocol: SNMP 1, SNMP 2, RMON 1, RMON 2, RMON 3, RMON 9, Telnet, SNMP 3, SNMP 2c, HTTP, TFTP, SSH, CLI
- Authentication Method: Kerberos, Secure Shell (SSH), RADIUS, TACACS+
- Compliant Standards: IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3z, IEEE 802.1D, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3ad (LACP), IEEE 802.1w, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3ae, IEEE 802.1s, IEEE 802.3ah, IEEE 802.1ab (LLDP), IEEE 802.3at, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.1AX
Features
- Layer 2 switching, power over Ethernet (PoE), auto-negotiation, ARP support, Cisco Fast EtherChannel, VLAN support, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), IGMP snooping, Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Broadcast Storm Control, IPv6 support, Multicast Storm Control, Unicast Storm Control, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) support, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) support, DHCP snooping, Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) support, Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) support, Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) support, Access Control List (ACL) support, Quality of Service (QoS), RADIUS support, SSH support, Jumbo Frames support, MLD snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), PoE+, Cisco EnergyWise technology, Uni-Directional Link Detection (UDLD), Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+), IPv4 support, Shaped Round Robin (SRR), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), MAC Address Notification, Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN), layer 3 load balancing, Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree (PVRST), NetFlow, Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) support, Energy Efficient Ethernet, Multicast VLAN Registration (MVR), Strict Priority Queuing (SPQ), Class of Service (CoS), Cisco FlexStack Plus
Processor / Memory
- Processor: 600 MHz
- RAM: 512 MB
- Flash Memory: 128 MB
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces:
- 24 x 1000Base-T 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T – RJ-45 – RJ-45
- 12 ports (PoE+) / 24 ports (PoE) – 30 W
- 1 x console console – RJ-45 – RJ-45
- 1 x mini-USB console – mini-USB Type B – Type B management
- 2 x USB Type A
- 1 x 1000Base-TX 10Base-T/100Base-TX – RJ-45 – RJ-45 management
- 4 x SFP (mini-GBIC) – SFP uplink
- Expansion Slots: 1 (total) / 1 (free) x Stacking Module slot
Reliability
- MTBF: 321,290 Hours
Power Description
- Power Source: Internal Power Supply
- Power Redundancy: Optional
- Power Provided: 640 Watt
- Voltage Required: AC 120/230 V
- Frequency Required: 50/60 Hz
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature: 23 °F
- Max Operating Temperature: 113 °F
- Humidity Range Operating: 10 – 95% (non-condensing)
- Min Storage Temperature: -13 °F
- Max Storage Temperature: 158 °F
- Humidity Range Storage: 10 – 95% (non-condensing)
Miscellaneous
- Environmentally Friendly: Yes
- Environmental Certification: RoHS
In general, the Cisco WS-C2960XR-24PS-I Catalyst 2960 X Series Managed Switch emerges as a comprehensive solution for modern networking challenges. From its robust hardware specifications to advanced management features and environmental considerations, this switch offers a versatile and reliable foundation for building efficient and secure networks. Whether in small offices or large enterprises, the WS-C2960XR-24PS-I proves to be a valuable asset, combining performance, scalability, and sustainability in a single package.







