What is the Use of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches?

When we talk about intelligent switches, one name that spontaneously comes is the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches. These switches are a new family of fixed-configuration standalone devices, providing desktop 10/100 fast Ethernet and 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This enables enhanced LAN services for entry-level enterprise, mid-market, and branch office networks.

With Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches, you gain integrated security features, including network admission control (NAC), advanced quality of service (QoS), and resiliency. These capabilities deliver intelligent services at the network edge.

List of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches

8-Port Switches

• C2960-8TC-L: This switch includes 8 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 1 10/100/1000 Power over Ethernet (PoE) port. It offers a forwarding rate of 2.7 Mpps and consumes a maximum of 11W (38 BTUs per hour).

24-Port Switches

• C2960-24TC-S: Features 24 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 2 dual-purpose Gigabit Ethernet uplinks with LAN Lite Software. It provides a forwarding rate of 6.5 Mpps and a maximum power consumption of 30W (103 BTUs per hour).
• C2960-24TC-L: Similar to the C2960-24TC-S, but includes LAN Base Software while maintaining the same forwarding rate and power consumption.
• C2960-24PC-L: Offers 24 Ethernet 10/100 PoE ports and 2 dual-purpose Gigabit Ethernet uplinks with LAN Base Software. It has a forwarding rate of 6.5 Mpps, a maximum power consumption of 100W (341 BTUs per hour), and 370W PoE output power available (15.4W per port).

48-Port Switches

• C2960-48TT-L: This switch features 48 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 2 10/100/1000 uplinks with LAN Base Software. It delivers a forwarding rate of 10.1 Mpps and has a maximum power consumption of 45W (155 BTUs per hour).
• C2960-48TC-L: Similar to the above but includes dual-purpose Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, also with a 10.1 Mpps forwarding rate and 45W power consumption.
• C2960-48PST-S: This model provides 48 Ethernet 10/100 PoE ports, along with 2 10/100/1000 and 2 SFP uplinks. It offers a forwarding rate of 13.3 Mpps and consumes a maximum of 67W (227 BTUs per hour).
• C2960-48TT-S: Includes 48 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 2 10/100/1000 uplinks with LAN Lite Software. It provides a forwarding rate of 10.1 Mpps and has a maximum power consumption of 45W (154 BTUs per hour).
• C2960-48TC-S: Similar to the C2960-48TT-S but features dual-purpose Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. It maintains a forwarding rate of 10.1 Mpps and a maximum power consumption of 45W (154 BTUs per hour).

Usage of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches

Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches are designed for midmarket organizations and small enterprises. Their fixed configurations and two-layer design utilize Cisco’s LAN software. These switches create a “borderless” experience, enabling reliable and transparent connections among users, regardless of their location or device.

Benefits of Using Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches

Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches combine borderless networks with Cisco architecture, enabling secure and reliable connections on any device, anywhere, and at any time. This flexibility allows seamless access to resources.

Moreover, these switches offer superior Layer 2 defense capabilities. They effectively protect your network against man-in-the-middle attacks, ensuring robust security.

As the industry’s first unified location services, the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches provide a truly borderless experience. They facilitate enterprise mobility and support business-class video services. Additionally, these switches enable tracking of mobile assets and their users, enhancing operational efficiency.

Furthermore, the intelligent services on Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches ensure smooth data flow. By using industry-leading mechanisms, they can effectively mark, classify, and schedule data, voice, and video traffic at wire speed.

Other Important Details About Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches

What Software Images Are Supported by Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches?
The switches support the LAN Base Image, which includes features such as advanced QoS, rate limiting, security filters, access control lists, and multicast to the network edge.

Do Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches Support Redundant Power Supply?
Yes, Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches do support redundant power supplies, ensuring continuous operation and reliability in critical environments.

Combined with the Cisco Redundant Power System 675, the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches attain maximum power availability for a converged voice and data network. They protect against internal power supply failures and an uninterruptible power supply, safeguarding against power outages.

Can Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches Protect Against Unauthorized Access?

Yes, Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches can protect your network from unauthorized users. They support 802.1x, which works with a RADIUS server to authenticate users during network access. This feature effectively blocks unauthorized users.

The 802.1x standard offers port-level security and is commonly used in Wireless LANs. Additionally, Access Control Lists (ACLs) restrict portions of the network. These restrictions occur in hardware, maintaining forwarding and routing performance.

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Another method of protection is port security. This feature limits access based on MAC addresses, ensuring only authorized users can connect to the network.

How Do Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches Track Network Activities?

Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches help monitor and track network activities using Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). Their MAC address notification feature alerts network administrators when and where users connect. This enables timely responses to any unauthorized access.

Additionally, the DHCP Interface Tracker feature identifies where a user is connected on the network. It provides both switch and port IDs to a DHCP server for accurate tracking.

Is There a Warranty on Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches?

Yes, Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches come with the Cisco Limited Hardware Warranty. Furthermore, you can access ongoing software updates for free on the Cisco website.