Cisco Catalyst Switches

Cisco Catalyst Switches

The Cisco Catalyst switch family is built upon an innovative, next-generation architecture called Borderless Networks, which functions to free users from the constraints of a single workplace and enables them to travel anywhere, at any time, with any device, through a secure, reliable network connection. This marks a power shift in which the users are getting the power back from the devices, making users mobile and enabling them to bring the data to them instead of the other way around. And not only can Cisco Catalyst switches bring the data to the user, but through intelligent network access, the user can be identified as well as their location. Offering an extensive selection of switching solutions, there are two main types of Cisco switches within the Catalyst family: modular switches and fixed configuration switches. The two available series of modular Cisco Catalyst switches are the 6500 series and the 4500 series. The list is much longer for fixed configuration Cisco Catalyst switches, and includes the 4900, 3750-X, 3750-E, 3750, 3560-X, and 3560-E series.

In the quest for the right Cisco Catalyst switch, it is important to consider the different types of switches and what characteristics they offer. For instance, modular Cisco switches have high port density, as well as Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Enhanced Power over Ethernet (ePoE) scalability. Fixed configuration Cisco switches instead feature a range of software image options as well as multiple connectivity options, including Fast Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE). Additionally, knowing what applications they are commonly used for is essential. While all Cisco Catalyst switches provide intelligent Local Area Network (LAN) switching for every size of campus, data center and branch networks, the different configurations make each series better for specific applications. For example, modular Cisco Catalyst switches are often used in the deployment of numerous, concurrent data services, while fixed configuration Cisco Catalyst switches are often utilized for converged data, voice and video services.