How to install and operate Cisco LAN switches

Certification: Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching - Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching

Cisco switches are globally used and this is due to the fact that they are believed to be very reliable when it comes to their operation, they are also costly meaning one can get them at a good cost. Despite of them being cost effective, their performance is updated hence they bring about efficiency in whatever field they operate. There are also several reasons why the Cisco switches were designed.

Reasons for Cisco switches

One reason why Cisco switches were designed is simply because it is quite easy when it comes to their configuration and this is so because of the existence of the serial console. They are easy to operate and hence they have become user friendly worldwide. In addition to this they are designed in such a way that their manageability together with their customization is so advanced and this is an advantage because they have the ability to last longer during their life cycle. They also allow quick monitoring of a lot of states and also the measurement of any traffic flows. In spite of their reasons for design they come along with certain limitations; if not well designed in that they have been wrongly encrypted there can be security problems and this quite a challenge to its users.

Some of the advantages of Cisco switches are if well designed they provide highly integrated security and as a result they are preferable compared to other network switches. They are also the masters for provision of services to each and every level of application which ensures that there is continued communication throughout the system. Another advantage is that they are easy to manage due to the fact that they are not that bulky hence they have the characteristic of being scalable, more secure and to top it off they are highly resilient. Generally Cisco switches have many advantages and they can therefore be divided into two groups.

Fixed configuration switches

This type of Cisco switches was the first to be designed and used in most businesses. Some of their general characteristics are, first of all they have more power over Ethernet and as a result they are more preferred, they are designed in such a way that its features are highly assorted and they also have varying amounts of gigabit. Another thing is that they have standard and enhanced software and there are a multiple of them that have switches of similar appearance yet they have different switches.

There are different kinds of fixed configuration switches basically known as Cisco catalyst switches they are found on layer two and three of the fixed configuration switches and they are most common in the following areas; in branch offices, enterprise offices and in small to medium sized businesses. Here are some of the categories of Cisco switches that are of fixed configuration.

Cisco switch catalyst 2960

This type of Cisco switch is designed in such a way that it is used in the Ethernet whose basic feature is that it has a stand and Ethernet capability hence enabling easy entry of the level offices into the networks. This switch increases security of the networks, their availability and capability and as a result lowering the cost of ownership of any network. They are of layer three of the fixed configuration and have sixteen routes.

Cisco catalyst 3560

This type of Cisco switch is mainly applicable when it comes to the engine use in technology, whose main use is to help most companies manage their power consumption of the network attached devices. Some of the advantages of this switch are that it reduces energy costs, aids in the provision of investment protection by enabling a network data that is always unified.

Cisco catalyst 3750

Its main purpose is to improve the LAN operating efficiency, because of this they are highly used in Cisco stack wise technology. It is also used in the construction of most unified and highly resilient switching systems. Other types of fixed configuration switches are the 2960-S, 3560-X and 3750-X. A part from configuration fixed switches, the second model of Cisco switches is known as the Modular switches namely, 4500 series, 6500 series and the Nexus 7000 series.

Cisco catalyst 4500 series

It can be defined as a chassis network that is medium ranged. Its main purpose is to supply power because of its one-two supervisors, line cards and its service module. Its most common example is the E-series that comes in four different sizes the 10 slots, 7 slots, 6 slots and the 3 slots series. It is developed separately from the Cisco router technology and is commonly run by software.

Cisco catalyst 6500 series

This type of Cisco switch is basically important when it comes to supporting interfaces up to a maximum of 10 gigabit in the Ethernet and because of this it’s mainly identified as chassis based under the switch family. It mainly uses the Catalyst Operating System which can be defined as a discontinued operating system of legacy networks.

Cisco Nexus 7000 series

The Cisco Nexus series are mainly designed for data centers and are mainly present in campus core and in the aggregation core. Cisco Nexus 7000 series is also designed in such a way that it has several designs to be more precise there are six versions namely;

4 slots switches
9 slots switches
10 slots switches that are two in terms of specific design
18 slots switches which are also two of different designs

This is the latest design of Cisco switches and it is more efficient in its operation as compared to the earlier versions. Lastly, the invention of Cisco switches has made life to be easier and much interesting especially in lots of fields of operation where these switches are meant to be used.

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