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Q&A
CISCO CATALYST 2960 SERIES SWITCHES
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Q. What are Cisco® Catalyst® 2960 Series switches?
A. Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Intelligent Ethernet switches are a new family of fixed-configuration standalone devices that provide desktop 10/100
Fast Ethernet and 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, enabling enhanced LAN services for entry-level enterprise, mid-market, and branch
office networks. The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series offers integrated security, including network admission control (NAC), advanced quality of service
(QoS), and resiliency to deliver intelligent services for the network edge.
Table 1 shows the complete list of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches.
Table 1. Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches
Part Number
Description
WS-C2960-24TT-L
• 24 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 2 10/100/1000-TX uplinks
• 1 rack unit (RU) fixed-configuration, multilayer switch
• Entry-level enterprise-class intelligent services
• LAN Base Image installed
WS-C2960-48TT-L
• 48 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 2 10/100/1000-TX uplinks
• 1 RU fixed-configuration, multilayer switch
• Entry-level enterprise-class intelligent services
• LAN Base Image installed
WS-C2960-24TC-L
• 24 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 4 dual-purpose uplinks (each dual-purpose uplink port has one
10/100/1000 Ethernet port and one Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP)-based Gigabit Ethernet port,
one port active)
• 1RU fixed-configuration, multilayer switch
• Entry-level enterprise-class intelligent services
• LAN Base Image installed
WS-C2960-48TC-L
• 24 Ethernet 10/100 ports and 4 dual-purpose uplinks (each dual-purpose uplink port has one
10/100/1000 Ethernet port and one SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet port, one port active)
• 1RU fixed-configuration, multilayer switch
• Entry-level enterprise-class intelligent services
• LAN Base Image installed
WS-C2960G-24TC-L
• 24 Ethernet 10/100/1000 ports and 4 dual-purpose uplinks (each dual-purpose uplink port has one
10/100/1000 Ethernet port and one SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet port, one port active)
• 1RU fixed-configuration, multilayer switch
• Entry-level enterprise-class intelligent services
• LAN Base Image installed
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Q. What software images do Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches support?
A. The Catalyst 2960 Series is available in the LAN Base Image. The LAN Base feature set includes advanced QoS, rate limiting, security filters,
access control lists (ACLs), and multicast to the network edge.
Q. What software features are available on Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches?
A. The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series software feature set includes advanced QoS with an ability to map differentiated services code point (DSCP) to
class of service (CoS) or CoS to DSCP; rate limiting based on several parameters such as source/destination IP address, source/destination MAC
number and TCP/User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port number; and sophisticated security through ACLs. In addition to Layer 3 and 4 lookups, the
Catalyst 2960 Series offers new security features such as 802.1x and NAC, as well as ease-of-use features such as Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP),
dynamic virtual LANs (VLANs), and VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) pruning. For a full list of software features supported by the Catalyst 2960
Series, refer to the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series EI Data Sheet at http://www.cisco.com/go/catalyst2960.
Q. What are Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers? [NOTE: “SFP” should be used as an adjective, not a noun]
A. SFP transceivers provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity from the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches to distribution layer switches. They are
functionally equivalent to gigabit interface converters (GBICs), but much smaller.
Q. What are dual-purpose uplinks?
A. A dual-purpose uplink is a combination of one 10/100/1000TX copper port and one SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet port. One of these two ports can
be used at a time. This added uplink flexibility allows cost-effective use of high-density, fiber-uplink based stacks. Dual-purpose uplinks also offer a
full-duplex, gigabit-speed trunk for a Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switch stack, an improvement over the half-duplex Cisco GigaStack® configuration.
Q. What SFP transceivers are supported on Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches?
A. Catalyst 2960 Series switches support 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-ZX, 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-CWDM, 100BASE-FX,
100BASE-LX10, and 100BASE-BX SFP transceivers.
Q. Is there a limit to the number of SFP transceivers that can be used on a Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switch?
A. No. You can populate all the SFP ports of any Catalyst 2960 Series Switch with the same SFP transceiver or with a combination of different
SFP transceivers.
Q. Do the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches have redundant power supply support?
A. Yes. Maximum power availability for a converged voice and data network is attainable when a Catalyst 2960 Series Switch is combined with
the Cisco Redundant Power System 675 (RPS 675) for protection against internal power supply failures and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
system to safeguard against power outages. For more information on Cisco RPS 675, visit
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps2883/ps5066/index.html.
INTELLIGENT SWITCHING
Q. Why do I need intelligence at the edge of my network?
A. Networks are evolving to address four new developments at the network edge:
• Increase in desktop computing power
• Introduction of bandwidth-intensive applications
• Expansion of highly sensitive data on the network
• Presence of multiple device types, such as IP phones and wireless LAN access points
These new demands contend for resources with many existing mission-critical applications. As a result, IT professionals must view the edge of the
network as critical to effectively manage the delivery of information and applications. As companies increasingly rely on networks as the strategic
business infrastructure, it is important to ensure their high availability, security, scalability, and control. By adding Cisco intelligent functions to the
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wiring closet, you can now deploy network-wide intelligent services that address these requirements in a consistent way from the desktop to the core
and through the WAN.
With Cisco Catalyst Intelligent Ethernet switches, you can realize the full benefits of adding intelligent services to your networks. Deploying
capabilities that make the network infrastructure highly available to accommodate time-critical needs, scalable to accommodate growth, secure
enough to protect confidential information, and capable of differentiating and controlling traffic flows is the basis of further optimizing network
operations.
Q. Can you provide more details on how Cisco intelligent switching will help my network?
A. New applications are requiring higher bandwidth and the need to differentiate and control the traffic flow. Applications such as enterprise
resource planning or ERP (Oracle, SAP, and so on), voice (IP telephony traffic), and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) require
priority over less time-sensitive applications such as FTP or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). It would be undesirable to have a large file
download destined to one port on a switch increasing latency in voice traffic destined to another port on this switch. This condition is avoided by
ensuring that voice traffic is properly classified and prioritized throughout the network. Cisco Intelligent Ethernet switches implement superior QoS
to ensure that network traffic is classified and prioritized and congestion is avoided.
NETWORK SECURITY
Q. How are the security needs of a network managed?
A. With the rise in internal threats to a network, Cisco Ethernet switches enhance data security through a wide range of features including Secure
Shell (SSH) Protocol and Simple Network Management Protocol version 3 (SNMPv3), ACLs, 802.1x, port security, private VLAN edge, Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) interface tracker, MAC address notification, and RADIUS/TACACS+. Depending on your security needs, the
Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series complements devices such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems.
Q. For security purposes, how can I protect unauthorized users from accessing my network?
A. The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series supports 802.1x that works in conjunction with a RADIUS server to authenticate users as they access a network.
The 802.1x standard is considered port-level security and is commonly used for wireless LANs. Additionally, portions of the network can be
restricted by using ACLs. Access can be denied based on MAC addresses, IP addresses, or TCP/UDP ports. ACL lookups are done in hardware and
do not compromise forwarding and routing performance. An additional protection method is to use port security, which ensures the appropriate user
is on the network by limiting access to the port based on MAC addresses.
Q. For security purposes, how can I monitor or track activities in my network?
A. Intrusion detection systems are tailored to monitor and track activities in a network. The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series can complement this
through features such as MAC address notification, which sends an alert to a management station so that network administrators know when and
where users came on the network and can take appropriate actions. The DHCP Interface Tracker (Option 82) feature tracks where a user is physically
connected on a network by providing both switch and port ID to a DHCP server. DHCP snooping enables the administrator to keep track of both
dynamic and static IP/MAC mapping tables.
Q. For security purposes, how do I protect administration passwords and traffic going to the switch during configuration or troubleshooting?
A. To protect administration traffic during the configuration or troubleshooting of a switch (such as passwords or device configuration settings), the
best approach is to encrypt the datBoth SSH and SNMPv3 provide encryption of data during Telnet sessions and SNMP sessions.
Q. Does the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series support SSHv2?
A. Yes.
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NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Q. Do Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches support Cisco Switch Clustering technology?
A. Yes, they can be managed using the Cisco Network Assistant software, which uses Cisco Switch Clustering technology. Cisco Network
Assistant is a PC-based network management application optimized for LANs of small and medium-sized businesses with up to 250 users. Cisco
Network Assistant offers centralized management of Cisco Systems® switches, routers, and WLAN access points. It supports a wide range of Cisco
Catalyst Intelligent Ethernet switches. Through a user-friendly GUI, users can configure and manage a wide array of switch functions and start the
device manager of Cisco routers and Cisco wireless access points. Cisco Network Assistant is available at no cost and can be downloaded from
Cisco.com.
Cisco Network Assistant provides an integrated management interface for delivering intelligent services, enabling users to manage their entire LAN
with one robust tool. By bringing the simplicity of traditional LAN switching to intelligent services such as multilayer switching, QoS, multicast, and
security ACLs, Cisco Network Assistant offers administrators benefits formerly reserved for only the most complex networks. The Guide mode in
Cisco Network Assistant leads you through the configuration of high-end features and provides enhanced online help for context-sensitive assistance.
In addition, a solution wizard provides automated configuration of the switch for video streaming or videoconferencing.
Cisco Network Assistant supports standards-based connectivity options such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Cisco Fast EtherChannel® technology,
Gigabit Ethernet, and Gigabit EtherChannel connectivity. Because Cisco Switch Clustering technology is not limited by proprietary stacking
modules, stacking cables, or interconnection media, Cisco Network Assistant expands the traditional cluster domain beyond a single wiring closet
and lets you mix and match interconnections to meet specific management, performance, and cost requirements.
Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches can be configured either as command or member switches in a Cisco switch cluster. Cisco Network Assistant
also allows you to designate a standby or redundant command switch, which takes the commander duties should the primary command switch fail.
Other important features include the ability to configure multiple ports and switches simultaneously, as well as perform software updates across the
entire cluster at once. Bandwidth graphs and link reports provide useful diagnostic information, and the topology map gives network administrators a
quick view of the network status.
POSITIONING
Q. What is the positioning of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches relative to Catalyst 2950 Series switches?
A. The Catalyst 2960 Series switches are Cisco’s intelligent switching and 10/100/1000 offerings. Both product families are designed for similar
topological positions in the network, deploying networkwide intelligent services such as advanced QoS, rate limiting, ACLs, multicast management,
and high-performance routing. In contrast to the Catalyst 2950 Series, the Catalyst 2960 Series offers 10/100/1000 models as well as the flexibility of
dual-purpose uplink options through SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet ports instead of GBIC-based ports.
Q. What is the positioning of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches relative to Catalyst 3560 and 3750 series switches?
A. The Catalyst 3750 and 3560 series are for fixed-configuration enterprise 10/100 and 10/100/1000 applications. Catalyst 3750 switches are ideal
when a group of interconnected switches requires higher levels of availability, redundancy, performance, and ease of use inherent in Cisco
StackWise™ technology. The Catalyst 3750 and 3560 series also have Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet configurations that support IEEE 802.3af
and Cisco pre-standard Power over Ethernet.
SERVICE AND WARRANTY
Q. What is the warranty for Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches?
A. Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches come with the Cisco Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty. Ongoing software updates are available on the
Cisco Website free of charge.
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Limited Lifetime Warranty
The Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty comes with the purchase of eligible Cisco Catalyst products, free of charge. For details, visit
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/es_inpck/lh2cen__.htm.
Software Updates
In addition, Cisco offers ongoing updates to Cisco IOS® Software on LAN access switches free of charge for these platforms. For the life of the
product, updates within the release and feature set purchased will be made available through the Software Center at
http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-switching.shtml.
Ongoing software updates will be available for the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series. Updates are applicable only for releases that Cisco makes available.
This statement supersedes any previous warranty or software statement and is subject to change without notice.
Q. What types of service and support are available for Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches?
A. A full complement of lifecycle service and support is available for the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series. From implementation to operation and
optimization, Cisco offers Technical Support Service and Advanced Service delivered either directly or through one of its partners.
Technical Support Service
Technical Support Service is available through Cisco SMARTnet® and Cisco SMARTnet Onsite support. Cisco SMARTnet augments the resources
of your operations staff by providing them with access to expertise, both online and on the telephone, and a range of hardware Advance Replacement
options. Cisco SMARTnet Onsite complements the hardware Advance Replacement feature by adding the services of a field engineer, services that
can be critical for those locations where staffing is insufficient or unavailable to perform parts replacement activities. For more information about
Cisco SMARTnet, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/svcs/ps3034/ps2827/ps2978/serv_home.html.
Advanced Services
Cisco offers a full range of implementation solutions including project management, project engineering, configuration, staging, and rollout
coordination, and ensuring correct installation and deployment. Configuration services now include development and verification of configuration for
intelligent services such as QoS and multicast. For more information, visit http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/serv/mkt/sup/advsv/index.shtml.
PRODUCT AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Q. Where can I find technical and product specifications and other additional information about Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches?
A. For product literature including data sheets and product specifications, see the Catalyst 2960 Series Website at
http://www.cisco.com/go/catalyst2960.
Q. What are the part numbers for Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches? When can I order them?
A. The part number and ordering information for Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series switches are available at http://www.cisco.com/go/catalyst2960.
© 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Important notices, privacy statements, and trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. can be found on cisco.com.
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