Network Switching
To make you more familiar with the concepts of network switching and to get acquainted with the reputable vendors of network switches, we have prepared a number of blogs as a series, the different parts of which are as follows:
- Part 1 – What is a Network Switch? Switching Terms (Such as Blade Server, Half Duplex, and Full Duplex)
- Part 2 – What is a Network Switch? Switching Terms (Such as PoE, VLAN, and STP)
- Part 3 – Types of Categories of Switches, Such as Stackable Switches, or Access Layer Switches
- Part 4 – Cisco Switches: Concepts, Blade Switches, and Campus LAN Switches (Access)
- Part 5 – Cisco Switches: Campus LAN Switches (Terms, Core and Distribution), and Data Center Switches
- Part 6 – Cisco Switches: Other Switches (Industrial Ethernet, InfiniBand , Small Business, Service Provider (Aggregation, and Ethernet Access)
- Part 7- Mikrotik Switches: Terms, and Also Switches such as RB260GSP, or CRS305-1G-4S+IN
- Part 8 – HP Switches: Terms, and Access Switches ( Such as Aruba CX 6400 Series, and Aruba 5400R Series )
- Part 9 – HP Switches: Core & Data Center Switches ( Such as Aruba CX 8400 Series, and Aruba CX 8320 Series)
- Part 10 – Dell Switches: Concepts and Technologies, and PowerSwitch Managed Campus
- Part 11- Dell Switches: PowerSwitch Data Center Switches, and PowerEdge M-Series Blade Switches
In this series of blogs you will come across a variety of terms, abbreviations, concepts, and technologies. We have tried to explain the general concepts and terms as much as possible in the first three parts of this series. In the following sections, we assume that you have read these two sections and therefore we will not re-explain these concepts and terms in the following sections. Of course, each vendor also has a number of specific terms and concepts that are explained in blogs related to the same vendor’s products.
Last note, all the content as well as the images used in this series of blogs are taken from the official websites of the reviewed vendors (Cisco, Microtik, HP and Dell).
Part 6 – Cisco Switches: Other Switches (Industrial Ethernet, InfiniBand , Small Business, Service Provider (Aggregation, and Ethernet Access)
With these switches, you can enable intent-based networking to the Internet of Things (IoT) edge with Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), and easily manage IoT network with the same tools that manage the IT network. The Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) switching portfolio includes ruggedized, secure, easy-to-use switches built for extending the enterprise to harsh, industrial environments. They provide secure connectivity across challenging environments and industries such as manufacturing, utilities, transportation, oil and gas, mining, and smart cities. These Cisco switches offer best-in-class Cisco IOS® or Cisco IOS XE Software with advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, along with industrial protocol support, such as PROFINET and EtherNet/IP to support industries’ digital transformation.
There are many series of these switches. Here you can get acquainted with their types.
The Cisco SFS 3500 Multifabric Server Series enables hosts attached to an InfiniBand fabric to accelerate communications to Ethernet and Fibre Channel resources.
- Cisco Configuration Assistant (CCA): With this switch, you can simplify the task of configuring, deploying, and administering Cisco Smart Business Communications System. It features a simple GUI and provides everything you need to quickly set up a small office network.
- Cisco Network Assistant: It simplifies wired and wireless network management for networks up to 80 devices with its intuitive GUI and a task-based menu. Cisco Network Assistant is free and is optimized to apply common services across Cisco switches, routers, wireless controllers, and access points. You can read more about this family: Cisco Network Assistant
- 550X Series Stackable Managed Switches: These switches are the next-generation stackable managed Ethernet switches, and they incorporate fan and power hardware redundancy, increasing overall network availability. The SG550X and SF550X models provide 24 or 48 ports of Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet connectivity with 10 Gigabit uplinks. The SX550X models provide 12, 16, 24, or 48 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet with both copper and fiber connection options. This Series provides true stacking capability, allowing you to configure, manage, and troubleshoot multiple physical switches as a single device and more easily expand your network. You can read more about this family: 550X Series Stackable Managed Switches Data Sheet
- 350 Series Managed Switches: The Cisco 350 Series, part of the Cisco Small Business line of network solutions, is a portfolio of affordable managed switches. This series is a broad portfolio of fixed-configuration managed Ethernet switches. Models are available with 8 to 48 ports of Fast Ethernet and 10 to 52 ports of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. All Cisco 350 Series Switches support the advanced security management capabilities and network features you need to support business-class data, voice, security, and wireless technologies. You can read more about this family: 350X Series Managed Switches Data Sheet
- 350X Series Stackable Managed Switches: These switches are easy to deploy and manage without a large IT staff. The SG350X models provide 8 to 48 ports of Gigabit and Multigigabit Ethernet connectivity with 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. The SX350X models provide 8, 12, 24, or 48 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. This series provides true stacking capability, allowing you to configure, manage, and troubleshoot multiple physical switches as a single device and more easily expand your network. A true stack delivers a unified data and control plane, in addition to a management plane, providing flexibility, scalability, and ease of use because the stack of units operates as a single entity. The switches also protect your technology investment with an enhanced warranty, dedicated technical support, and the ability to upgrade equipment in the future. Overall, the Cisco 350X Series provides the ideal technology foundation for a growing business. In fact, these switches can protect your business information, and optimize your network bandwidth to more effectively deliver information and support applications. You can read more about this family: 350X Series Stackable Managed Switches Data Sheet
- 250 Series Smart Switches: These powerful Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet switches, with Gigabit or 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, provide multiple management options, sophisticated security capabilities, fine-tuned QoS and Layer 3 static routing features far beyond those of an unmanaged or consumer-grade switch, at a lower cost than for fully managed switches. You can read more about this family: 250X Series Smart Switches Data Sheet
- 220 Series Smart Switches: This series includes a broad range of smart switches that provide Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet access with PoE Plus options. Offered with a limited lifetime warranty, these switches deliver a powerful combination of features at a lower cost than fully managed switches. You can read more about this family: 220X Series Smart Switches Data Sheet
- Business 350 Series Managed Switches: The Cisco Business 350 Series Switches is a family of fixed-configuration managed Ethernet switches. This series Switches provide the ideal combination of affordability and capabilities for small office and helps you create a more efficient, better-connected workforce. All Business 350 Series Switches support the advanced security management capabilities and network features you need to support enterprise-class data, voice, security, and wireless technologies. You can read more about this family: Business 350 Series Managed Switches Data Sheet
- Business 250 Series Smart Switches: These smart switches, you can achieve enterprise-grade network performance and security without paying for advanced network features that you will not use. These Gigabit Ethernet switches, with Gigabit or 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, provide multiple management options, sophisticated security capabilities, and fine-tuned QoS, Layer 3 static routing features far beyond those of an unmanaged or consumer-grade switch, at a lower cost than for fully managed switches. You can read more about this family: Business 250 Series Smart Switches Data Sheet
- Business 110 Series Unmanaged Switches: These affordable plug-and-play switches are ideal for small offices, workgroups, departments, and growing offices with limited IT know-how and support. They provide robust network connectivity your business demands, as well as added reliability with advanced features such as QoS, loop detection, and cable diagnostics, all in a switch that you can set up yourself in minutes. You can read more about this family: Business 110 Series Unmanaged Switches
- ESW2 Series Advanced Switches: This Series offers hot and cold aisle airflow deployment options, -48V DC power, stackable switch options for higher resiliency, high-performance 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, and numerous power efficiency optimizations. You can read more about this family: ESW2 Series Advanced Switches
- Small Business 300 Series Managed Switches: This series, part of the Cisco Small Business line of network solutions, is a portfolio of affordable managed switches. The Cisco 300 Series is broad portfolio of fixed-configuration managed Ethernet switches. Models are available with 8 to 48 ports of Fast Ethernet and 10 to 52 ports of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. All Cisco 300 Series Switches support the advanced security management capabilities and network features you need to support business-class data, voice, security, and wireless technologies. You can read more about this family: Small Business 300 Series Managed Switches
- Small Business 200 Series Smart Switches: These expandable Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet switches provide basic management, security, and QoS features beyond those of an unmanaged or consumer-grade switch, at a lower cost than managed switches. You can read more about this family: Small Business 200 Series Managed Switches
- Small Business 110 Series Unmanaged Switches: You can have a high-performance, business-class office network that just works, right out of the box, with the Cisco 110 Series Unmanaged Switches. Cisco 110 Series Unmanaged Switches deliver basic network connectivity and reliability for small businesses that is easy on the budget and without all the complexity. Available in desktop and rack-mount models, these switches are designed to suit any office space with basic network needs and to optimize power efficiency. They use less power, and support for advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), loop detection, and cable diagnostics, all in a switch that you can set up yourself in minutes. You can read more about this family: Small Business 110 Series Unmanaged Switches
- Small Business Smart Switches: With this switch, you can get all the powerful networking features of a managed switch, with no need for the IT staff or technical know-how required to support such an extensive device. In additional, whenever you need to expand your network with more advanced deployments like real-time video or voice communications, or Power over Ethernet functionality, your Cisco Smart Switch will be ready for the job. You can read more about this family: Small Business Smart Switches
- Catalyst 4500 Series Switches: Accelerate business growth and improve efficiency. The Catalyst 4500E Series is Cisco SD-Access-ready, and it’s the industry’s most widely deployed modular platform for campus access and distribution deployments. These switches offer 928 Gbps of wired and wireless converged access per system.
- ME 4900 Series Ethernet Switches: The Cisco ME 4924-10GE Ethernet aggregation switch is a Layer 2-4 switching U-PE aggregation switch built for high-performance Carrier Ethernet networks. This series has MEF9 and MEF14 certified for EPL, EVPL and ELAN. This series delivers on the performance and availability required by service providers offering triple-play (voice, video, and data) services to residential customers. The ME 4900 Series has Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. You can read more about this family: ME 4900 Series Ethernet Switches
- Catalyst 3750 Metro Series Switches: These switches are a new line of premier multilayer switches that bring greater intelligence to the metro Ethernet edge, enabling the delivery of more differentiated metro Ethernet services. Features of these switches include hierarchical QoS and traffic shaping, intelligent 802.1Q tunneling, VLAN mapping, MPLS and EoMPLS support. You can read more about this family: Catalyst 3750 Metro Series Switches
- ME 1200 Series Carrier Ethernet Access Devices: This series is a fully featured service delivery demarcation device ready for Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 2.0 services, and cloud applications. You can read more about this family: Catalyst 3750 Metro Series Switches. You can read more about this family: ME 1200 Series Carrier Ethernet Access Devices
- Small Business Gigabit SP Switches: Small Business Gigabit SP Switches support up to 24 secure connections and are specialized for an environment where multiple businesses in close proximity to each other use advanced network applications over a shared connection. You can read more about this family: Small Business Gigabit SP Switches
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Source: In preparing this blog, we have tried to use the documents and content available on the Cisco official website, namely the website cisco.com. All information is based on the contents of this website.
Read other blogs related to this series:
- Part 1 – What is a Network Switch? Switching Terms (Such as Blade Server, Half Duplex, and Full Duplex)
- Part 2 – What is a Network Switch? Switching Terms (Such as PoE, VLAN, and STP)
- Part 3 – Types of Categories of Switches, Such as Stackable Switches, or Access Layer Switches
- Part 4 – Cisco Switches: Concepts, Blade Switches, and Campus LAN Switches (Access)
- Part 5 – Cisco Switches: Campus LAN Switches (Terms, Core and Distribution), and Data Center Switches
- Part 7- Mikrotik Switches: Terms, and Also Switches such as RB260GSP, or CRS305-1G-4S+IN
- Part 8 – HP Switches: Terms, and Access Switches ( Such as Aruba CX 6400 Series, and Aruba 5400R Series )
- Part 9 – HP Switches: Core & Data Center Switches ( Such as Aruba CX 8400 Series, and Aruba CX 8320 Series)
- Part 10 – Dell Switches: Concepts and Technologies, and PowerSwitch Managed Campus
- Part 11- Dell Switches: PowerSwitch Data Center Switches, and PowerEdge M-Series Blade Switches