WS-C2960+24LC-S, Cisco Catalyst 2960-Plus Series 24-Port Fast Ethernet Switch

Overview

The Cisco WS-C2960+24LC-S is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses and branch offices. It offers a combination of performance, features, and scalability to meet the needs of modern network infrastructures.

Key Features

1. Ports and Connectivity:
   • 24 Fast Ethernet Ports: The switch includes 24 Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports, providing standard network connectivity for end-user devices.
   • 2 Gigabit Ethernet Uplink Ports: It features 2 Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) uplink ports for connecting to the core network or other switches, allowing for higher-speed data transfers.
2. Performance:
   • Switching Capacity: The WS-C2960+24LC-S offers a switching capacity of 8.8 Gbps, facilitating efficient data handling within the network.
   • Forwarding Rate: It supports a forwarding rate of 6.6 Mpps (Million Packets Per Second), ensuring high performance even with heavy network traffic.
3. Layer 2 Features:
   • VLAN Support: The switch supports up to 256 VLANs, enabling network segmentation and improved traffic management.
   • Spanning Tree Protocol (STP): Includes support for standard STP (IEEE 802.1D), which helps prevent network loops and enhance stability.
   • Link Aggregation: Supports Cisco’s EtherChannel technology for link aggregation, allowing multiple physical links to be grouped together for increased bandwidth and redundancy.
4. Security Features:
   • Port Security: Provides port security features to limit the number of MAC addresses allowed on each port, protecting against unauthorized access.
   • Access Control Lists (ACLs): Supports ACLs for filtering traffic and enhancing network security.
5. Quality of Service (QoS):
   • QoS Features: Implements QoS policies to prioritize traffic, ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.
6. Management:
   • Management Interfaces: Offers CLI and web-based management interfaces for configuring and monitoring the switch. Cisco’s Network Assistant can also be used for centralized management.
   • Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): Supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 for network management and monitoring.
7. Energy Efficiency:
   • Energy-Efficient Design: Incorporates energy-saving technologies to reduce power consumption and operational costs.
8. Form Factor and Mounting:
   • Rack-Mountable: The WS-C2960+24LC-S is designed to be mounted in a standard 19-inch rack, optimizing space in network closets.
   • Compact Size: Features a 1U height, making it a compact solution for network environments.

Use Cases

The Cisco WS-C2960+24LC-S is ideal for environments where reliable network connectivity is required, such as small to medium-sized offices, retail locations, or branch offices. It is well-suited for businesses looking to build a stable and manageable network infrastructure with essential Layer 2 features.