Description
This Item is a model of Cisco Catalyst switch that is designed for use in small to medium-sized business networks. It is a Layer 2 switch, which means that it is capable of forwarding traffic based on the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the devices connected to it. The "24TT-L" in the name indicates that the switch has 24 Fast Ethernet ports, which support speeds of up to 100 Mbps. The "L" in the name indicates that the switch is a low-end model with limited features.
Some of the key features of the WS-C2960-24TT-L include:
Support for IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) on all 24 ports, allowing devices such as IP phones and wireless access points to be powered directly from the switch
Support for Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize certain types of traffic
Support for up to 8 VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) to segment the network into different logical segments
Support for Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to increase the available bandwidth between the switch and other devices by bundling multiple links together
Support for SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for monitoring and management of the switch
Maximizing Network Performance
Maximizing network performance on a WS-C2960-24TT-L Cisco Catalyst Layer2 24 Ports Ethernet switch involves several key steps.
Quality of Service (QoS): Configuring QoS policies allows you to prioritize different types of network traffic, such as voice or video, to ensure that they receive the bandwidth they need to function properly. This can prevent congestion and ensure that critical applications are not impacted by less important traffic.
Link Aggregation (LAG) or EtherChannel: Utilizing LAG or EtherChannel increases the available bandwidth by allowing multiple physical connections to be bundled together into a single logical connection. This also provides redundancy in case one of the physical connections fails.
Flow Control: Configuring flow control can prevent dropped packets during periods of high network utilization by ensuring that the switch is not overwhelmed with more data than it can handle.
Port Security: Enabling port security can prevent unauthorized access to the network by limiting the number of MAC addresses that can be associated with a particular port.
Firmware and Software Updates: Keeping the switch up to date with the latest firmware and software version can ensure that you are taking advantage of any performance improvements or bug fixes that have been released.
VLANs: Configuring VLANs can segment the network and improve security by isolating different types of traffic. This can also make it easier to manage and troubleshoot the network.
Monitoring: Utilizing tools such as Cisco's Network Assistant or a network performance management system can help you to monitor the switch's performance and identify any issues that may be impacting performance.
Power Options and Redundancy
The WS-C2960-24TT-L Cisco Catalyst Layer2 24 Ports Ethernet switch supports various power options and redundancy features to ensure that the switch stays up and running even in the event of a power failure.
Power Options: The switch can be powered by an AC power supply or by a DC power supply. It also supports the use of a redundant power supply (RPS) which can provide backup power in case the primary power supply fails.
Power Over Ethernet (PoE): The switch also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) which allows it to provide power to connected devices, such as IP phones or wireless access points, over the Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for separate power cables and outlets.
Redundancy: The switch supports several redundancy features to ensure that the network stays up and running even in the event of a failure. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and Cisco EtherChannel technology can provide link redundancy by allowing multiple physical links to be bundled together into a single logical link. This ensures that if one link fails, the other links can still provide connectivity.
High Availability: The switch also supports High Availability features like Cisco StackWise technology, which allows multiple switches to be connected together and function as a single unit, and Cisco StackPower, which allows power to be shared among the switches in the stack. This ensures that if one switch fails, the others can take over and maintain network connectivity.