What are Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series Switches?
The Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series is a line of fixed-configuration enterprise-class switches that include IEEE 802.3af and Cisco's pre-standard Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality in Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet configurations. The Catalyst 3560 series is an ideal access layer switch for small business or branch office LAN access, combining 10/100/1000 and PoE configurations for maximum productivity and investment protection while enabling the deployment of new applications. such as IP telephony, wireless access, video surveillance, building management systems, and remote video kiosks. Users can implement intelligent services across the network, such as advanced quality of service (QoS), rate limiting, access control lists (ACLs), multicast management, and high-performance IP routing while maintaining the simplicity of switching.
Available for the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series at no charge, Cisco Network Assistant is a centralized management application that simplifies management tasks for Cisco Systems wireless access points, routers, and switches. Cisco Network Assistant provides configuration wizards that greatly simplify the deployment of converged networks and smart grid services. The Cisco Catalyst 3560 series is part of a larger and scalable family of Cisco Catalyst switches that includes the Cisco Catalyst 3750 series with Cisco StackWise technology and the Cisco Catalyst 4500 and 6500 modular switches. The entire family is linked by Cisco IOS software and offers superior availability, built-in security, streamlined delivery, and manageability.
How many devices can the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series power?
The Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series 24-port PoE configurations can support 24 simultaneous full-power PoE ports at 15.4W for maximum device support. With Catalyst Intelligent Power Management, the 48-port version can deliver the power required to support 24 ports at 15.4W, 48 ports at 7.7W, or any combination in between.
What software images does the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series support?
The Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series can be purchased with the IP Base or IP Services licenses pre-installed. The Base IP license (formerly called Standard Multilayer Image or SMI) offers advanced QoS, rate-limiting, ACL, and basic Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and static routing features. The IP services license (formerly known as Enhanced Multilayer Image, or EMI) provides a richer set of enterprise-class features, including hardware-based advanced IP unicast and multicast IP routing, as well as policy-based routing (PBR).
The Advanced IP Services license, although not available as a pre-installed option, updates the Catalyst 3560 series switches to include IPv6 routing and IPv6 ACL support. Upgrade licenses are available to upgrade a switch from the IP Base license to the IP Services license or the Advanced IP Services license, as well as from the IP Services license to the Advanced IP Service license.
Does the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series support Cisco switch clustering technology?
Yes, these switches can be managed using Cisco Network Assistant software, which uses Cisco Switch Clustering technology. Cisco Network is a PC-based network-management application optimized for small and medium-sized business LANs with up to 250 users. Cisco Network Assistant provides centralized management of Cisco WLAN access points, routers, and switches. It supports a wide range of Cisco switches, from Cisco Catalyst 2950 to Cisco Catalyst 4506. Through an easy-to-use GUI, users can configure and manage a wide range of switch functions and launch Device Manager for Cisco routers and Cisco wireless access points. Cisco Network Assistant is available at no cost on Cisco.com. Cisco Network Assistant provides an integrated management interface to deliver 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 enables administrators to take advantage of benefits previously reserved for only the most complex networks. Guidance mode in Cisco Network Assistant guides the user step-by-step through high-end feature setup and provides enhanced online help for context-sensitive assistance.
Additionally, a solution wizard provides automated switch configuration for video streaming or video conferencing. Cisco Network Assistant supports standards-based connectivity options such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Fast EtherChannel, Gigabit Ethernet, and Gigabit EtherChannel. Because Cisco Switch Clustering technology is not limited by proprietary stacking modules, stacking cables, or interconnect media, Cisco Network Assistant expands the traditional cluster domain beyond a single wiring closet and enables users to mix and match. interconnects to meet specific management, performance, and cost requirements.
Cisco Catalyst 3560 switches can be configured as a command or member switches in a Cisco switch cluster. Cisco Network Assistant also enables the network administrator to designate a standby or redundant command switch, which takes over the role of the commander in the event of the primary command switch failure. 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 network status.