Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches with LAN Lite Software
Cisco Catalyst Series Switches with LAN Lite Software are standalone, fixed-configuration switches that provide desktop Fast Ethernet connectivity for basic wiring closets and small branch networks. These switches simplify the migration of non-intelligent hubs and unmanaged switches to a fully scalable managed network.
Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches have a lower cost of ownership with features such as intelligent switch configuration using Auto Smart Ports, AutoInstall installation, and improved troubleshooting for ease of use. Comprehensive management tools, such as Cisco Network Assistant, provide continuous management and monitoring of switches.
Services that integrate voice, video, and wireless applications are made possible using the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series LAN Lite Switches. Power over Ethernet (POE) and Quality of Service (QoS) provide comprehensive service delivery for service-level customers’ entry.
Security capabilities that are pervasive within the network are critical to secure operations, and end-to-end security is achieved using Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches with LAN Lite software. A variety of Cisco security solutions are available, including Cisco Clean Access NAC-based solutions.
Overall, the functionality available on Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches with LAN Lite software provides peace of mind when it comes to current network operations and lowers the cost of ownership for customers.
Easy network deployment and management
The Cisco Catalyst 2960 LAN Lite Series offers several ease-of-use features, which allow for quick and easy configuration and installation of switches on the network. Lowering the entire cost of ownership and simplifying network operation are the most reasons to use Cisco Catalyst 2960 switches. These features include:
Cisco Auto SmartPorts: Simplify the configuration of advanced Cisco Catalyst capabilities, encapsulating years of Cisco networking experience. As devices connect to the switch’s auto port, the setting is enabled, allowing the device to be connected and used on the network. For example, an IP phone that connects to the switch will configure the switch port with Cisco best practices for QoS and create a voice VLAN. Cisco SmartPort macros offer a set of verified and tested Cisco-recommended switch port configurations by connection type that is easy to apply, allowing users to consistently and reliably configure essential security, IP telephony, availability, QoS, and manageability with minimal effort and experience.
Cisco Express Setup: Simplifies initial setup with an internet browser, eliminating the necessity for more complex emulation programs and CLI knowledge.
The automatic installation uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) based on automatic configuration and image update. This feature automatically downloads the configuration file, the Cisco IOS software image, assigns an IP address and hostname for the switch. This function can be used to implement a “hands-off deployment”.
Cisco Network Assistant: Network Assistant is a free Windows-based application that simplifies network management for up to 250 users. Supports a wide range of Cisco Catalyst smart switches, from Cisco Catalyst 2960 to Cisco Catalyst 4506. With Cisco Network Assistant, users can manage Cisco Catalyst switches in addition to launching device managers for Cisco integrated services routers and endpoints. Cisco Aironet WLAN access.
Improvement of troubleshooting: Improved troubleshooting is possible with a wide range of debugging diagnostic commands and system health checks within the switch.
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) to diagnose and resolve cabling problems on copper Ethernet ports.
Auto-sensing on each 10/100 port detects the speed and duplex of the connected device and automatically configures the port for 10 or 100 Mbps operation, making it easy to deploy the switch in mixed 10 and 100 Mbps environments.
Automatic medium-dependent interface crossover: Automatically adjusts the transmit and receive pairs if the wrong type of cable (crossover or straight-through) is installed in a copper port.
Multi-functional LED: Multi-function LEDs per port for port status; half and full-duplex mode; and 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and a 1000BASE-T indication, as well as switch-level status LEDs for the system and a redundant power supply
Provide a complete and convenient visual management system
Cisco Network Assistant may be a LAN-optimized PC-based network management application with up to 250 users. Offering centralized management of Cisco wireless LAN (WLAN) switches, routers, and access points, it supports a wide range of Cisco Catalyst smart switches from Cisco Catalyst 2960 to Cisco Catalyst 4506 Switches. Through an easy-to-use GUI, you can configure and manage a wide range of switch functions and launch Device Manager for Cisco routers and Cisco wireless access points. You can perform tasks to configure the switch for voice, video, and multicast traffic using QoS, and the IOS upgrade is a simple one-click upgrade. The security assistant automatically restricts unauthorized access to servers with sensitive data. Smart ports and wizards save network administrators time, reduce human errors, and help ensure that the switch configuration is optimized for these applications. The easy-to-use graphical interface provides a topology map and front-panel view of the switches.
In addition to the Cisco Network Assistant, Cisco Catalyst 2960 LAN Lite switches provide extensive management using SNMP network management platforms, like CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution (LMS).CiscoWorks LMS is a set of powerful management tools that simplify the configuration, management, monitoring, and troubleshooting of Cisco networks. Integrate these capabilities into a world-class solution to improve the accuracy and efficiency of your operations staff while increasing the overall availability of your network. Supports more than 400 different device types, providing:
- Network discovery, topology views, end-station tracking, and VLAN management
- Real-time network failure analysis with easy-to-deploy device-specific best-practice templates
- Hardware and software inventory management, centralized configuration tools, and Syslog monitoring
- Monitoring and tracking of response time and network availability
- Real-time management, analysis, and reporting of the device, link, and port traffic
Cisco Catalyst Security
Cisco Catalyst 2960 LAN Lite Switches support security measures that will help your business protect sensitive information, keep unauthorized people off the network, protect privacy, and maintain uninterrupted operation.
The Cisco Identity-Based Networking Services (IBNS) solution provides authentication, access control, and security policy management to guard network connectivity and resources. Cisco IBNS on the Cisco Catalyst 2960 LAN Lite Series prevents unauthorized access and helps make sure that users obtain only designated privileges.
With Cisco IBNS you’ll dynamically manage granular levels of network access. With the 802.1x standard and the Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS), you can assign users a VLAN after authentication, regardless of where they connect to the network. This configuration allows your IT department to enable robust security policies without compromising user mobility and with minimal administrative overhead.
You can use port security to limit access to an Ethernet port based on the MAC address of the device to which it is connected. You can also use it to limit the total number of devices connected to a switch port, thus protecting the switch from a MAC flood attack and reducing the risks of rogue wireless hubs or access points. You can use the MAC address notification feature to monitor the network and track users by sending an alert to a management station so that its network administrators know when and where users entered the network. Secure Shell version 2 (SSHv2) and SNMPv3 encrypt network management and administrative information, protecting your network from tampering or eavesdropping. Fifteen levels of authorization in the switch console and two levels in the web-based management interface allow you to provide different levels of configuration capabilities to different administrators.