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Table 1. Features and Benefits of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series
Feature Benefit
Ease of Use and Deployment
• Express Setup simplifies initial configuration with a Web browser, eliminating the need for more complex
terminal emulation programs and CLI knowledge.
• DHCP autoconfiguration of multiple switches through a boot server eases switch deployment.
• Automatic QoS (Auto QoS) simplifies QoS configuration in voice-over-IP (VoIP) networks by issuing interface
and global switch commands to detect Cisco IP phones, classify traffic, and enable egress queue configuration.
• Autosensing on each 10/100 port detects the speed of the attached device and automatically configures the
port for 10- or 100-Mbps operation, easing switch deployment in mixed 10- and 100-Mbps environments.
• Autonegotiating on all ports automatically selects half- or full-duplex transmission mode to optimize bandwidth.
• Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) helps enable dynamic trunk configuration across all switch ports.
• Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) automates the creation of Cisco Fast EtherChannel® groups or Gigabit
EtherChannel groups to link to another switch, router, or server.
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) allows the creation of Ethernet channeling with devices that conform
to IEEE 802.3ad. This feature is similar to Cisco EtherChannel technology and PAgP.
• DHCP Server enables a convenient deployment option for the assignment of IP addresses in networks that do
not have without a dedicated DHCP server.
• DHCP Relay allows a DHCP relay agent to broadcast DHCP requests to the network DHCP server.
• 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-ZX, 1000BASE-BX, 100BASE-FX, 100BASE-LX, 100BASE-BX,
and coarse wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM) physical interface support through a field-replaceable
SFP module provides unprecedented flexibility in switch deployment.
• The default configuration stored in flash memory ensures that the switch can be quickly connected to the
network and can pass traffic with minimal user intervention.
• Automatic medium-dependent interface crossover (Auto-MDIX) automatically adjusts transmit and receive pairs
if an incorrect cable type (crossover or straight-through) is installed on a copper port.
• Time-domain reflectometer (TDR) to diagnose and resolve cabling problems on copper ports.
AVAILABILITY AND SCALABILITY
Superior Redundancy for
Fault Backup
• Cisco UplinkFast and BackboneFast technologies help ensure quick failover recovery, enhancing
overall network stability and reliability.
• IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol provides rapid spanning-tree convergence independent of
spanning-tree timers and the benefit of distributed processing.
• Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+) allows rapid spanning-tree reconvergence on a per-VLAN
spanning-tree basis, without requiring the implementation of spanning-tree instances.
• Command-switch redundancy enabled in Cisco Network Assistant software allows designation of a backup
command switch that takes over if the primary command switch fails.
• Unidirectional Link Detection Protocol (UDLD) and Aggressive UDLD allow unidirectional links to be detected
and disabled to avoid problems such as spanning-tree loops.
• Switch port autorecovery (errdisable) automatically attempts to re-enable a link that is disabled because of
a network error.
• Cisco Redundant Power System 675 (RPS 675) support provides superior internal power-source redundancy
for up to six Cisco networking devices, resulting in improved fault tolerance and network uptime.
• Bandwidth aggregation up to 8 Gbps through Cisco Gigabit EtherChannel technology and up to 800 Mbps
through Cisco Fast EtherChannel technology enhances fault tolerance and offers higher-speed aggregated
bandwidth between switches and to routers and individual servers.