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Appendix E: Switch Features
This appendix is dedicated to helping you determine which switch needs to be placed in your network. If the
wrong switch is placed in each point in your network the load can cause severe problems, including
bottlenecks or load failures. We will break down the switches into the layers in which Cisco feels they should
reside, based on their latest certification curriculum.
Access Layer Switches
The Access layer is the access point where the workgroup layer or end−user interface enters the network. This
layer provides the means to connect to the devices located in the Distribution layer and provide connections to
both local and remote devices. The goals of this layer are to pass traffic to the network for valid network users
and to filter traffic that is passed along. Because the Access layer is the entry point to the network, only port
security−based decisions, such as those based on the Layer 2 hardware addresses, can be made here.
Devices found at this layer and covered in this chapter are as follows:
Cisco Catalyst 1900 series•
Cisco Catalyst 2820 series•
Cisco Catalyst 2900G series, including the new 2980G series•
Cisco Catalyst 2900 XL series•
Cisco Catalyst 3000 series•
Cisco Catalyst 3500 XL series•
Cisco Catalyst 3900 series•
Cisco Catalyst 1900
The Catalyst 1900 is the entry point for Cisco’s switch line. There are two types of Catalyst 1900 switches:
the Standard Edition (SE) and the Enterprise Edition (EN).
The Standard Edition, as explained in Chapter 15, is a low−cost alternative for administrators migrating from
a shared hub environment or smaller scale installations. The SE uses a menu−driven IOS and cannot handle
some of the more advanced features available in the Enterprise Edition of the IOS.
The Enterprise Edition contains all the features of the Standard Edition but provides several high−end
solutions, including Fast EtherChannel, support for Inter−Switch Link (ISL), an IOS Command Line Interface
(CLI), and support for Cisco Group Management Protocol (CGMP).
The 1900 series offers two different models: the Cisco Catalyst 1912 and the Cisco Catalyst 1924. They are
identified by the number of standard ports. Table E.1 shows the features of each switch.
Table E.1: Features available for the Cisco Catalyst 1912 and Catalyst 1924.
Feature 1912 1924
Ports 12 24
Backplane 1Gbps 1Gbps
Processor 80486 CPU 80486 CPU
Flash 1MB 1MB
DRAM 2MB 2MB
Forwarding rate 370 pps 370 pps
Max MAC addresses 1,024 2,048
359