Catalyst 6500 Series FAQs

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For connectivity options there are few that can match the quality of the WS-X6716-10G-3C which belongs to the 6500 series. To know about this series let us take a look at the questions that might arise and try to get the answers as much as possible:

1. What are the newer features present in this series?  

  • The port density is doubled and there is now support for 132 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports/chassis 
  • It does not use much power and in fact uses only half the power per port on being compared to the 8 port 10 Gigabit modules. 
  • It has the ability to operate in both the performance or oversubscription mode. 
  • Makes high availability of network on being used with the E series chassis. 

2. How does the system perform regarding multicast replication? 

This system provides great multicast replication performance in audio and video conferencing. This is because per replication engine it gives 50 G of bandwidth.

3. Can this model support both ingress and egress replications? 

Yes, this model can support both the replications. The fan-out time is greatly increased by egress replication mode.

4. How does power consumption fare for this series? 

The 6500 series has advanced technology which enables it to use half the power than the previous serious of 8 port 10 Gigabit module. In absolute terms, this series consumes 28.6 watts per port.

 5. What is the function of the Distributed Forwarding Card (DFC) with the module?

This module is attached with a 40 Gbps connection and for this high density module the DFC is present to maximize the switching performance. The DFC3C in this module supports the functions of the previous version and along with it Virtual Switch Link and 96k MAC entries.

6. What is the software support for this module? 

This 16 port 10 Gigabit Ethernet module has IOS software support of 12.2(33)SXH2 or above. Also, the IOS modularity and Native IOS are supported.

7. What are the problems of running this module in Virtual Switching System? 

For Virtual Switching System, the module will be supported with the version of IOS software 12.2(33)SXH2 or above only. The problem with 12.2(33)SXH1 is that the system will be powered down.

8. Is it possible to make a virtual switch link with this module?

 It is very much possible to make a virtual switch link with this module in performance mode. However, the ports cannot be used in oversubscribed mode.

These are more or less the FAQs that cross the mind of people intending to buy the WS-X6716-10G-3C. If however one wishes to seek another model, then he can go for the Cisco WS-C2960S-48TS-L.

Cisco 2960g – The Intelligent Catalyst Switch

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In the world of catalyst switches there are just a few that can be as good as the Cisco 2960g. A new member of the Cisco switch family, this has a plethora of features that is suitable for entry level as well as mid-sized companies. The features are as follows:

  • It is intelligently built with enhanced security and sophisticated access control lists.
  • There is dual purpose Gigabit Ethernet uplink facility with the help of copper or fiber optics.
  • Advanced QoS manages network control and optimizes bandwidth. In addition to this there are granular rate limiting, and multicast services.
  • Offers Layer 2 threat defense capabilities. There is also basic Layer 3 static routing also..
  • A number of authentication methods, encryption of data etc. ensure that there is security of network.
  • Embedded device manager provides support for easy network configuration, upgradability, and problem-troubleshooting as part of branch solutions.
  • Specialized applications have auto-configuration using the Cisco smartports.
  •  It has 44 Ethernet 10/100/1000 ports. There are also four dual purpose uplinks.
  • Full PoE or Power over Ethernet for a maximum of 48 ports with up to 15.4 W per port. This removes the requirement for wall power to each PoE enabled device. It also removes additional cost for electric cables.
  • A 1 RU fixed configuration switch is present.
  • Enterprise class intelligent services for entry level present.
  • Image installation is LAN based.
  • There is a range of software to help the working easier, secured and sustainable. The software also helps provide a borderless experience of networking. This borderless networking ensures that any devices can be connected anywhere to a resource in a secure and reliable way.
  • The presence of SmartInstall makes the deployment of the device fairly simple and straightforward.
  • Due to advanced technology, there is great saving in energy costs.
  • FlexStack stacking is present with a throughput of 20 Gbps. This simplifies the process of upgrading switches and easing operations with single configuration. FlexStacking helps all the switches to act as a single unit. This results in lower cost of ownership.
  • There is good USB support for distributing and backing up of files and simplifying operations.
All in all the Cisco2960g helps in giving quality performance and also at affordable costs. In a sum up it provides:
  • Easy operations
  • Good sustainability
  • Borderless security
  • EnergyWise
  • Borderless experience of networking
The WS-C2960G-48TC-L is also a good product that can be used or small and medium businesses.

HP D2700 Disk Enclosure

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For mid-range and small businesses, storage needs can appear to be a problem. As the business grows so also grows the storage sizes. As a solution to this problem, the HP D2700 is ideal. A host of features are present in this model and so it gives quite a fight to its competitors.

A look at the features will help realize the power of it:

  • The primary feature that speaks for it is of its low cost. For small and mid-range companies this can be quite an advantage as they would not have to spend a fortune on storage.
  • The other basic factors that count for it are its flexibility and tiered external storage system.
  • It has a small form factor with 25 drive bays offering solutions in simplifying the process of expansion of capacities.
  • The D2700 can more than double the transfer rate of present 3 Gb solutions. This results in an increase of bandwidth.
  • The modular platform allows businesses to make purchases as and when they require. There is absolutely no form of hidden cost included and no hidden management charges.
  • Depending upon the need and the budget, additional dual port SAS drives can be added.
  • As the levels of redundancy and reliability are high it reduces the single points of failure.
  • There is no problem of matching SAS and SATA drives in the same setup. There is also tiered storage for attaching customers directly.
  • The D2700 can support solid state drives.
  • The system can support the growth of 96 drives. A single controller port can be formed can be formed by 4 large form factor enclosures.
  • It has the ability to support 200 drives and 4 small factor enclosures can be connected from just a single port.
  • The drive level can be extended up to 148 with Gen 8 smart array controller.
  • Managing the HP D2700 is a breeze since there is ProLiant management tool. Also there is the Systems Insight Manager software for easy managing of the device.
  • The device can work with certain smart array SAS controllers.
  • It is not required that the installer should possess much knowledge about IT.

The specifications of this device are:

  • The drives can vary from 72 Gb 6G 15K SFF to 500 Gb 3G 7.2K SFF.
  • The maximum storage capacity is 25Tb.
  • The host interface is 6 Gb/sec SAS.
  • The form factor is 2U.

It can be seen that only a few can match the quality of the HP D2700 at the price it is sold. There is also the BQ889A as one may consider it to be option too.

WS-X6148X2-RJ-45 And Its Uses In Modern Days

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WS-X6148X2-RJ-45 is a device that connects the computer with different networks. It is a network interface module or card. The various systems under a network can be connected with each other without any difficulty and it also helps the connected computer to communicate with each other and transmit the data and messages if and when required.

The module has the capability to connect multiple ports or devices together and its density increases as it uses the Ethernet device. It is among the most advanced and sophisticated products that is integrated with the special features that makes it stand apart from the other such products available in the market.

This device provides interface to the hardware to connect the computer and the network. It is a good solution adopted and introduced for all looking into functions related to networking. The IT infrastructures and solutions are useful for the growth of a business enterprise and helps in the advancement of the users. Some Network Interface Cards are typically designed to connect with the local area network where as others help the system to connect with networks that operate in a wider range. It provides dedicated and full time connection with a network and is characterized with high speed and quality.

The module supports both the system and the network to come up with high bandwidth and functionality. It can be also used as a USB connector that can be attached with the system and helps the users to get most of its services. Every module has basically got the same components and features.

The indication lights help the users to get to know and understand whether the device is connected properly or not. The speed of the network varies from one network or system to another. It allows the communication between the different groups of ports. It allows the users to participate in the various quick and easy going operations. It also has the capability to simplify the complex work and operations and decrease the workload on a single computer.

This card helps in connecting the software and hardware devices and understanding the various intricacies and complexities involved with the transmission of data and information.

The large number of circuits and the easy configuration system of the device helps the users to implement it and expand their base. After its usage the system acts as a hub of information that transmits the data as and when required to other systems connected with it.

The stability of connection and operation is provided by WS-X6148X2-RJ-45 that has attracted more and more people to use its services. It also saves the user’s time as it can be very easily configured and installed without any difficulty. This hassle free installation process plays a great role in the popularity of the device.

Are You Looking For A Server? Try Out the PowerEdge R910

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If you are hunting for a server that will give you peace of mind then look no further. For the Dell PowerEdge R910 is the one you may be looking for. This is one hell of a server machine and once you have considered the positives of this machine you are bound to get it for your business.

Let us get the positives and features of the PowerEdge R910:

  • Firstly, the chassis is of 4U rack and inside it is housed 4 x 2GHz X7550 Intel Xeon processors.
  • The processor is ably supported by a massive 128 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 RAM.
  • For storage purposes there are 2 x 1 GB SD cards as well as 4 x 73 GB Dell hard drives. These drives can write at a speed of about 6GB/sec and are hot swappable. The RAID controller has Dell PERC H700 with 512 MB of cache memory.
  • It supports RAIDO, 1, 10, 5 and 6 arrays.
  • There are 7 x PCI-e slots through it can be expanded. For network support there are 4 x Gigabit I/O ports,
  • It has 4 x 1100W hot plug power supply.

Those were some impressive features that would surely get someone’s attention. Now let us have a look at the performances of the machine:

  • The PowerEdge 910 performs faster than most of its competitors with the presence of Xeon 7500 Nehalem processors. In fact it is the first server to be equipped with the Xeon 7500 processors.
  • It is able to monitor its performance, report any failure and make attempts to recover from the hardware faults. This is absolutely not possible in lower end server machines and thus this monster can be used in a lot of applications.
  • Though this machine can be used for a variety of purposes, it is primarily aimed at enterprises businesses and those that deal with data as a whole. It thus offers a better per watt performance than most other machines.
  • As the machine has the Xeon 7500 processor and the possible expansion of memory of up to 1 TB, there is absolutely no problem with virtualization.
  • The inside design of the machine has been made easy for anyone to access the key components. In support of this the machine does not require any sort of tools for maintenance.
  • Each unit goes through tough validation and testing to maintain quality standards.
  • The manufacturer has input certain features that have been done keeping the customer in mind. It is for this that there are dual internal SD modules providing failover.
Having seen that the PowerEdge R910 is the champion in its class it is no doubt that there are not many competitors around. Also, the PowerEdge C6220 is another one that can be considered.

Know All About Network Switches

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We may have heard about network switches but there are some confusion regarding them. Firstly, switches are devices that are used in network connections and are thus used in local area network connections. In other words a network switch is like a controller and it allows computers and other devices to talk to each other smoothly.


Facts about Network Switches

  • Network switches do their operations at the Data Link Layer or the layer two of the OSI model of networking.
  • In appearance they are similar to network hubs but are better able to handle network connections.
  • They have the ability to check the data packets that pass through them and can send them to the required destinations appropriately.
  • Network switches can conserve network bandwidth.
  • Network switches are implemented for Ethernet connections.
  • When switches are connected to each other it is called as called as daisy chaining.
  • Network can save money for businesses and increase the productivity of an organization.

The Types of Switches

Two types of switches are used:

a)      Unmanaged switches – it is very simple and can be used right out of the box. It‘s very easy to install and does not require much of a configuration. Generally used in homes, these types of switches have less amount of network capacity.

b)      Managed switches – these types of switches can be configured and they have greater amount of flexibility. These also have better capacity than unmanaged switches. A managed switch can be adjusted locally or in a remote way to allow for greater control.

The Use of Network Switches

A switch is used to connect between two computers. It is a centre point of multiple devices and through it data is transmitted from one computer to another. Since, switches are better able to handle data connections they are used at homes, in offices and other places where network connectivity is required.

Using a Switch in a Network

To use a switch in a network, one needs to determine the speed of connection and the number of ports. Then the switch should be connected using an IP address. Next, the cable from the uplink port is to be connected to the rest of the network via an Ethernet cable. After that the Ethernet cables are connected from the computers to the ports of the switches. Finally, the settings are hard coded if required. As the computers are switched on they will automatically adjust to the settings of the switch.

In today’s communication, the use of network switches cannot be undermined. There are various switches to choose from and among them 3560V2 switch is one of the best. Also, WS-C3560G-24PS-S is a really good model. These are high speed devices and perform to the best of their abilities.

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