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Cisco Catalyst

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The inside of a Cisco 1900-series switch

Catalyst is the brand for a variety of network switches, wireless controllers, and wireless access points sold by Cisco Systems. While commonly associated with Ethernet switches, a number of different types of network interfaces have been available throughout the history of the brand. Cisco acquired several different companies and rebranded their products as different versions of the Catalyst product line. The original Catalyst 5000 and 6000 series were based on technology acquired from Crescendo Communications. The 1700, 1900, and 2800 series Catalysts came from Grand Junction Networks, and the Catalyst 3000 series came from Kalpana in 1994.[1]

The newest Catalyst series is the Catalyst 9000 family. The Catalyst 9000 family includes switches, wireless access points, and wireless controllers.[2]

Operating systems

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In most cases, the technology for the Catalyst Switch was developed separately from Cisco's router technology. The Catalyst switches originally ran software called CatOS rather than the more widely known Cisco IOS software used by routers. However, this has changed as the product lines have merged closer together. In some cases, particularly in the modular chassis switches, a configuration called 'Hybrid' has emerged - this is where the layer 2 functions are configured using CatOS, and the layer 3 elements are configured using IOS. Native IOS can also be found with newer software versions that have eliminated CatOS entirely in favor of IOS, even on hardware that originally required CatOS.[3]

Some newer Catalyst switch models (with recent versions of the Cisco IOS) also allow web-based management using a graphical interface (GUI) module which is hosted on a HTTP server located on the switch. The Catalyst 2960-L SM Series of switches is an example of a Cisco Catalyst switch that allows this style of GUI via HTTP.

Cisco IOS

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Cisco IOS, formally the Cisco Internetwork Operating System, is a family of network operating systems used on many Cisco Systems network switches, routers, wireless controllers and wireless access points. Earlier, Cisco switches ran CatOS. Cisco IOS is a package of routing, switching, internetworking and telecommunications functions integrated into a multitasking operating system. Although the IOS code base includes a cooperative multitasking kernel, most IOS features have been ported to other kernels such as QNX and Linux for use in Cisco products. Cisco Catalyst products run IOS or a Linux-derived version called Cisco IOS XE. It was originally called XDI[4] by the switching company Crescendo Communications, Inc. Cisco renamed it to CatOS when they acquired Crescendo and later still to Cisco IOS as the operating system was extended to other Cisco products. The newer Catalyst 9000 family uses the Cisco IOS XE operating system.[5]

Interfaces

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As Catalyst devices are primarily Ethernet switches, all modern Catalyst models have Ethernet interfaces ranging from 10 Mbit/s to 100 Gbit/s depending on the model. Other models can support T1, E1, and ISDN PRI interfaces to provide connections to the PSTN.[citation needed] Legacy models supported a variety of interfaces, such as Token Ring, FDDI, Asynchronous Transfer Mode and 100BaseVG, but are no longer sold by Cisco Systems.

The front of a Catalyst 3750G switch, with 48 interfaces for Ethernet over twisted pair and four interfaces for small form-factor pluggable transceivers

All models have basic layer 2 functions and are capable of switching Ethernet frames between ports. Commonly found additional features are VLANs, trunking and QoS. The switches, whether IOS or IOS XE, are fully manageable.

Many Catalyst switches that run IOS or IOS XE are also capable of functioning as a router, making them layer 3 devices; when coupled with TCP and UDP filtering, these switches are capable of layer 2-4 operation. Depending on the exact software image, a Catalyst switch that runs IOS or IOS XE may be able to tackle large-scale enterprise routing tasks, using router technologies like OSPF or BGP.

Modular chassis-based Catalyst switching models, like the Catalyst 9400 and 9600 Series, have the concept of field-replaceable supervisor, line cards, power supplies and fans. Mirroring most Cisco router designs, these work by separating the line cards, chassis, and supervisor engine. The chassis provides power and a high-speed backplane, the line cards provide interfaces to the network, and the supervisor engine moves packets, participates in routing protocols, etc. This gives several advantages:

  • If a failure occurs, only the failed component needs to be replaced (typically a power supply, fan, line card or supervisor). This means faster turnaround than replacing an entire switch.
  • A redundant component may be installed to rapidly recover from component failures.
  • A supervisor engine may be upgraded after purchase, increasing performance and adding features without losing any investment in the rest of the switch.

Management

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Catalyst switches offer advanced customization and manageability. The switches can be configured using a serial console, telnet or Secure Shell. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows monitoring of many states, and measurement of traffic flows. Many devices can also run an HTTP server.

Configuration of the switch is done in plain text and is thus easy to audit. No special tools are required to generate a useful configuration. For sites with more than a few devices, it is useful to set up a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server for storing the configuration files and any IOS images for updating. Complex configurations are best created using a text editor (using a site standard template), putting the file on the TFTP server and copying it to the Cisco device. However, it can be noted that a TFTP server can present its own security problems.

Stackwise

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StackWise and Stackwise Virtual previously known as VSS are technologies offered by Cisco Systems that allows some models of Catalyst switches to operate as though they were one switch. One switch from the stack will act as the primary switch. The primary switch will maintain the stack and allows for configuration and monitoring of the whole stack as though one via a single console. This allows for more efficient management and typically provides more bandwidth between individual switches than other uplink technology.

If one switch fails, the remaining switches will continue to operate by bypassing it. If the primary switch fails, another switch in the stack will automatically take over as primary. This feature means greater redundancy, as one switch's failure will not bring about a failure of the entire stack.

As each switch contains the entire configuration for the stack, one of the benefits of this technology is the ability to replace a faulty switch (any—including primary) with a new switch. The stack will configure the new switch on-the-fly to accommodate minimal downtime and reduce maintenance effort and errors.

Stackwise physically connects the switch stack using special stack interconnect cables, typically up to eight switches per stack. StackWise Virtual and VSS allow for the virtual clustering of two chassis together into a single, logical entity without physical interconnect cables.

Primary election

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The primary switch of a stack is elected in the following order:[6]

  1. User specified priority in the switch configuration
  2. The switch with the most advanced IOS feature set enabled
  3. Programmed switch – A configured switch will preside over a switch running factory defaults
  4. Uptime – The switch that has been running the longest
  5. MAC address – The switch with the lowest MAC address

Models

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There are two general types of Catalyst switches: fixed configuration models that are usually one or two rack units in size, with 12 to 80 ports; and modular switches in which virtually every component, from the CPU card to power supplies to switch cards, are individually installed in a chassis.

In general, switch model designations start with WS-C or C, followed by the model line (e.g. C9600). A letter at the end of this number signifies a special feature, followed by the number of ports (usually 24 or 48) and additional nomenclature indicating other features like UPOE (e.g. C9300-48U). Catalyst 9000 switches also include software subscription license indicators (e.g. C9200-48T-P, E for Essentials, A for Advantage and P for Premier)

Fixed-configuration switches

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Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series[7]
Layer 2 and layer 3 stackable core switches.
Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series[8]
Layer 2 and layer 3 stackable access and distribution switches.
Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series[9]
Layer 2 and layer 3 stackable access switches.
Cisco Catalyst 1000 Series[10]
Layer 2 stackable access switches.
Cisco Catalyst 3850 series[11]
Layer 2 and layer 3 stackable access and distribution switches.
Cisco Catalyst 3650 series[12]
Layer 2 and layer 3 switches with optional stacking capability.
Cisco Catalyst 2960-X/XR Series[13]
Layer 2 and layer 3 stackable access switches.
Cisco Catalyst 2960-L Series[14]
Layer 2 and layer 3 access switches.
Cisco Catalyst 3560CX/2960CX Series[15]
Compact, fanless layer 2 and layer 3 switches.
Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series[16]
Compact, fanless layer 2 and layer 3 switches.

Modular switches

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Cisco modular switches offer a configurable selection of chassis, power supplies, line cards and supervisor modules. Among Cisco's modular series are:

  • The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series is a modular chassis-based core switch family. This series can support interfaces up to 100 Gigabit Ethernet in speed and redundant supervisor modules, power supplies and fans.[17]
  • The Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series is a chassis-based access and distribution switch family. This series can support interfaces up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet in speed and redundant supervisor modules, power supplies and fans.[18]
  • The Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series is a chassis-based switch family. This series can support interfaces up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet in speed and redundant supervisor modules.
  • The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is a chassis-based switch family. This series can support interfaces up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet in speed and redundant supervisor modules.
  • The Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series is a mid-range modular chassis network switch. The system comprises a chassis, power supplies, one or two supervisors, line cards and service modules. The Series includes the E-Series chassis and the Classic chassis which is manufactured in four sizes: ten-, seven-, six-, and three-slot.

End-of-life switches

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Base Model Form Factor Variants Available ports/Modules Number of power supplies Number/Type of supervisors Expansion type Sync End-of-life (only major notices listed) Comments
Catalyst 2940[19] Fixed 2940 8 8P8C/1 8P8C
8 8P8C/1 8P8C or 1 SFP[20]		 1 (fixed) None None None Announced 2009[21]
Catalyst 2900[22] Fixed 2918
2926
2948
2980[23] 		24 8P8C
48 8P8C 		None None None Announced 2007 (all except 2918),[24]
Announced 2015 (2918 only)
Catalyst 2950[25] Fixed 2950
2950SX[26]		 12 8P8C
24 8P8C
24 8P8C/2 GBIC or 1000SX
48 8P8C/2 GBIC or 1000SX[27]		 1 (fixed) None None None Announced 2007[28] Optional 'Gigastack' modules[29]
Catalyst 2960[30] Fixed 2960
2960S[31]
2960CX[32]
2960-X
2960-XR[33] 		8 8P8C/2 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP
48 8P8C/4 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP+[34]
48 8P8C/2 SFP+[34] 		1 (fixed) (*note: cannot stack power, only backplane) None None Stack (up to four 2960-S, up to 8 2960-X or 2960XR) Announced 2013 (2960 only)[35]

Announced 2020 (remainder including 2960-X[36] & 2960-XR[37])

 PoE only available on models with 'P' designator, 2960C is compact version
Catalyst 3550 Fixed 3550 24 8P8C/2 GBIC
48 8P8C/2 GBIC		 1 (fixed) None None None Announced 2005[38] PoE optional, optional 'Gigastack' modules[39]
Catalyst 3560[40] Fixed 3560
3560V2
3560E[41]
3560C[42] 		8 8P8C/2 SFP or 8P8C
12 8P8C/2 SFP or 8P8C
8 SFP
12 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP
48 8P8C/4 SFP
12 'X2'[43]
12 SFP/2 'X2' 		1 (up to 2 on 3560E only) None None (10 Gbit/s options on 3560E only)[44] Stack (V2 and E only) Announced 2012 (all except 3560C)[45] PoE optional, 3560C is compact version
Catalyst 3750[46] Fixed 3750
3750V2
3750G[47]
3750E
3750-X 		12 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP
48 8P8C/4 SFP

24/48 8P8C/2 'X2' (3750E)

1 (up to 2 on 3750V2) None None All are stack capable Announced 2010 (3750),[48]

Announced 2013 (3750V2)[49]

PoE optional
Catalyst 3750X[50] Fixed 3750X 12 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP
48 8P8C/4 SFP 		2 None Uplink module with 1- and 10-Gbit/s options[51] All are stack capable Announced 2015[52] PoE optional
Catalyst 4900M[53] Fixed 4900M 48 8P8C/4 SFP
48 8P8C/2 'X2'
28 SFP/2 'X2' 		up to 2 None Various 'X2' modules None Announced 2013 (4900M)[54]

Current switches

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Base Model Form Factor Variants Available ports/Modules Number of power supplies Number/Type of supervisors Expansion type Sync End-of-life (only major notices listed) Comments
Catalyst 3650[55] Fixed 3650[56] 24 8P8C/4 SFP
48 8P8C/4 SFP
24 8P8C/2 SFP+
48 8P8C/2 SFP+ 		None None Stackwise-160 (requires optional module) PoE optional
Catalyst 3850[57] Fixed 3850 12 SFP
24 8P8C
48 8P8C
12 SFP+
16 SFP+
24 SFP+
32 SFP+
48 SFP+[58] 		Up to 2, most capable of stacking power None 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s and 40 Gbit/s options on all models[59] Stackwise-480 Announced 2019[60] PoE optional
Catalyst 4500[61] Chassis 4503
4503-E
4506
4506-E
4507R
4507R+E
4507R-E
4510R
4510R+E
4510R-E[62] 		24 SFP module
48 SFP module
48 8P8C module 		up to 2 4503:1, 4506:1, all else:up to 2[63]
Sup II+, Sup III, Sup IV, Sup V (EoSale), Sup 6-E Sup 7-E, Sup 8-E[64] 		Line cards VSS (with Sup7) Announced 2010 (non-E line cards),[65]
Announced 2010 (non-E chassis),[66]
Announced 2012 (Supervisor V),[67]
Announced 2014 (Supervisor 6-E, Supervisor 6L-E)[68] 		PoE optional (per module)
Catalyst 4500-X[69] Fixed 4500-X 16 SFP+
32 SFP+[70] 		up to 2 None 8 SFP+ module None Announced 2019[71] Can select front to back or back to front air flow options
Catalyst 6500-E[72] Chassis 6503-E
6504-E
6506-E
6509-E/V-E
6513-E[73] 		4 port, 8 port, 16 port, 24 port and 48 port modules in 10/100/1G/10G/40G speeds of various physical medium[74] up to 2 6503:1, all else:up to 2[75]
Sup 2T, Sup 720 VSS, Sup 720, Sup 32 (EoSale)[76] 		Line cards, Firewall, Wireless, Network Analysis (NAM), VPN, Application control engine, ASA Services[77] VSS (with Sup 720-10G or Sup 2T)[78] Announced 2012 (Supervisor 32),[79]
Announced 2012 (6513 chassis (non-e))[80] 		PoE optional (per module)
Catalyst 6800[81] Both (6840-X and 6800ia models are fixed) 6880-X
6840-X
6800-XL
6800-ia 		Announced 2019[82] Can support some 6500 modules (ASA, NAM, WiSM)[83]
Catalyst 9200[84] Fixed 9200

9200L

24 port, 48 port, 1 Network Module slot (modular uplinks). 9200L has no modular uplinks, fixed configuration up to 2 depending on model None 4 additional SFP/SFP+ ports or 2 25G/40G SFP on network module Stackwise-160/80 (requires optional module) PoE and MGig support on various models
Catalyst 9300[85] Fixed 9300

9300L

24 port, 48 port, 1 Network Module slot. 9300L has no module, fixed configuration up to 2 depending on model None up to 8 additional SFP ports on network module PoE and MGig support on various models
Catalyst 9400[86] Chassis 9404R
9407R
9410R[87] 		24 8P8C module
48 8P8C module
24 SFP module
48 SFP module
24 SFP+ module
48 SFP+ module[88] 		9404R: up to 4
9407R: up to 8
9410R: up to 8 		2 dedicated Supervisor engine slots
C9400X-SUP-2XL
C9400X-SUP-2
C9400-SUP-1XL
C9400-SUP-1XL-Y
C9400-SUP-1[89] 		Line cards StackWise Virtual PoE optional (per module)
Catalyst 9500[90] Fixed 12, 24, 32, 40, 48 port 1/10/25/40/100 Gbit fixed configuration Up to 2 None

References

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  1. ^ Kennedy Clark; Kevin Hamilton (Feb 1, 2002), Configuring the Catalyst, Cisco Press, retrieved 2016-08-29
  2. ^ "Cisco unveils network of the future that can learn, adapt and evolve". newsroom.cisco.com. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  3. ^ "Comparison of the Cisco Catalyst and Cisco IOS Operating Systems for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switch". Cisco Systems. August 19, 2004.
  4. ^ Cisco Press: Configuring the Catalyst
  5. ^ Cooney, Michael. "Venerable Cisco Catalyst 6000 switches ousted by new Catalyst 9600". network world. IDG. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Cisco Catalyst 9000 Platform StackWise Virtual" (PDF). Cisco Systems. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. ^ Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series
  8. ^ Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series
  9. ^ Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series
  10. ^ Cisco Catalyst 1000 Series
  11. ^ Cisco Catalyst 38500 Series
  12. ^ Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series
  13. ^ Cisco Catalyst 2960-X/XR Series
  14. ^ Cisco Catalyst 2960-L Series
  15. ^ Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series
  16. ^ Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series
  17. ^ Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series
  18. ^ Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series
  19. ^ Cisco 2940 Product Line
  20. ^ Cisco 2940 Model comparison
  21. ^ Cisco 2940 EoL announcement
  22. ^ Cisco 2900 Product Line
  23. ^ Cisco 2900 EoL notifications
  24. ^ Cisco 2900 EoL notification Archived 2015-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ Cisco 2950 product line
  26. ^ Cisco 2950 Model Comparison Archived 2015-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Cisco 2950 EoL notices
  28. ^ Cisco 2950 EoL announcement
  29. ^ Cisco Gigastack product information
  30. ^ Cisco 2960 Product Line
  31. ^ Cisco 2960 Model Comparison
  32. ^ Cisco 2960CX Model Comparison
  33. ^ Cisco 2960 Migration Benefits
  34. ^ a b 2960-S datasheet
  35. ^ Cisco 2960 EoL announcement
  36. ^ 2960-X EOL
  37. ^ 2960-XR EOL Announcement
  38. ^ Cisco 3550 EoL announcement
  39. ^ Cisco Gigastack product information
  40. ^ Cisco 3560 Product Line
  41. ^ Cisco 3560 Model Comparison
  42. ^ Cisco 3560C Model Comparison
  43. ^ Cisco X2 module information
  44. ^ Cisco 3560E product information
  45. ^ Cisco 3560 EoL announcement
  46. ^ Cisco 3750 Product Line
  47. ^ Cisco 3750 Model Comparison
  48. ^ Cisco 3750 EoL Announcement
  49. ^ Cisco 3750V2 EoL Announcement
  50. ^ Cisco 3750X Product Line
  51. ^ Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X Series Switches Data Sheet
  52. ^ Cisco 3750X EoL Announcement
  53. ^ Cisco 4900 Product Line
  54. ^ Cisco 4900M EoL Announcement
  55. ^ Cisco 3650 Product Line
  56. ^ Cisco 3650 Model Comparison
  57. ^ Cisco 3850 Product Line
  58. ^ Cisco 3850 Model Comparison
  59. ^ Cisco 3850 optional hardware
  60. ^ Cisco 3850 EoL announcement
  61. ^ Cisco 4500 Product Line
  62. ^ Cisco 4500-E Model Comparison
  63. ^ Cisco 4500-E Chassis specifications
  64. ^ Cisco 4500 Supervisor list
  65. ^ Cisco 4500 non-E line card EoL announcement
  66. ^ Cisco 4500 Non-E EoL announcement
  67. ^ Cisco 4500 Supervisor V EoL announcement
  68. ^ Cisco 4500 Supervisor 6E EoL announcement
  69. ^ Cisco 4500-X Product Line
  70. ^ Cisco 4500-X Model Comparison
  71. ^ Cisco 4500-X EoL announcement
  72. ^ Cisco 6500-E Product Line
  73. ^ Cisco 6500-E Model Comparison
  74. ^ Cisco 6500 Line Card comparison
  75. ^ Cisco 6500 Model Comparison
  76. ^ Cisco 6500 Supervisor Comparison
  77. ^ Cisco 6500 Service module reference
  78. ^ Cisco 6500 VSS configuration
  79. ^ Cisco 6500 Supervisor 32 EoL notification
  80. ^ Cisco 6513 non-E chassis EoL announcement
  81. ^ Cisco 6800 Product Line
  82. ^ Cisco 6800 EoL announcement
  83. ^ Cisco 6807-XL product information
  84. ^ "Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches Data Sheet". Cisco. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  85. ^ "Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches Data Sheet". Cisco. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  86. ^ Cisco 9400 Product Line
  87. ^ Cisco 9400 Data Sheet, Chassis
  88. ^ https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-9400-series-switches/nb-06-cat9400-ser-data-sheet-cte-en.html#Linecardoptions Cisco 9400 Data Sheet, Line Card Options
  89. ^ Cisco 9400 Data Sheet, Chassis
  90. ^ "Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches". Cisco. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
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