Cisco Catalyst 4506 WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch

Overview of the Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Catalyst Chassis

Manufacturer and Product Information

• Brand: Cisco
• Part Number / SKU: WS-C4506-S2+96
• Product Line: Catalyst
• Series: 4500E
• Model: 4506-E
• Type: Switch Chassis

Chassis Performance and Capabilities

• Media Type: Twisted Pair
• Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
• Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T

Expansion and Slot Configuration

• Total Expansion Slots: 6
• Types of Expansion Slots:
• Supervisor Engine
• Line Card

Networking and Communication Features

• Layer Support: Layer 3

Management and Protocols

• Manageable: Yes

Power and Connectivity

• PoE (RJ-45) Port: Yes
• Power Source: Power Supply

Ports

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch is equipped with an impressive 96 ports, making it an ideal choice for businesses and organizations that require a high level of connectivity. These ports offer a multitude of benefits and play a crucial role in ensuring seamless communication and data transfer within a network.

Increased Connectivity

The 96 ports on the Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch provide users with a significant increase in connectivity options. With this switch, businesses can connect a large number of devices such as computers, servers, printers, and IP phones to the network without any limitations. This increased connectivity enables efficient collaboration and smooth operations within the organization.

Flexibility and Scalability

Having 96 ports on the switch allows for greater flexibility in network design and expansion. Businesses can easily scale their network infrastructure to accommodate future growth and additional devices. The ability to add more devices without requiring additional hardware investments provides cost savings and ensures that the network can adapt to evolving business needs.

Improved Performance

The abundance of ports on the Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch ensures that each connected device has dedicated bandwidth, minimizing congestion and improving overall network performance. Users can enjoy faster data transfer speeds, reduced latency, and enhanced user experience for applications such as video conferencing, VoIP calls, and data-intensive tasks.

High-Speed Connectivity

The switch supports high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity on all 96 ports. This capability allows for quick file transfers, seamless streaming of multimedia content, and rapid access to network resources. The high-speed connectivity is particularly beneficial for businesses that deal with large data volumes or require real-time access to critical information.

Enhanced Network Segmentation

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch's numerous ports enable efficient network segmentation. Administrators can configure VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) to logically separate different departments, teams, or security zones within the organization. This segmentation improves network security, reduces broadcast traffic, and enhances overall network performance.

Redundancy and Reliability

The switch is equipped with redundant power supplies and fans, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in the event of a power or fan failure. The redundant design eliminates single points of failure and enhances network reliability. This feature is crucial for businesses that rely heavily on their network infrastructure and cannot afford downtime or disruptions.

Simplified Network Management

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch comes with a comprehensive management interface that includes a single RJ-45 console port. This console port allows administrators to easily configure and manage the switch using a direct serial connection. The management interface provides access to advanced features, monitoring tools, and security settings, enabling efficient network management and troubleshooting.

Power Supply

The dual redundant power supplies of the Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch offer significant advantages in terms of reliability, availability, and flexibility. This feature ensures uninterrupted operation and safeguards against power-related issues that can disrupt network connectivity and compromise business productivity.

High Availability

The dual redundant power supplies provide built-in redundancy, eliminating the risk of a single power supply failure causing a complete network outage. In the event of a power supply failure, the switch seamlessly switches to the backup power supply, ensuring continuous operation without any disruption. This high availability feature is essential for businesses that require constant network connectivity and cannot afford downtime.

Fault Tolerance

The dual redundant power supplies offer fault tolerance by distributing the power load across multiple power sources. This distribution minimizes the strain on individual power supplies, reducing the chances of failures due to overload or excessive heat. The fault-tolerant design enhances the overall reliability of the switch and reduces the risk of unexpected power-related issues.

Flexibility and Scalability

The dual redundant power supplies allow for flexible deployment options and scalability. Businesses can choose to connect the switch to separate power sources, such as different power grids or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), to ensure diverse power feeds. This flexibility provides additional protection against power outages and increases the resilience of the network infrastructure.

Hot-Swappable Design

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch features hot-swappable power supplies, allowing for seamless replacement or addition of power supplies without interrupting network operation. Administrators can replace a faulty power supply or add an additional one while the switch is still running, minimizing downtime and simplifying maintenance procedures.

Power Monitoring and Management

The switch's power supplies incorporate advanced monitoring and management capabilities. Administrators can monitor the status and health of each power supply, including voltage levels, temperature, and fan speed, through the switch's management interface. This proactive monitoring enables early detection of potential issues and allows for timely preventive actions to be taken.

Management Interface

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch offers a comprehensive management interface that includes a single RJ-45 console port. This interface provides administrators with powerful tools to configure, monitor, and manage the switch, ensuring optimal network performance and security.

Direct Configuration Access

The RJ-45 console port allows administrators to establish a direct connection to the switch for configuration purposes. This direct access eliminates the need for complex network configurations or dependencies on other devices. Administrators can connect their computer or laptop to the console port using a standard Ethernet cable and access the switch's command-line interface (CLI) for advanced configuration and troubleshooting.

Out-of-Band Management

The console port provides out-of-band management capabilities, enabling administrators to manage the switch even if the network is experiencing connectivity issues or is temporarily unavailable. This feature is particularly valuable during network outages or when performing critical maintenance tasks that might affect network connectivity. The ability to manage the switch independently ensures continuous control and minimizes downtime.

Advanced Configuration Options

The management interface offers a wide range of advanced configuration options, allowing administrators to fine-tune the switch's behavior to meet specific requirements. They can configure VLANs, implement security measures, set up Quality of Service (QoS) policies, enable IPv6 support, and customize many other features. The extensive configuration capabilities provide flexibility and enable the switch to adapt to diverse network environments.

Monitoring and Troubleshooting

The management interface provides comprehensive monitoring and troubleshooting tools that assist administrators in detecting and resolving network issues. They can monitor performance metrics, track traffic patterns, analyze logs, and generate reports to gain insights into the network's health and performance. This proactive approach helps identify bottlenecks, security threats, or anomalies early on, allowing for timely interventions and optimal network maintenance.

Features

The Cisco WS-C4506-S2+96 Ethernet Switch boasts an array of advanced features that contribute to the efficient and secure operation of a network infrastructure. These features include Layer 2 switching, Layer 3 switching, IPv6 support, Quality of Service (QoS), Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), VLAN support, DHCP support, and ARP support.

Layer 2 Switching

The switch supports Layer 2 switching, which enables the efficient forwarding of Ethernet frames within a local network. Layer 2 switching improves network performance by reducing unnecessary traffic and optimizing data transfer between devices connected to the switch. This feature is essential for businesses that require fast and reliable intra-network communication.

Layer 3 Switching

Layer 3 switching expands upon Layer 2 switching capabilities by incorporating routing functionality. With Layer 3 switching, the switch can make intelligent routing decisions based on IP addresses, improving network efficiency and reducing the burden on external routers. Layer 3 switching is particularly beneficial for large networks with multiple subnets or virtual LANs (VLANs).

IPv6 Support

The switch's IPv6 support ensures compatibility with the latest version of the Internet Protocol. IPv6 offers a significantly larger address space compared to its predecessor, IPv4, enabling the connection of an exponentially greater number of devices. The switch's IPv6 support future-proofs the network infrastructure and allows businesses to take advantage of emerging technologies and trends.

Quality of Service (QoS)

The switch's Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities prioritize network traffic based on predefined rules and policies. QoS ensures that critical applications, such as voice or video streaming, receive the necessary bandwidth and priority to maintain optimal performance. By effectively managing network resources, QoS enhances user experience and prevents congestion or performance degradation.

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a crucial feature for preventing network loops and ensuring network availability. STP allows for redundant links between switches while actively blocking or disabling redundant paths. This redundancy protection improves network uptime and eliminates disruptions caused by loop-related issues.

VLAN Support

The switch's VLAN support enables the creation of virtual LANs, which logically separate networks within a physical infrastructure. VLANs provide enhanced security, improved traffic control, and simplified network management. Administrators can group devices into different VLANs, segregating sensitive data or isolating specific departments for better network organization and security.

DHCP Support

The switch's DHCP support allows for easy and automatic IP address assignment to connected devices within the network. DHCP eliminates the need for manual IP configuration, streamlining the deployment of new devices and simplifying network management. With DHCP support, businesses can easily scale their network infrastructure and efficiently manage IP addresses without manual intervention.

ARP Support

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) support is essential for mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses within a network. The switch's ARP support ensures accurate and efficient communication between devices by maintaining an up-to-date ARP table. This feature facilitates seamless data transfer and enables devices to locate each other on the network.