WS-C2924M-XL-EN Cisco Catalyst 24 Ports Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C2924M-XL-EN Catalyst Ethernet Switch is a dependable networking solution designed for small to medium-sized business environments. Built under Cisco’s trusted Catalyst portfolio, this switch delivers stable Fast Ethernet connectivity, scalability, and long-term performance for enterprise networks.

Manufacturer and Model Details

• Brand: Cisco Systems
• Product Line: Catalyst Series
• Series: 2900
• Model: 2924M-XL-EN
• Part Number / SKU: WS-C2924M-XL-EN
• Product Type: Managed Ethernet Switch

Network Interfaces and Port Configuration

This Cisco Catalyst switch is equipped with multiple Fast Ethernet ports to ensure smooth data transmission and reliable LAN connectivity.

Port Specifications

• Total Network Ports: 24 Ethernet ports
• RJ-45 Interfaces: 24 Fast Ethernet connections
• Port Speed: 10/100 Mbps (Auto-Negotiating)
• Port Type: 10/100Base-TX

Supported Network Technologies

• Ethernet Technology: Fast Ethernet
• Network Standard: 10/100Base-TX
• Media Type: Twisted Pair cabling
• Cable Requirement: Category 5 (Cat5)

Expansion and Scalability Options

Designed with future growth in mind, the Catalyst 2924M-XL-EN offers expansion flexibility to adapt to evolving network demands.

Expansion Slots

• Total Expansion Slots: 2 available slots
• Supports additional modules for enhanced functionality

Memory and Performance

Internal Memory

• Flash Memory: 4 MB onboard flash storage
• Optimized for stable firmware and configuration storage

Power, Reliability, and Durability

Cisco engineered this Ethernet switch to provide consistent uptime and dependable performance in demanding network environments.

Power Specifications

• Input Voltage: Compatible with 110V AC and 220V AC
• Power Supply: Integrated internal power unit
• Redundant Power Supply: Supported for added network resilience

Reliability Metrics

• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): 164,528 hours
• Designed for long-term operational stability

Core Architecture and Hardware Specifications

At its heart, the WS-C2924M-XL-EN is a Layer 2 managed switch designed to deliver dedicated, wire-speed performance on all ports. Its hardware foundation is built for the sustained demands of a busy office or department.

Chassis and Performance

The "M" in its model designation signifies a modular uplink capability, a key differentiator from fixed-configuration models. The switch features a sturdy steel chassis with a integrated power supply. Its backplane switching fabric is engineered to handle aggregate throughput of up to 3.2 Gbps, ensuring that the 24 Ethernet ports can operate simultaneously without congestion under most loads. The packet forwarding rate stands at a robust 6.6 million packets per second (Mpps), enabling it to handle high volumes of network traffic with low latency.

Port Configuration and Flexibility

The front panel houses 24 dedicated 10/100BASE-TX Ethernet ports with RJ-45 connectors, each supporting automatic medium-dependent interface crossover (Auto-MDIX) for simplified cabling. The true versatility lies in its modular uplink bay. This bay can accommodate a variety of Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) modules, allowing network administrators to tailor uplink connectivity to the backbone.

Comprehensive Software and Management Features

Beyond basic connectivity, the "XL-EN" designation denotes the Enhanced Software image, which unlocks a comprehensive suite of management, security, and quality-of-service (QoS) features. Managed via an intuitive command-line interface (CLI) or a web-based GUI (Cisco Cluster Management Suite), it provides full control over the network segment.

VLAN and Network Segmentation

The switch supports the IEEE 802.1Q standard for VLAN tagging, allowing the creation of up to 255 VLANs (64 active concurrently). This is essential for segmenting network traffic to enhance security, improve performance, and logically separate departments, guest networks, or device types. Support for VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) simplifies the management of VLAN databases across multiple Cisco switches.

Spanning Tree Protocol and Redundancy

To prevent network loops and ensure a stable, loop-free topology, the switch implements robust Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) variants: IEEE 802.1D (Classic STP), IEEE 802.1w (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol - RSTP), and Cisco's proprietary Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST+). These protocols provide crucial redundancy and path optimization in interconnected switch environments.

Quality of Service (QoS) for Traffic Prioritization

The 2924M-XL-EN offers sophisticated QoS mechanisms to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic like voice or video. It supports:

Classification: Traffic can be classified based on IP precedence, DSCP, or 802.1p CoS values.
Policing and Marking: Network traffic can be rate-limited and remarked to ensure adherence to policies.
Congestion Management: Uses Weighted Round Robin (WRR) queuing to ensure higher-priority traffic is forwarded first during periods of congestion.

Security and Access Control Capabilities

In an era of growing network threats, this switch provided foundational security tools to protect network integrity and control access.

Port Security and MAC Address Management

Administrators can secure switch ports by defining and locking specific MAC addresses allowed to connect. This prevents unauthorized devices from plugging into the network. Violation modes can be set to shut down the port or restrict traffic dynamically.

Advanced Access Control Lists (ACLs)

The Enhanced Software image supports standard and extended IP and MAC-based ACLs. These ACLs provide granular control over which devices can communicate with each other and what type of traffic is permitted, acting as a basic firewall at the switch level.

Authentication with 802.1X and TACACS+

For robust user authentication, the switch supports the IEEE 802.1X standard, integrating with RADIUS servers to validate user credentials before granting network access. TACACS+ support further allows for centralized administration and auditing of administrator access to the switch itself.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

While not suited for modern data centers or high-bandwidth core applications, the Cisco WS-C2924M-XL-EN finds its niche in several practical, cost-sensitive environments.

Legacy Industrial and Lab Networks

Its reliability and lack of licensing fees make it perfect for isolated industrial control system (ICS) networks, manufacturing floors, or educational computer labs where predictable performance and simple management are key, and connection to the internet is not required.

Cost-Effective Network Segmentation

For small businesses or departments needing to segment existing flat networks for improved security and performance, this switch offers VLAN capabilities and managed features at a fraction of the cost of new hardware.

Backbone for VoIP or Surveillance Systems

With its robust QoS features, the switch can effectively prioritize voice traffic, making it a viable access layer switch for legacy VoIP phone systems or a dedicated network for IP-based surveillance cameras where high-volume video data needs managed switching.

Important Considerations for Potential Users

Evaluating this switch requires an honest assessment of its position as legacy technology.

Performance Limitations by Modern Standards

With a maximum of 10/100 Mbps on the access ports, it is unsuitable for environments requiring gigabit or multi-gigabit desktop connectivity. The shared 3.2 Gbps backplane can become a bottleneck under extreme, all-port-saturating loads.

Power and Noise Characteristics

The switch operates with a standard AC power supply and lacks modern energy-efficient features like Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE). Its cooling fan, while reliable, can be audible, making it less ideal for open office spaces where noise is a concern.

Configuration and Management Insights

Managing the WS-C2924M-XL-EN is a classic Cisco IOS experience. The CLI is accessible via console cable, Telnet, or SSH (v1, with later software images potentially supporting stronger encryption). The web interface, while functional, offers a more limited feature set compared to the full CLI. For initial setup, a direct console connection using a rollover cable and terminal emulation software like PuTTY is standard practice. Common configuration tasks include setting the management IP address, creating VLANs, configuring trunk ports for uplinks, and setting up basic security features like port security and ACLs. Its configuration can be backed up to a TFTP server for disaster recovery.

Comparative Analysis Within the Catalyst 2900XL Family

Understanding the "M-XL-EN" model requires placing it within its broader product family.

WS-C2924-XL-EN vs. WS-C2924M-XL-EN

The key difference is the modular uplink bay. The non-M model (WS-C2924-XL-EN) has two fixed 100BASE-FX fiber uplink ports, limiting flexibility. The "M" model's GBIC slot is a significant upgrade, allowing choice between copper or fiber Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.

WS-C2912M-XL-EN vs. WS-C2924M-XL-EN

The C2912M model shares the modular uplink capability but offers only 12 10/100BASE-TX ports instead of 24, catering to smaller workgroups or as a distribution switch for a handful of devices.

Standard vs. Enhanced (EN) Software Image

Models without the "EN" suffix run the Standard software image, which lacks advanced features like comprehensive QoS, IGMP snooping for multicast control, and extended ACLs. The Enhanced image on the "XL-EN" models is essential for any managed deployment.