United States
Q
What is a Cisco Catalyst 3560 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 3560 Switch is a fixed-configuration, Layer 2/3 enterprise access switch offering advanced QoS, security, and optional PoE/PoE+ for converged networks.
Q
What are the key features of Cisco Catalyst 3560 Switches?
A
Catalyst 3560 switches deliver 24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, optional 10Gb SFP+ uplinks, IEEE 802.3af/at PoE, IPv4/IPv6 routing, MPLS, advanced QoS, and StackWise stacking up to nine units.
Q
Does the Catalyst 3560 support Power over Ethernet?
A
Yes. The Catalyst 3560 series supports IEEE 802.3af PoE on all ports and optional IEEE 802.3at PoE+ on select models, delivering up to 30 W per port.
Q
How do I configure VLANs on a Catalyst 3560 Switch?
A
In CLI mode enter global config, define VLAN IDs with “vlan <ID>”, assign ports via “interface <type> <slot>/<port>” and “switchport access vlan <ID>”, then save with “write memory”.
Q
Can I stack multiple Catalyst 3560 Switches?
A
Yes. Catalyst 3560 Switches use Cisco StackWise to stack up to nine units with a virtual backplane bandwidth of 32 Gbps for simplified management and redundancy.
Q
Which IOS versions are supported on the Catalyst 3560?
A
Catalyst 3560 supports Cisco IOS releases from 12.2(25)SE up to 15.0(2)SE, varying by feature set. Verify compatibility in the Cisco Feature Navigator.
Q
How do I upgrade the IOS on a Catalyst 3560 Switch?
A
Download the proper IOS image from Cisco, transfer it via TFTP/USB to flash, set the boot variable to the new image, and reload the switch to apply the update.
Q
What security features does the Catalyst 3560 offer?
A
It includes IEEE 802.1X port authentication, access control lists, DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, and secure management via SSH and SNMPv3.
Q
How does the Catalyst 3560 handle Quality of Service (QoS)?
A
The switch provides per-port classification, marking, policing, and scheduling with up to four hardware queues to prioritize voice, video, and data traffic.
Q
What ports and interfaces are available on Catalyst 3560 models?
A
Models offer 24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, optional 10 Gb SFP+ uplinks, RJ-45 console, and USB for configuration and image transfers.
Q
Is the Catalyst 3560 End-of-Sale or End-of-Life?
A
Cisco announced Catalyst 3560 End-of-Sale in March 2018 and End-of-Support in March 2024; customers should plan migration to newer Catalyst platforms.
Q
How do I troubleshoot a Catalyst 3560 that won’t power on?
A
Confirm AC mains power, inspect PSU LEDs, check voltage ratings, reseat or replace the power supply, and test with a known-good power cable.
Q
What is the stacking bandwidth of Catalyst 3560 with StackWise?
A
StackWise on Catalyst 3560 delivers a dedicated 32 Gbps bi-directional stack bandwidth across all member switches.
Q
Can the Catalyst 3560 be used in a data center?
A
While designed for enterprise access, Catalyst 3560 can serve in small data centers for aggregation, but lacks higher uplink density of core/data-center switches.
Q
What is the Cisco warranty coverage for Catalyst 3560?
A
Cisco provides a limited lifetime hardware warranty with next-business-day advance replacement, subject to Cisco’s hardware warranty terms.
Q
What are the main differences between Catalyst 3560 and 2960 switches?
A
Catalyst 3560 offers Layer 3 routing, higher stacking bandwidth, PoE+, and advanced QoS, whereas the 2960 series is a Layer 2 PoE switch without native routing.
