United States
Q
What is the Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR switch?
A
The Catalyst 2960-XR is an enterprise-class, stackable Layer 2/3 access switch designed for secure, energy-efficient campus deployments with advanced PoE, resiliency, and management capabilities.
Q
What are the key features of the Catalyst 2960-XR?
A
Key features include FlexStack-Plus stacking, Cisco IOS XE software, PoE/PoE+ support, Layer 3 Lite routing, advanced security, and Energy Efficient Ethernet for optimized performance and flexibility.
Q
How many ports does the Catalyst 2960-XR support?
A
Models are available with 24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports plus four 1G SFP uplinks or two 10G SFP+ uplinks to accommodate diverse network topologies.
Q
Does the Catalyst 2960-XR support PoE and PoE+?
A
Yes, the switch offers PoE and PoE+ on all access ports with up to 740W total power budget to seamlessly power IP phones, wireless access points, and cameras.
Q
What stacking capabilities does the Catalyst 2960-XR offer?
A
FlexStack-Plus modules enable up to eight switches to form a single logical unit with 80 Gbps stacking bandwidth, simplifying management and increasing resiliency.
Q
What Layer 3 features are supported?
A
It provides Layer 3 Lite functionality including static routing, Routing Information Protocol (RIP), and support for OSPF stub for basic inter-VLAN routing.
Q
Which operating system runs on the Catalyst 2960-XR?
A
The switch runs Cisco IOS XE, offering modular software architecture, advanced programmability via APIs, and comprehensive security and automation features.
Q
What security features are included?
A
Security features include 802.1X port-based access control, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, DHCP snooping, Control Plane Policing, and MACsec encryption support.
Q
What is the switching capacity and forwarding rate?
A
The 2960-XR delivers up to 216 Gbps of switching capacity and up to 107.1 Mpps forwarding rate, ensuring sufficient bandwidth for high-density deployments.
Q
How is redundancy handled on the Catalyst 2960-XR?
A
Redundancy is provided by FlexStack-Plus stacking, dual redundant power supplies, and NSF/SSO on select models to maximize uptime.
Q
Can I manage the Catalyst 2960-XR centrally?
A
Yes, you can manage it via Cisco DNA Center, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, or the embedded Cisco IOS XE CLI, Web UI, and SNMP for flexible, centralized control.
Q
What energy-efficiency features are available?
A
It supports Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az), optimized power supply design, and automatic port power-down to reduce energy consumption and operational costs.
Q
What are the typical use cases for this switch?
A
Ideal for enterprise access, branch office, and converged campus deployments requiring secure PoE, advanced QoS, and simplified stacking in a compact form factor.
Q
Does the Catalyst 2960-XR support Quality of Service (QoS)?
A
Yes, it offers extensive QoS capabilities including priority queuing, traffic shaping, policing, congestion avoidance, and service-level agreements enforcement.
Q
What warranty and support options are available?
A
Cisco provides a limited lifetime hardware warranty, one-year return-to-factory replacement, and optional Smart Net Total Care for 24/7 technical support and advance exchange.
Q
How can I upgrade the firmware on the Catalyst 2960-XR?
A
Firmware upgrades are performed via Cisco IOS XE software images using TFTP, FTP, or USB CLI commands or through Cisco DNA Center’s automated image management.
