United States
Q
What are the key features of Cisco 550X Series Stackable Managed Switches?
A
Cisco 550X Series offers 24–48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, flexible SFP uplinks, advanced QoS, VLAN, static routing, security features and PoE/PoE+ options in a stackable form factor.
Q
How does stacking work on Cisco 550X switches?
A
Stacking uses dedicated stack ports and cables to interconnect up to eight switches, creating a single logical unit managed via one IP address for simplified configuration and redundancy.
Q
What is the maximum stack size and bandwidth of Cisco 550X?
A
You can stack up to eight Cisco 550X switches with a backplane bandwidth of 160 Gbps per switch, delivering up to 1.28 Tbps aggregate bandwidth in a single stack.
Q
Do Cisco 550X switches support Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
A
Yes, Cisco 550X models support PoE and PoE+ with up to 740 W total PoE budget, enabling deployment of IP phones, wireless access points and cameras without external injectors.
Q
What uplink module options are available for Cisco 550X?
A
Cisco 550X offers optional dual-purpose SFP/SFP+ uplinks and modular 10G/25G/40G pluggable interfaces for high-speed connectivity to servers and aggregation switches.
Q
How is VLAN and Layer 3 routing configured on Cisco 550X?
A
Cisco 550X supports up to 4,094 VLANs, static routing for up to 32 routes, and IPv4/IPv6 management, enabling segmented networks with inter-VLAN communication.
Q
What security features do Cisco 550X switches include?
A
Built-in security features include IEEE 802.1X port authentication, DHCP snooping, IP Source Guard, Access Control Lists and Control Plane Policing to protect against unauthorized access.
Q
How can I manage and monitor Cisco 550X switches?
A
Manage Cisco 550X via web GUI, Cisco Network Assistant, CLI (SSH/Telnet), SNMPv2/v3 and RESTful APIs, or integrate with Cisco DNA Center for centralized provisioning and telemetry.
Q
What power redundancy options are available?
A
Cisco 550X supports optional redundant power supplies (RPS) and hot-swappable internal power modules to ensure continuous operation and failover protection.
Q
What warranty and support are available for Cisco 550X?
A
Cisco 550X includes a limited lifetime hardware warranty with next-business-day replacement. Smart Net Total Care contracts provide 24/7 support, software updates and advanced hardware replacement.
Q
How do I upgrade the firmware on Cisco 550X switches?
A
Firmware upgrades are performed via web GUI, CLI or Cisco Network Assistant. Use Cisco IOS CLI commands or TFTP/FTP server for image upload and follow the recommended upgrade path.
Q
What deployment scenarios suit Cisco 550X Series?
A
Cisco 550X is ideal for small to medium enterprises, branch offices and campus edge deployments requiring high-performance stacking, PoE/PoE+ and advanced security.
Q
What is the switching capacity and performance of Cisco 550X?
A
Cisco 550X delivers up to 176 Gbps switching capacity per switch and 130.95 Mpps forwarding rate, ensuring low latency and wire-speed performance for converged networks.
Q
Are there energy efficiency features in Cisco 550X?
A
Cisco 550X supports Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az), fan speed optimization and PoE power scheduling to reduce power consumption during low-traffic periods.
Q
Do I need extra licensing for advanced features?
A
All essential L2/L3, QoS, security and stacking features are included in the base Cisco IOS image. No additional licenses are required for standard deployment.
Q
How does Cisco 550X differ from the 350X Series?
A
Compared to 350X, the 550X offers higher stacking bandwidth, greater forwarding capacity, improved PoE budget, more uplink options and advanced security and routing capabilities.
