United States
Q
What are Cisco 500 Series Stackable Managed Switches?
A
Cisco 500 Series Stackable Managed Switches are Layer 2 access switches designed for small to midsize networks, combining high-performance stacking, PoE/PoE+ support, and advanced security in a compact, rack-mount form factor.
Q
How many switches can I stack with the Cisco 500 Series?
A
You can stack up to eight Cisco 500 Series switches into a single logical unit, simplifying management and providing up to 80 Gbps of stacking bandwidth for high-throughput applications.
Q
What stacking bandwidth do Cisco 500 Series switches provide?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches deliver up to 80 Gbps of full-duplex stacking bandwidth per stack, ensuring low-latency, high-speed inter-switch communication.
Q
What Power over Ethernet (PoE) options are available on Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches support IEEE 802.3af PoE (15.4 W/port) and IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (30 W/port), with centralized power budgets to reliably power IP phones, cameras, and wireless access points.
Q
Which network management platforms are compatible with Cisco 500 Series?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches integrate with Cisco Network Assistant and the web-based GUI, plus support CLI (SSH/console), SNMPv1/v2c/v3, RMON, and Syslog for unified network management.
Q
Do Cisco 500 Series switches support Layer 3 routing?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches offer static Layer 3 routing and VLAN routing, enabling basic inter-VLAN communication, but do not support advanced dynamic routing protocols.
Q
What security features are built into Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
They include 802.1X port-based authentication, Access Control Lists (ACLs), DHCP snooping, IP Source Guard, and Dynamic ARP Inspection to protect against unauthorized access and network attacks.
Q
How energy efficient are Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches implement IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet and smart airflow design to reduce power consumption, along with silent or variable-speed fans for quiet operation.
Q
What warranty and support options are available for Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches come with a Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee, plus optional Cisco SMARTnet support for software updates and 24×7 technical assistance.
Q
Can I use SFP modules with the Cisco 500 Series?
A
Yes, Cisco 500 Series switches feature dedicated Gigabit SFP uplink slots that support industry-standard 100 Mbps/1 Gbps fiber transceivers for long-distance connectivity.
Q
What are the ideal deployment scenarios for Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
They are ideal for small offices, branch locations, and workgroup environments requiring scalable stacking, PoE for IP devices, and advanced security without enterprise complexity.
Q
How do I configure Quality of Service (QoS) on Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Use the web GUI or CLI to map traffic to 8 hardware queues, classify by DSCP or 802.1p tags, and apply priority or bandwidth limits per port for voice and critical applications.
Q
Are software updates and firmware upgrades available for Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Yes, Cisco provides regular firmware updates via the Cisco Software Download portal, delivering feature enhancements, security patches, and stability improvements.
Q
How do I monitor and troubleshoot Cisco 500 Series switches?
A
Monitor using SNMP, RMON, SPAN, and Syslog; troubleshoot with real-time port statistics, event logs, and packet captures available through the web GUI or CLI.
Q
What management interfaces do Cisco 500 Series switches support?
A
Cisco 500 Series switches support an intuitive web-based GUI, Cisco Network Assistant, CLI (SSH/console), SNMPv1/v2c/v3, RMON, and Syslog for comprehensive control and visibility.
