Licensed Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology company that specializes in network and telecommunications equipment, software and services. Cisco was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, two computer scientists who worked at Stanford University. Since its inception, the company has become a leading player in the technology industry with a wide range of products and services that enable businesses, organizations and people to connect, communicate and collaborate more effectively.
Networking Equipment
The licensed Cisco is best known for its networking equipment, which includes routers, switches, and other hardware and software components that allow devices to communicate with each other and access the internet. Cisco’s routers and switches are used in everything from small office networks to large enterprise networks, providing a reliable and secure way to connect devices and share information.
Software
In addition to its hardware offerings, Cisco also develops a wide range of software products that complement its networking equipment. These include security software, collaboration software, and cloud-based applications that allow businesses to manage their networks and data more effectively.
Security
Security is a major concern for businesses and organizations in today’s world, and Cisco is at the forefront of developing solutions to address these concerns. Its security products include firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and virtual private network (VPN) software that provide a secure connection between devices and networks.
Collaboration
Cisco’s collaboration software enables teams to work together more efficiently, regardless of their location. Its Webex platform provides video conferencing, online meetings, and screen sharing capabilities, while its Spark application offers messaging and file sharing features that allow team members to stay connected and collaborate in real-time.
Cloud
Licensed Cisco has also expanded its presence in the cloud computing market, offering a range of cloud-based applications and services that help businesses manage their data and applications more effectively. Its cloud offerings include Cisco Meraki, a cloud-based management platform for network devices, as well as its Intercloud and Cloud Services Router (CSR) products that allow businesses to connect to public and private clouds.
Services
In addition to its hardware and software offerings, Cisco also provides a range of services that help businesses implement and manage their technology solutions. These include consulting services, technical support, and training and certification programs that enable IT professionals to develop their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends.
Acquisitions
Over the years, Cisco has made a number of acquisitions to expand its product and service offerings. One of its most notable acquisitions was its purchase of WebEx Communications in 2007, which helped Cisco expand into the collaboration software market. In 2013, Cisco acquired Sourcefire, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, which strengthened its security offerings.
Cisco Switches
The licensed Cisco switches are network devices that play a crucial role in connecting devices within a local area network (LAN). These switches are designed to provide high-performance networking solutions to meet the growing demands of modern networks. In the following, we’ll explore the different types of Cisco switches, their features, and how they work.
Types of Cisco Switches
Cisco offers a wide range of switches to meet different network needs. Here are some of the popular Cisco switches:
The licensed Cisco Catalyst Switches
These are the most popular switches from Cisco. They are known for their reliability, scalability, and security. They offer advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), VLAN support, and Layer 3 routing. Catalyst switches are designed for enterprise networks, data centers, and service providers.
The licensed Cisco Nexus Switches
These switches are designed for data center networks. They offer high-speed connectivity, virtualization, and automation features. Nexus switches are ideal for mission-critical applications, such as storage, database, and video streaming.
The licensed Cisco Meraki Switches
These switches are designed for cloud-managed networks. They offer easy deployment, centralized management, and enhanced security. Meraki switches are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, remote offices, and retail stores.
The licensed Cisco Small Business Switches
These switches are designed for small businesses. They offer basic features such as VLAN support, Quality of Service (QoS), and Layer 2 switching. Small Business switches are affordable and easy to manage.
Features of Cisco Switches
Port Density: Cisco switches offer different port densities to meet the needs of different networks. For example, some switches offer 24 ports, while others offer up to 96 ports.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE allows devices such as IP phones, cameras, and access points to receive power and data over a single Ethernet cable. The licensed Cisco switches support different PoE standards, such as PoE, PoE+, and UPoE.
Quality of Service (QoS)
QoS allows switches to prioritize network traffic based on different criteria, such as application type, user, or device. This ensures that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and reduces network congestion.
Virtual LANs (VLANs)
VLANs allow switches to segment the network into multiple virtual networks. This enhances security and improves network performance.
Layer 3 Routing
Layer 3 routing allows switches to route traffic between different subnets. This enhances network scalability and reduces network congestion.
How Cisco Switches Work
Cisco switches operate at different layers of the OSI model, depending on their features and capabilities. For example, Layer 2 switches operate at the Data Link layer and perform functions such as MAC address learning, forwarding, and filtering. Layer 3 switches operate at the Network layer and perform functions such as IP routing, subnetting, and inter-VLAN routing.
When a device sends data to another device on the same network, the switch receives the data frame and looks up the destination MAC address in its MAC address table. If the destination MAC address is not found, the switch floods the data frame to all ports except the incoming port. This is called a broadcast storm, which can cause network congestion.
If the destination MAC address is found, the switch forwards the data frame to the corresponding port. If the destination device is on a different subnet, the switch performs Layer 3 routing to forward the data frame to the correct subnet.
Cisco Switches key features
Cisco switches are networking devices that are used to connect devices together and form a network. They are an essential part of modern networking and are used in a wide variety of industries, from small businesses to large enterprises. The licensed Cisco switches are known for their reliability, security, and scalability, and they come with a wide range of features that make them the preferred choice for many organizations. In the following, we will explore some of the key features of Cisco switches.
VLANs
A VLAN, or Virtual Local Area Network, is a network that is logically segmented into smaller networks. VLANs are used to group devices together based on their function, location, or any other criteria. Cisco switches support up to 4,096 VLANs, which means that they can handle even the largest networks.
Quality of Service (QoS)
QoS is a feature that is used to prioritize certain types of traffic over others. This is important in networks where there is a lot of traffic, and some traffic needs to be given priority over others. The licensed Cisco switches come with a range of QoS features that allow administrators to control the flow of traffic, including packet prioritization and traffic shaping.
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
STP is a protocol that is used to prevent loops in a network. Loops occur when there are multiple paths between devices, and they can cause network congestion and even network outages. Cisco switches support STP, which means that they can detect and prevent loops from occurring.
Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
LACP is a protocol that is used to combine multiple physical links between switches into a single logical link. This is known as link aggregation, and it can improve network performance and reliability. The licensed Cisco switches support LACP, which means that they can create link aggregation groups (LAGs) to increase the bandwidth between switches.
Port Security
Port security is a feature that is used to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to a network. Cisco switches support port security, which means that administrators can restrict the number of devices that can connect to a particular port on a switch. This is an important security feature that can prevent unauthorized access to a network.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE is a feature that allows network devices to be powered over the Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for separate power cables and can simplify network installation and maintenance. The licensed Cisco switches support PoE, which means that they can power devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras.
Multicast
Multicast is a feature that is used to send data to a group of devices rather than to individual devices. This is important in applications such as video conferencing and online gaming, where multiple devices need to receive the same data simultaneously. The licensed Cisco switches support multicast, which means that they can efficiently deliver data to multiple devices on a network.
Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF)
VRF is a feature that is used to create separate routing tables within a single physical network. This is useful in situations where multiple virtual networks need to coexist on a single physical network. Cisco switches support VRF, which means that they can create separate routing tables for each virtual network.
Network Address Translation (NAT)
NAT is a feature that is used to translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses. This is important in situations where devices on a private network need to communicate with devices on a public network, such as the Internet. The licensed Cisco switches support NAT, which means that they can translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses.
Security Features
The licensed Cisco switches come with a range of security features that can help protect a network from unauthorized access, attacks, and other security threats.
Conclusion
The licensed Cisco switches are essential components of modern networks. They offer a wide range of features and capabilities to meet different network needs. From enterprise networks to small businesses, Cisco switches provide reliable, scalable, and secure networking solutions. As the demand for high-performance networking continues to grow, Cisco switches will play an even more critical role in connecting devices
