Chapter 1 | Introduction |
Features and Benefits
Customization
•Smartports port roles optimize switch ports according to their attached devices. Security and quality of service (QoS) benefits are built into the port roles.
•Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol authenticates and encrypts communications to the switch device manager GUI. (Requires the cryptographic version of the switch software available from the software download page on Cisco.com.)
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•VLANs for grouping network users according to functions, teams, or applications, and regardless of the physical location of the network users. The switch supports up to 32 VLANs.
VLAN support includes these features:
–Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevents network loops from developing and provides a redundant path if the active path becomes unavailable.
–Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping reduces duplicate and excess traffic on the network.
•EtherChannels for bundling multiple Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet ports into a single logical link to create a higher bandwidth link between the switch and another switch.
•Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) versions 1, 2C, and 3 to allow a remote network management station to access, monitor, and control the switch.
Device Manager GUI
The device manager is a graphical device management tool for configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting the switch (Figure
It simplifies configuration tasks with features such as Express Setup and Smartports for quickly setting up the switch and its ports. It uses graphical,
Additional details about the device manager and procedures on using the device manager windows are available from the device manager online help (Figure
You can display the device manager from anywhere in your network through a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. For information on how to display the device manager, see the “Display the Device Manager” section on page
| User Guide for the Catalyst Express 500 Switches |