Cisco Systems Intelligent Switching manual

The Evolving Network

Q:Why make the move to Gigabit Ethernet?

The primary security features and applications supported by these switches include access control lists (ACLs), filtering, port security, IEEE 802.1x, multilevel console security, and Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol. This unique combination provides the enhanced security needed to support new and expanding network services, addressing three distinct areas of concern in the network:

•Authentication In other words, is the user supposed to have network access?

•Authorization What’s the user permitted to do on the network?

•Accounting Who’s using the network and what are they doing?

All together, the security features supported by Cisco Catalyst switches offer the protection and control needed to prevent both malicious acts and inadvertent mishaps.

These features can be used to address performance as well as security issues. Hardware-based filtering, for instance, is typically used to screen MAC addresses to restrict access to sensitive areas of the network. But it can also be used to deal with a specific host that’s been bogging down the network, denying it access while allowing all others to enter. The protected port feature eliminates the possibility of unauthorized IP traffic on virtual LANs (VLANs).

Finally, it’s worth noting that Cisco Catalyst switches support applications to deal with another concern: physical security. Their multiservice capabilities make them ideally suited for IP video surveillance applications, providing an effective, yet affordable, alternative to conventional video monitoring systems.

A:Because networks need room to grow.

At speeds of 1000 megabits per second (Mbps), Gigabit Ethernet provides the bandwidth that networks need to evolve and meet new demands, alleviating bottlenecks, boosting performance, and increasing the return on existing invest- ments in infrastructure.

As the industry leader in LAN switching, Cisco makes the transition to Gigabit Ethernet faster and easier with standards-based solutions for both fiber-optic and copper cabling. Cisco products can also be deployed in stages for a more gradual migration to Gigabit Ethernet, starting at the core and moving on to the wiring closet.

Organizations can use Cisco Catalyst switches to extend Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop, simply and affordably, to support today’s powerful computers, sophisti- cated applications, and high traffic volumes. Delivering up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), the range of solutions offered by Cisco will satisfy even the most bandwidth-hungry environments.