Hewlett-Packard Weaknesses
•The implementation of QoS on the HP Procurve platform does not allow administrators to discriminate in scheduling and prioritizing traffic and allocating bandwidth — particularly important in networks that support IP telephony.
•HP Procurve switches do not support security filtering, MAC aging, MAC address notification, and private VLAN edge features, limiting the level of protection against internal and external threats.
•Implementation of
Intelligent Switching
for the Evolving Network
Competitive
Cisco Catalyst® 2950 Series Switches
vs. HP Procurve 2500/4000M/4108gl Switches
Cisco delivers superior availability, security, and quality of service features than
Business networks face new demands every
As a result, networks must meet new, higher standards for network availability, security, and control via advanced quality of service (QoS). The Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series offers all that and more, delivering intelligent services to the network edge.
Following are just a few of the reasons why the Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series is a better choice than comparable
Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Switches Offer More
Superior Availability
Ensures employees can access data at all times, locally and remotely
More features to increase network uptime and employee productivity, including:
•
•
•Voice VLAN capabilities enable all voice traffic to be carried on a VLAN designated for IP telephony, simplifying IP phone installation and network administration and troubleshooting
Enhanced Security
Protects data across the network from internal and external threats
More features to mitigate internal security concerns and protect partner/customer interactions, including:
•Filtering incoming traffic flows on port basis in hardware based on Layer 2/3/4 access control parameters (ACPs) to prevent unauthorized users from accessing restricted network areas (EI versions only)
•Port security prevents unauthorized users from accessing the network by limiting the number of MAC addresses allowed per port; an aging feature is used to remove MAC addresses after a specified time to allow another device to connect to the same port
•Private VLAN edge provides security and isolation between ports on a switch, ensuring that voice traffic travels directly from its entry point to the aggregation device through a virtual path and cannot be directed to a different port
•MAC address notification allows administrators to be notified of new users added and removed from the network (EI versions only)
Advanced Quality of Service
Prioritizes critical traffic and applications to get the most out of available bandwidth
More features to improve network efficiency and lower administration costs, including:
•Additional egress (outgoing) queues and Weighted Round Robin (WRR) allow network administrators to be more discriminating and specific when making scheduling/priority decisions on outgoing packets
•Rate limiting ensures that the appropriate amount of bandwidth is allocated to each user, allowing administrators to prioritize traffic for certain users
Easier Management
Simplifies and greatly streamlines network management tasks
More features to save time and resources with Cisco Cluster Management Suite (CMS) Software, which allows users to configure, troubleshoot, and perform software upgrades on multiple switches at once via a standard Web browser.
Other features include:
•Topology maps for a comprehensive layout of all clustered switches
•Link graphs and reports for
•Configuration templates and guide modes to minimize training
•And Cisco CMS is embedded in the
Investment Protection with Cisco Catalyst Switches
Cisco network platforms running Cisco IOS® Software form a unified system, providing a firm foundation for building Internet applications, while reducing training, management, and troubleshooting costs.
In addition:
•Cisco is the worldwide leader in switching, offering scalable,
•Cisco develops innovative technology such as TACACS+, enhanced
