C H A P T E R 1

Product Overview

This chapter describes the Cisco ME 6500 series Ethernet switches and contains these sections:

Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet Switch (ME-C6524GS-8S), page 1-1

Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet Switch (ME-C6524GT-8S), page 1-7

Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet Switch (ME-C6524GS-8S)

The ME 6524 Ethernet switch (ME-C6524GS-8S) is a member of the Cisco ME 6500 series Ethernet switches. The Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet switch (ME-C6524GS-8S) is a 1.5 RU horizontal chassis with 24 SFP downlink ports and 8 SFP uplink ports. Figure 1-1shows the front view of the chassis with the major features identified; Figure 1-2shows the rear view of the chassis with the major features identified.

Figure 1-1 Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet Switch (ME-C6524GS-8S)—Front View

PS1 PS2 FAN

STATUS

1

9

1 3

25

47

 

 

 

6

 

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11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLE

 

 

 

8

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13

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

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9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

18

1

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USB

 

 

5

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FLASH

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15

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18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

4 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

Catalyst

 

30

 

 

147977

 

25

 

 

6524GS

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

29

 

 

 

 

26

 

28

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

25

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7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

29

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

32

 

6

 

1

Status LEDs

 

6

Uplink ports LEDs

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Console port (RJ-45 connector)

 

7

ESD chassis ground connector

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Downlink ports LEDs

 

8

Uplink ports (SFP transceivers required)

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

USB ports

 

9

Downlink ports (SFP transceivers required)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

PCMCIA connector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch Installation Guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OL-8900-03

 

 

 

 

 

1-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 17
Image 17
Cisco Systems ME 6500 manual Product Overview, Cisco ME 6524 Ethernet Switch ME-C6524GS-8S

ME 6500 specifications

The Cisco Systems ME 6500 is a sophisticated Ethernet switch designed to cater to the demanding needs of service providers and large enterprises. Engineered to deliver high performance and reliability, the ME 6500 series is ideal for both metro Ethernet applications and data center environments. One of its standout features is the ability to handle massive bandwidth, making it suitable for high-capacity networks. The switch supports a range of Ethernet services that facilitate seamless connectivity and network expansion.

At the core of the ME 6500 is its ability to provide Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionalities, which allows for flexibility in network design. This dual-layer capability enhances the switch's efficiency in managing traffic and ensures optimal forwarding of data packets. In addition, the ME 6500 series supports a wide range of Ethernet interfaces, including 10 Gigabit and 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which are essential for accommodating diverse bandwidth requirements.

One of the defining characteristics of the Cisco ME 6500 is its scalability. It supports up to 192 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports within a single chassis, enabling organizations to expand their network without compromising performance. Furthermore, the switch includes advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features that allow for traffic prioritization, which is crucial for maintaining the performance of voice and video services across the network.

The ME 6500 switch is also equipped with robust security features, including Access Control Lists (ACLs) and secure management protocols. These features protect sensitive data as it traverses the network, ensuring that only authorized users have access to critical resources. Management of the switch is simplified through Cisco’s management tools, allowing network administrators to monitor, configure, and troubleshoot the device efficiently.

Additionally, the switch supports various redundancy protocols, including Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime.

Overall, the Cisco ME 6500 is a powerful and versatile solution that meets the heavy demands of modern network environments, delivering outstanding performance, security, and scalability for both service providers and large enterprises. Its advanced features make it a go-to choice for organizations looking to future-proof their networking infrastructure.