Cisco EtherSwitch Modules for Cisco 2600, 2800, 3700, and 3800 Series Routers
Cisco Switch Modules for Routers
Cisco® EtherSwitch® network and interface card modules are innovative solutions that can reduce total cost of ownership for customers by optionally integrating switch ports within a router. This integration allows network administrators to manage a single device utilizing the router command-line interface (CLI) for LAN and WAN management needs. This approach reduces network complexity, IT staff training needs, equipment sparing requirements, and maintenance costs.
Product Overview
The new Cisco EtherSwitch service modules, pictured in Figure 1, greatly expand the capabilities of integrated switching within Cisco routers by providing support for new features such as IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE), local Layer 3 switching, Cisco Network Assistant and Cisco Emergency Responder, and Cisco StackWise™ interfaces (available on NME-XD-24-1S-P only), as well as common software and features with Cisco Catalyst® 3750 and 3750-E Series Switches. Additionally, the new Cisco EtherSwitch service modules are the first modules that can take full advantage of the increased performance capabilities and new form factors of the enhanced network module slot on Cisco integrated services routers. (Table 7 provides a list of supported platforms).
Secure Network Connectivity for Data, Voice, and Video
When combined with a Cisco integrated services router, such as the Cisco 2821 pictured in Figure 2, the new Cisco EtherSwitch service modules can provide a fully integrated secure networking and converged IP Communications solution. From a single platform, IP phones can be connected to the network and powered using the IEEE 802.3af standard or pre-standard Cisco Power over Ethernet (PoE). With the optional addition of Cisco Communications Manager Express (formerly CallManager Express), the router can also provide the call processing for these phones. Further, as users attempt network access through the Cisco EtherSwitch service module, the module can use 802.1x to validate the end device’s credentials and place the user in the appropriate VLAN. As the end-user data leaves the LAN, the router can encrypt the traffic, helping to ensure secure communications between branch offices and central sites. This high degree of convergence greatly simplifies network architecture and allows for advanced services to be deployed to the branch level in a cost-effective manner.
Ordering Information
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