Cisco 2950SX 24 - Catalyst Switch - Stackable User Manual download pdf (Page 2)

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Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+) for uplink load balancing. This Gigabit Ethernet ﬂexibility makes the Cisco

Catalyst 2950 Series switches an ideal metro access edge complement to the Cisco 7600 Series Internet Router and

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series of metro Ethernet switches.

Intelligence at the Metro Access Edge: Enabling Profitable Ethernet Services

Service providers that address the residential and SOHO market face the continual challenge of offering compelling

value-added services.

Although alternative broadband technologies such as DSL can offer bandwidth at speeds ranging up to 1.5 Mbps,

the monthly subscriber fees for such speeds can be out of reach for most users. As a result, compelling high-quality

services such as high-speed Internet access, VoIP, or broadcast video are often not viable propositions over these

technologies. However, in the metro, service providers are discovering that high-performance, Ethernet access over

ﬁber-optic networks can easily provide cost-effective bandwidth of 10 to 100 Mbps. By taking advantage of the

simplicity and cost beneﬁts of Ethernet, revenue growth via voice, video, and data services becomes a reality. When

considering the deployment of Ethernet services, service providers must consider the following issues:

• Building cost-effective, highly available, scalable metro Ethernet networks

• Providing proﬁtable new services while reducing operational and capital costs

• Having the network ﬂexibility to move up market to enterprise and small and medium- sized business services

These issues are especially relevant at the metro access edge. As service providers look to provide proﬁtable Ethernet

services such as high-speed Internet access, voice, and video, Cisco intelligent functionality such as advanced quality

of service (QoS), granular rate limiting, and multicast management are essential in the provider’s customer-located

equipment. In addition, availability and security concerns at the access edge are addressed with intelligent features

such as subsecond Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) convergence and 802.1x support. With Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series

Intelligent Ethernet switches, Cisco delivers the ideal balance of affordability and intelligence, enabling proﬁtable

Ethernet service breadth, availability, security and manageability.

Most important,the Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series is a key component ofthe Cisco Metro Ethernet Switching portfolio.

As such, serviceproviders areassured thatthey can offer a rangeof residentialand commercial services over thesame

network. For regional metro, metro aggregation, and metro access, Cisco Metro Ethernet Switching enables service

providers to deliver proﬁtable, comprehensive Ethernet services. With the effective integration of existing WAN

services such as Frame Relay and ATM, Cisco Metro Ethernet Switching offers an unmatched breadth of service

delivery mechanisms. Cisco also helps service providers minimize total cost of ownership for new services with its

extensive automated operations support. Through technology leadership, ﬁnancial stability, and a commitment to

customer support, Cisco ensures service success from “start to scale.”

Service Breadth Through Advanced Quality of Service, Rate Limiting, and Voice/

Multicast Features

To achieve proﬁtability, service providers that serve the residential and SOHO markets must offer value-added

services such as voice and video in addition to basic high-speed Internet connectivity to increase revenue per

subscriber. But these services are compelling only when service quality matches that of competing voice and

video offerings.

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Cisco 2950SX 24 - Catalyst Switch - Stackable User Manual Page 2