Enterprise Access Layer Switch Selection
If you are evaluating Cisco access switches for enterprise networks, start with five things: port density, PoE demand, uplink capacity, multigig requirements, growth planning, and fault isolation. This is the next generation of modular Gigabit and Multigigabit Ethernet switches. Prioritize raw processing and deep buffers at the core (Huawei/Ruijie), and maximize PoE density and cost-efficiency at the access layer (NSComm). Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that prevent downtime. As the bottom layer of the hierarchical internetworking model, the access layer is also known as the desktop layer.
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