1-5
Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-11380-12
Chapter 1 Overview
Features
• Directed unicast requests to a TFTP server for obtaining software upgrades from a TFTP server
• Default configuration storage in flash memory to ensure that the switch can be connected to a
network and can forward traffic with minimal user intervention
• In-band management access through the embedded device manager through a Netscape Navigator
or Internet Explorer session or through Network Assistant
• In-band management access through up to 16 simultaneous Telnet connections for multiple
command-line interface (CLI)-based sessions over the network
• In-band management access through up to five simultaneous, encrypted Secure Shell (SSH)
connections for multiple CLI-based sessions over the network (only available in the enhanced
cryptographic software image)
• In-band management access through SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3 get and set requests
• Out-of-band management access through the switch console port to a directly-attached terminal or
to a remote terminal through a serial connection and a modem
Note For additional descriptions of the management interfaces, see the “Management Options”
section on page 1-9.
Redundancy
• HSRP for command-switch redundancy
• UniDirectional Link Detection (UDLD) on all Ethernet ports for detecting and disabling
unidirectional links on fiber-optic interfaces caused by incorrect fiber-optic wiring or port faults
• IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) for redundant backbone connections and loop-free
networks.
–
Up to 64 spanning-tree instances supported
–
Per-VLAN spanning-tree plus (PVST+) for load balancing across VLANs
–
Rapid PVST+ for load balancing across VLANs
–
UplinkFast, cross-stack UplinkFast, and BackboneFast for fast convergence after a
spanning-tree topology change and for achieving load balancing among redundant uplinks,
including Gigabit uplinks and cross-stack Gigabit uplinks
• IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) for grouping VLANs into a spanning-tree
instance and for providing multiple forwarding paths for data traffic and load balancing and rapid
per-VLAN Spanning-Tree plus (rapid-PVST+), based on the IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree
Protocol (RSTP) for rapid convergence of the spanning tree by immediately transitioning root and
designated ports to the forwarding state
To Next Page