Cisco Switch Upgrade

[win2kseries1]

Company is moving to a different building and we need to make a decision as far as our switches/routers that this maybe a good time to replace or upgrade them, what we have now:

CISCO 3945 - WAN Router

CISCO 4506 - Core switch

CISCO 3560 - Distribution switch

CISCO 2960 - Access switch

 If anyone can give me some suggestions on what to get to replace them especially 2960 switch, I'll appreciate it.

-Thanks

[Hardi Ahmed]

Hi ,

1st of all it is better to share the IOS version of your device, meanwhile you can check for the latest version or the more powerful  IOS from the below attached link.

http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/selectIOSVersion.x

I belive you needs to replace all Des & access switches for the Des-SWs you can use C4500X or C3850, & for the Access switches you can use 3650.

[win2kseries1]

Thanks Hardi. Not really looking to upgrade the IOS version yet, just the hardware. But it may be necessary for the new hardware. Here's the IOS version:

CISCO 2960 - "lanbasek9-mz.150-1.se2"

CISCO 3560 - "ipbasek9-mz.150.se2"

[Hardi Ahmed · Accepted solution]

Hi,

per to this information you have to have the same features to be available from the new Hardware even though you will get many more feature from the new hardware.

if you looking for hardware upgrade you can do as a follows:

Destribution Layer:

Cisco C4500X (in case you have a fiber connection between DES & Access); you can make all ports SFPs

Cisco 3850 (10G uplink & electrical connection with Access Layer)

Access Layer:

Cisco 3650 WS (support 10G&1G uplinks with all 1G access ports)

[win2kseries1]

Thanks!

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Posting

I can easily recommend (well assuming I know what your network requirements are) the latest of any Catalyst, but it would help if you would clarify what exact model(s) of the 3560 and 2960 you have now.  Also for the 4506, what chassis variant, what sup and line cards.  There's quite a spread in all those, from pretty old to almost current.

If you're upgrading, perhaps an important issue is device redundancy.  Do you need or desire that?

Your 3945 is pretty current, so the big question is how much bandwidth does it need to support.  (This is the non-"E" model?)

[edit]

Do you now or plan L3 for your L3 capable switches?  Do you want L3 at the edge?