Upgrading to GB Ethernet with existing C2950's

davidtbay · ‎12-03-2007

Anyone have advice on upgrading our environment to gb ethernet, while using our existing core of C2950 switches. Our environment is limited to 100mb, but we want to upgrade our machine room to gb.

Edison Ortiz · ‎12-03-2007

You will need to replace the hardware with a 2960 or Catalyst 500.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/index.html

You also need to make sure you are running Cat5E or better on your copper cables.

davidtbay · ‎12-04-2007

Thanks for the response.

We have (5) C2950 switches connecting to desktop workstations over CAT5, and want to upgrade our local servers to gigabit over CAT5E. We realize the benefits will only be for server-to-server communications, but wonder if we need to replace all the switches to 2960's or just one for the gigabit capability. I realize the 2950's are end of life as well. Would we purchase a 2960 with gigabit and connect to existing 2950 cluster master, or would we need something like a 3750 and connect it to the 2950 cluster master, or should we get a new 2960 and make it the cluster master to which the existing 2950's connect, and have it connect to the gigabit servers.

Appreciate your response.

Edison Ortiz · ‎12-04-2007

You can just purchase the new switches (3750 or 2960) with gigaports for the servers and uplink them to the existing 2950s via GigE links.