The following key elements make up the Catalyst 3000 series:

The Catalyst 3000 series delivers media-rate switching. Its internal switching module interfaces allow you to add optional Fast Ethernet, 100VG-AnyLAN, or ATM interfaces that connect to high-speed servers, other switched 100-Mbps LANs, or ATM networks.

The Catalyst 3000 workgroup stack software architecture allows easy-to-use and manage stacked switching. Catalyst 3000, Catalyst 3100, and Catalyst 3200 switches can be interconnected, back-to-back, via a common switching matrix. Three to eight switches can be interconnected with the addition of a stack port module in each switch.

The stacking software is a distributed architecture that provides network resilience and supports automatic switch reconfiguration in addition to offering additional features to monitor and control switched network traffic.

The FlexSlot in the Catalyst 3100 and Catalyst 3200 can be used with any one of the Catalyst 3000 expansion modules or a 3011 WAN/router module (which can be used to connect an individual switch or an entire stack to the WAN). Future router modules will provide Layer 3 routing functionality for an individual switch or an entire stack.

The Catalyst 3100 provides 24 dedicated 10BaseT ports plus one FlexSlot.

The Catalyst 3200 has seven media expansion slots including one FlexSlot. The Catalyst 3200 also has built-in dual power supplies to provide fault-tolerant connectivity.

Two Catalyst 3000, Catalyst 3100, or Catalyst 3200 switches can be connected together by installing the optional Stack Port module in the rear panel. Using the Catalyst Matrix, you can interconnect up to eight Catalyst 3000, Catalyst 3100, or Catalyst 3200 switches in any combination.

The Catalyst 3000 series provides the following features:

• Powerful software featuring plug-and-play expansion of switching capacity. Stacked switch platforms interact and are manageable as if they were a single logical entity. The switches automatically reconfigure themselves as new switches are added or removed.

• Adaptive cut-through switching technology that delivers wire-speed, low-latency switching. In addition, the Catalyst 3000 series has the ability to automatically switch between cut-through and store-and-forward technologies depending on the error rate of a network at any given time.

• Optional modules that provide additional interfaces for additional Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, VG, ATM, or WAN connectivity. These user-installable options provide flexibility for changing or growing switching applications.

• Extensive packet buffering and address filtering database supporting 192 KB of per-port buffering for Ethernet and up to 10,000 end-user stations connected to the switch. This ensures reliable delivery of network traffic in switched desktop and hub applications.

• User-definable per-port and secure-mode filtering that provides access control for sensitive information resources.

• Support for up to 64 VLANs using Cisco's LANE-based ATM, and ISL-based Fast Ethernet VLANs to extend switched VLANs throughout the enterprise.

• Optional RMON traffic management providing four groups of RMON that can be utilized through Cisco's TrafficDirector application.

• IEEE 802.1d spanning-tree bridging per VLAN for loop detection and support of fault-tolerant switching applications.

• Optional Stack Port interface module that connects the switch to another Catalyst 3000, Catalyst 3100, or Catalyst 3200 switch, or to the Catalyst Matrix. Delivers 280 Mbps per switch of bandwidth ensuring unrestricted traffic flow.

• Redundant option: The standard matrix chassis supports one crosspoint matrix module, with a bay, to add a second redundant module. Each module is a self-contained unit with complete logic and power supply. In the redundant configuration, if the primary module fails, the secondary module detects the failure and resumes operation immediately.

The two serial ports operate in either DCE or DTE mode at speeds up to 2.048 Mbps. These ports can be configured to operate in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. This provides support for both dedicated leased lines and dial-up lines. The serial port connectors have a universal design common to the Cisco 2500 series and Cisco 7000 FSIP card. This feature enables easy transition to any of the common physical interfaces, including V.35, EIA/TIA-232, EIA/TIA-449, EIA/TIA-530, and X.21.

In addition to the two serial interfaces, the AUX port can be configured to provide a second dial-up line for asynchronous routing. The ISDN BRI removes the requirement for an external ISDN terminal adapter. The BRI S/T interface provides two 64-kbps B channels and one 16-kbps D channel for ISDN signaling for user data access to the ISDN network.

The 3011 WAN module provides no external Ethernet or AUI ports. Packets are routed on the 3011 WAN module through the Catalyst 3100 or Catalyst 3200 AXIS bus. Each 3011 provides WAN connectivity to any one VLAN or network segment within a Catalyst 3000 family stacked system.

• 1-port 100BaseTX

• 2-port 100BaseTX with ISL

• 1-port 100BaseFX

• 2-port 100BaseFX with ISL

• 3-port 10BaseFL

• 4-port 10BaseT

• 3-port 10Base2 (thin net)

• 2-port 100VG fiber

• 2-port 100VG UTP

• 1-port ATM multimode fiber with ST connectors

• 1-port ATM single-mode fiber with ST connectors