Support for multiple EtherChannel load balance algorithms (SMAC or DMAC, SIP or DIP, XOR-
SMAC/DMAC or XOR-SIP/DIP) to offer maximum performance on aggregated links.
Manageability features:
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) for identifying a switch through its IP address and its
corresponding MAC address.
Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) Versions 1 and 2 to aid in troubleshooting and reporting on
misconfiguration of ports connecting to other devices supporting CDP.
Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and LLDP Media Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED) for
interoperability with third-party IP phones.
Network Time Protocol (NTP) for providing a consistent time stamp to all switches from an external
source.
Directed unicast requests to a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (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 monitoring of the switch through the built-in Cisco Device Manager Web-based tool.
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. This option is available only in the
cryptographic software image.
In-band management access through SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3 get and set requests.
Out-of-band management (CLI) with the switch module’s console port.
Supported by CiscoWorks management software.
Protected Mode feature to isolate switch management from the Advanced Management Module, for
increased security of the switch.
Cisco Network Services (CNS) embedded agents for automating switch management, configuration
store, and delivery.
Cisco Network Assistance (CNA), a free GUI-based application tool to configure most features of this
switch. For more information and to download CNA, go to
http://www.cisco.com/go/cna
Extensive debugging options to aid in troubleshooting and diagnosing issues.
Support for multiple management interfaces.
Availability and redundancy features:
Hot Standby Routing Protocol (HSRP) for Layer 3 router redundancy.
Link state tracking to mirror the state of the external ports on the internal Ethernet links and to allow
the failover of the processor blade traffic to an operational external link on a separate Cisco Ethernet
switch.
Configurable Unidirectional link detection (UDLD) for detecting and disabling unidirectional links. This
feature prevents a larger network failure in the event that a unidirectional link is detected, thus
reducing downtime in these situations.
IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) for redundant backbone connections and loop-free
networks.
IEEE 802.1s Multiple STP (MSTP) for grouping VLANs into a spanning tree instance, and provided for
multiple forwarding paths for data traffic and load balancing.
IEEE 802.1w Rapid STP (RSTP) for rapid convergence of the spanning tree by immediately
transitioning root and designated ports to the converting state.
Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3012 for BladeCenter (withdrawn product)
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