Switches

1. Managed Switch vs Unmanaged Switch: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Buy?
   Selene Gong

   52
   Network switches are essential for building reliable, high-performance networks. The core difference between managed and unmanaged switches lies in control, monitoring, and advanced features. Unmanaged switches are plug-and-play devices with no configuration required, while managed switches ...
2. What Are PoE Standards and How Do They Differ?
   Selene Gong

   43
   Power over Ethernet (PoE) allows a single Ethernet cable to deliver both power and data, reducing cable clutter while enabling flexible device placement for IP cameras, access points, VoIP phones, and more. However, not all PoE is the same. The IEEE defines different PoE standards—802.3af ...
3. How to Choose the Right PoE Switch for Your Network
   Selene Gong

   57
   Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology allows a single Ethernet cable to transmit both data and electrical power to networked devices, simplifying installations while reducing infrastructure costs. To choose the right PoE switch for your environment, you need to evaluate key factors like total ...
4. Is Cisco Catalyst 2960 Still Worth It? EoL Status, Features, and Replacements
   Selene Gong

   46
   The Cisco Catalyst 2960 series has officially reached its End-of-Life (EoL) and End-of-Support (EoS) status, meaning Cisco no longer provides security updates, technical support, or hardware replacement. While not recommended for production networks due to security risks and lack of vendor ...
5. How to Format USB Flash Drive for Cisco Catalyst 9300 and Other Cisco Switches
   Selene Gong

   56
   Properly formatting a USB flash drive is critical for Cisco Catalyst switches and other Cisco hardware. It ensures your devices recognize the USB during IOS upgrades, config backups, software recovery, and diagnostics. This guide explains what format your USB needs to be for Cisco switches, how ...
6. How to Enable SSH on Cisco Switch?
   Selene Gong

   46
   Secure Shell (SSH) is the recommended protocol to securely manage Cisco switches remotely. This FAQ provides concise answers and essential steps to enable SSH on Cisco Catalyst switches, helping you protect your network devices from unauthorized access. To enable SSH on a Cisco switch, follow ...
7. How to Upgrade Cisco IOS XE
   leo peng

   56
   Cisco IOS XE is a modular operating system designed for Cisco routers and switches, providing advanced networking features, programmability, and improved security. Keeping your IOS XE up to date helps maintain network stability and security by addressing vulnerabilities and adding new features. ...
8. How to Fix: Cisco Catalyst Fabric Site Not Showing Edge Node
   Selene Gong

   49
   When deploying or managing your Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) fabric, you may encounter an issue where your cisco catalyst fabric site not showing edge node in Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly Cisco DNA Center). In the topology view, affected edge nodes appear grey or white instead of ...
9. Port 80 vs 443: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
   Selene Gong

   53
   In the world of networking and web communication, understanding the difference between various ports is crucial for both functionality and security. Two of the most fundamental ports you'll encounter are Port 80 and Port 443, which are intrinsically linked to how you access websites every day. ...
10. HPE J9729A (Aruba 2920-48G-POE+) Switch FAQ: PoE+ Performance, Stacking, and Cisco Network Compatibility
    Selene Gong

    53
    The HPE J9729A (Aruba 2920-48G-PoE+) is a popular choice for businesses looking to expand or refresh their access layer networks. Whether you’re replacing aging Cisco switches or building out a mixed-vendor environment, understanding this switch’s PoE+ performance, stacking capabilities, and ...