Switches

1. Risks of Running EOL Cisco Switches in Production Networks
   Selene Gong

   33
   Running End of Life (EOL) Cisco switches is a reality for many enterprise and SMB networks. In practice, these devices often appear “stable” and may continue forwarding traffic for years. The real issue is not immediate failure, but the long-term security, operational, and compliance risks ...
2. Cisco Ruggedized Switches Explained: Industrial Ethernet for Harsh Environments
   Selene Gong

   35
   Cisco ruggedized switches are designed for network deployments where standard enterprise switches cannot operate reliably. These platforms are commonly used in industrial, outdoor, and transportation environments where temperature extremes, vibration, electrical noise, or limited physical access ...
3. Best Cisco Industrial Switches for OT Networks
   Selene Gong

   35
   Operational Technology (OT) networks are built to support physical processes, not office workflows. In these environments, network switches are expected to operate consistently over long lifecycles, integrate with legacy systems, and prioritize predictable behavior over rapid feature adoption. ...
4. Best Cisco Industrial Switches for Manufacturing Networks: Models, Roles, and Use Cases
   Selene Gong

   39
   Manufacturing networks place very different demands on switches than typical enterprise IT environments. Instead of office traffic and predictable workloads, production networks must handle continuous operations, harsh conditions, and tightly integrated industrial systems. When users search for ...
5. Best Cisco Industrial Switches for Industrial Automation Networks
   Selene Gong

   33
   In the era of Industrial IoT (IIoT), industrial automation networks are no longer isolated islands of technology. They are rapidly evolving into integrated, converged environments where Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) must coexist to drive business agility. Unlike ...
6. Best Cisco Industrial Switches for Utility & Substation Networks
   Selene Gong

   40
   Utility and substation networks operate under some of the most demanding conditions in industrial networking. These environments require deterministic performance, long-term reliability, and strict compliance with power industry standards. Choosing the right Cisco industrial switch is critical ...
7. How to Choose Cisco Switches for Enterprise Campus Networks
   Selene Gong

   45
   When you are modernizing a campus network, you aren't just looking at technical specs; you are managing a 5-to-8-year lifecycle. You likely have a model list from a vendor, but the real challenge is separating sales buzzwords from the architectural choices that will determine your operational ...
8. How to Choose Cisco Industrial Switches for Long-Term Deployments
   Selene Gong

   36
   In industrial IoT (IIoT) and factory automation, a standard office switch simply won’t survive. High vibration, extreme electromagnetic interference, and temperatures ranging from -40°C to +75°C demand hardware designed for resilience. Deploying Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) switches is not ...
9. Cisco Catalyst C9300 vs C9300L: Key Differences, Stacking, and Power Comparison
   Selene Gong

   36
   When upgrading an enterprise campus network, the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series is often the top choice for access and distribution layers. However, network engineers frequently face a choice between the standard modular C9300 and the cost-optimized C9300L. While they appear similar, the differences ...
10. Cisco EtherChannel Configuration on Catalyst 9000 Series Switches
    leo peng

    38
    EtherChannel is a core link aggregation technology widely used on Cisco switches to increase bandwidth and provide link-level redundancy. On Cisco Catalyst 9000 series switches—including the 9200, 9300, and 9500—it is commonly deployed between access and distribution layers, as well as for ...