Cisco Catalyst 6500 Switch

The Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 6500-E Series sets the new standard for IP Communications and application delivery in enterprise campus and service provider networks by maximizing user productivity and enhancing operational control. As the premier intelligent, multilayer modular Cisco switch, the Catalyst 6500 Series delivers secure, converged, end-to-end services, from the wiring closet to the core network, the data center, and the WAN edge.

The 6500-E series switches offer enhancements to scale beyond the 4000W power supply. Today's 6500 series switch cannot scale beyond 4000W of total system capacity except for 6513. The 6513 can support up to 6000W of power. Ideal for enterprises and service providers seeking to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series provides unprecedented investment protection and delivers scalable performance and port density across several chassis configurations and LAN, WAN, and metropolitan-area network (MAN) interfaces. Available in 3-, 6-, 9-, and 13-slot chassis, Catalyst 6500 Series switches feature an unparalleled range of integrated services modules, including multigigabit network security, content switching, telephony, and network analysis modules.

Through a forward-thinking architecture that uses a common set of modules and OS software across all Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series chassis (Figure 1), the Catalyst 6500 Series delivers a high level of operational consistency that optimizes IT infrastructure usage and enhances return on investment (ROI). From 48-port to 576-port 10/100/1000 or from 1152-port 10/100 Ethernet wiring closets to 400 million packets per second (mpps) network cores supporting up to 192 1-Gbps or 32 10-Gbps trunks, the Catalyst 6500 Series provides an optimal platform that maximizes network uptime with stateful failover capability between redundant routing and forwarding engines.

With numerous industry-leading features, the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series supports three generations of modules that continue to demonstrate the value of the Catalyst 6500 Series and the commitment of Cisco Systems to innovation. The new generation of Catalyst 6500 Series modules and Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 720 devices incorporate 11 new application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)-extending Cisco's leadership in networking while providing unparalleled investment protection.