2960 Series Switch is the most popular switch for CCNA practice.

Virtually it contains all

commands from CCNA syllabus. Cisco also recommends this switch for CCNA exam. In this
article we will explore the 2960 Switch in details including features, hardware, available
versions and functionality.

It is a newer switch and including this in your CCNA Lab will provide hands on experience on
the device that you are very likely to see in real world.

Available models of Catalyst 2960 Switch

Product ID Model Ethernet Ports Uplink port
WS-C2960-24TT-L LAN Base Layer 2 24 2x1000 BT
WS-C2960-48TT-L LAN Base Layer 2 48 2x1000 BT
WS-C2960-24TC-L LAN Base Layer 2 24 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-48TC-L LAN Base Layer 2 48 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-24TC-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 24 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-24-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 24 None
WS-C2960-48TC-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 48 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-48TT-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 48 2x1000BT
WS-C2960-48PST-L LAN Base Layer 2 48 PoE 2x1000BT and 2xSFP
WS-C2960-24PC-L LAN Base Layer 2 24 PoE 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-24LT-L LAN Base Layer 2 8 PoE 2x1000BT
WS-C2960-48PST-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 48 PoE 2x1000BT and 2xSFP
WS-C2960-24PC-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 24 PoE 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-24LC-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 8 PoE 2 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-8TC-L LAN Base Layer 2 8 1 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960PD-8TT-L LAN Base Layer 2 8 1x1000BT PoE
WS-C2960G-8TC-L LAN Base Layer 2 8 1 Dual Purpose
WS-C2960-8TC-S LAN Lite Entry Layer 2 8 1 Dual Purpose
For CCNA Lab WS-C2960-8TC-S Switch is sufficient. It comes with 8 Ethernet ports and
one dual purpose port. With this configuration we can easily setup our CCNA lab environment.

Front panel of 2960 Switch contains several LEDs used for monitoring switch's activity and
performance. In left side it contains a mode button with four indicating LEDs above.

1. SYST :- This LED indicates attached power supply.

2. STAT :- This LED indicates port status.
3. DPLX :- This LED indicates port duplex status.
4. SPD :- This LED indicates speed of Ethernet port.
SYST LED
The 2960 series supports an optional external redundant power supply (RPS) that can be
attached to the back panel of the chassis. LED indication depends on the type of power supply
attached with system.

LED Color Description

Green The system is up and operational.

SYSTEM Amber The system is facing a malfunction.

Off The system is powered down.

Green The RPS is attached and operational.

The RPS is installed but is not operational. Check the RPS to ensure
RPS Amber
that it hasn't failed.
Flashing Both the internal power supply and the external RPS are installed,
amber but the RPS is providing power.
 Off The RPS is not installed.

Next three LEDs (STAT, DUPLX and SPD) represent their associated mode. You can switch
them by pressing mode button. By default STAT LED is selected.

STAT LED
By default this LED mode is selected. It indicates the status of Ethernet port. During the boot
process switch goes through the several stages. Status LED reflects these stages. Every LED
lights temporarily and then goes out. Later only the ports that have device connected with them
turn to amber. These ports remain amber for a while due to STP (Spanning Tree Protocol)
which is enabled by default. Once these lights turn to green, switch becomes fully functional.
Flashing green indicates that port is transmitting data.

LED Color LED Meaning

Green A powered-up physical layer connection is attached with port.

Flashing green Traffic is entering or leaving the port.

Flashing green An operational problem is occurring with the portperhaps excessive errors
and amber or a connection problem.
Port is disabled due to any of one reason from three possible reasons;
Amber
manually shutdown, blocking STP state or security violation.

Off No powered-up physical layer connection exists on the port.

DUPLX LED

The LEDs above each of the ports reflects the duplex setting of the associated port. If the LED
above the port is off, the port is set to half-duplex; if the LED is green, the port is set to full-
duplex.

SPEED LED

LEDs above the port refer to the speed at which the port is operating. If the LED is off, the port
is operating at 10 Mbps; if solid green, 100 Mbps; and if blinking green, 1 Gbps.

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