Cisco's various lines of network switches
Cisco delivers various lines or series of network switches. Generally speaking, each series has a different focus, delivering features that are specific to a particular environment or requirement. These series are briefly described below with some details of their particular focus.
- Cisco Catalyst switches
- Run Cisco IOS
- High performance devices
- Primarily suited for "north-south" traffic such as that found in enterprise networks
- Used primarily for corporate LANs at the access, distribution, as well as core layer
- Cisco Nexus
- Run NX-OS
- Primarily suited for "east west" traffic such as that found in datacenters
- Primarily used for datacenters
- Cisco small business
- Scaled down IOS-type operating system
- Primarily web-based management interface
- Used in environments with low network performance requirements
- Access layer switches only
- Cisco Meraki
- Focus on cloud-based network management right out of the box
- Medium to high performance devices available
- Include a series of devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, access points, and even sensors and cameras