Cisco® Enhanced EtherSwitch® Service Modules can reduce your company's total cost of ownership by integrating Gigabit Ethernet (GE) and Fast Ethernet (FE) switch ports within Cisco 3900 and 2900 Series Integrated Services Routers. This integration allows network administrators to manage a single device using Cisco management tools orthe router command-line interface (CLI) for LAN and WAN management needs. This approach reduces network complexity, lowers maintenance contract costs, lessens staff training needs, simplifies software qualification efforts, increases availability, and delivers a consistent user experience at branch offices and headquarters.

Product Overview

The Cisco Enhanced EtherSwitch Service Modules greatly expands the router's capabilities by integrating industry-leading Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching with feature sets identical to those found in the Cisco Catalyst ® 3560-E and Catalyst 2960 Series Switches. The new Cisco Enhanced EtherSwitch Service Modules are the first modules to take advantage of the increased capabilities on the Cisco 3900 and 2900 Series Integrated Services Routers. Additionally, these service modules enable Cisco's industry-leading power initiatives, Cisco EnergyWise ®, Cisco Enhanced Power over Ethernet (ePoE), and per-port PoE power monitoring-all of which enhance the ability of the branch office to scale to next-generation requirements and still meet important initiatives for IT teams to operate a power efficient network. Furthermore, the Cisco Enhanced EtherSwitch Service Modules not only perform local line-rate switching and routing but also support direct service module-to-service module communication through the Integrated Services Router Generation 2 multigigabit fabric (MGF) which separates LAN traffic from WAN resources.