In-Depth Technical Analysis and Pricing Guide for Cisco WS-C2960X-24TD-L Switch

1. Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C2960X-24TD-L is a member of the Cisco Catalyst 2960-X series, designed to deliver enterprise-class Layer 2 switching with advanced Layer 3 routing capabilities. Engineered for medium to large enterprise networks, this switch offers a robust, scalable, and secure platform optimized for high-density access deployments. The 24-port configuration with 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet interfaces and two 10 Gigabit SFP+ uplink ports makes it ideal for aggregating access-layer traffic with high throughput and low latency.

Built on Cisco’s proven IOS XE software architecture, the WS-C2960X-24TD-L supports a comprehensive suite of network management, security, and automation features. It is designed to simplify network operations while providing high availability and energy efficiency. The switch is well-suited for campus LAN environments requiring seamless integration with existing Cisco infrastructure and future-proof scalability.

This model is part of the “LAN Base” software image family, which provides essential Layer 2 switching features with limited Layer 3 static routing capabilities, making it a cost-effective solution for organizations that do not require full Layer 3 dynamic routing.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The WS-C2960X-24TD-L switch is built on a fixed-configuration chassis with the following hardware specifications:

• Ports: 24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports (RJ-45)
• Uplink Ports: 2 x 10 Gigabit SFP+ ports for fiber or direct attach copper modules
• Switching Capacity: 216 Gbps (non-blocking architecture)
• Forwarding Rate: Up to 107.1 Mpps (million packets per second)
• MAC Address Table Size: 16,000 entries
• IPv4 Routing Table Size: 1,000 entries (static routes)
• DRAM: 512 MB
• Flash Memory: 128 MB for IOS XE image and configurations
• Power Supply: Internal fixed power supply, 370W maximum power consumption
• Dimensions: 44.5 cm (W) x 28.0 cm (D) x 4.4 cm (H) (1RU form factor)
• Weight: Approximately 4.5 kg

2.2 Software and Protocol Support

The WS-C2960X-24TD-L runs Cisco IOS XE LAN Base software, which supports:

• Layer 2 switching protocols: 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Rapid STP (RSTP), Multiple STP (MSTP)
• VLAN support: Up to 255 VLANs, 4,094 VLAN IDs supported
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for port channeling
• Static Layer 3 routing (IPv4 only)
• Quality of Service (QoS) features including classification, marking, and queuing
• Security features: 802.1X port-based authentication, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), IP Source Guard, DHCP Snooping
• Management protocols: SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RMON, Syslog, NetFlow Lite
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) support for power savings

2.3 Environmental and Compliance Specifications

The WS-C2960X-24TD-L is designed to operate reliably in demanding environments:

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing
• Acoustic Noise: 48 dBA typical
• Certifications: UL, CE, FCC Class A, RoHS compliant

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 Advanced Switching and Performance

The WS-C2960X-24TD-L delivers wire-speed switching performance with a non-blocking architecture that ensures no packet loss under full load conditions. The inclusion of two 10 Gigabit SFP+ uplink ports enables high-bandwidth aggregation to core or distribution layers, supporting future network growth and bandwidth-intensive applications such as video conferencing, virtualization, and cloud services.

The switch supports Layer 2 features such as VLAN segmentation, spanning tree protocols, and link aggregation, which provide network resiliency and optimized traffic flow. Static Layer 3 routing capabilities allow for basic inter-VLAN routing without the need for an external router, reducing latency and simplifying network design.

3.2 Security and Network Integrity

Security is paramount in modern networks, and the WS-C2960X-24TD-L incorporates multiple mechanisms to safeguard network integrity. 802.1X port-based authentication ensures that only authorized devices can access the network. Dynamic ARP Inspection and IP Source Guard prevent common Layer 2 attacks such as ARP spoofing and IP address spoofing.

DHCP Snooping protects against rogue DHCP