Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF: MT-RJ fiber uplink

If you manage local area networks that exceed the capabilities of UTP cabling, they most likely use some form of fiber-optic connection. Recently, I evaluated a couple of Cisco switches and ordered a Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF for testing. Read the product details before ordering a fiber cable. Most of my equipment has an ST connector, but the Cisco 2940 has an integrated 100BASE-FX port with an MT-RJ connector. See Wikipedia for more information on optical fiber connectors.

Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF

The Cisco Catalyst 2940-8TF is a member of the Catalyst 2940 Series Switches, small, standalone, managed switches with 8 Fast Ethernet ports and a single integrated Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet uplink. The switches are designed to be used outside the wiring closet in the end-user workspace, such as classrooms or conference rooms, and feature a durable metal shell, no fan for silent operation, easy wall or under-the-desk mounting, a security lock slot to prevent theft, and an available cable guard to lock down cables and help prevent theft.

Complete with a simple web-based Express Setup, a free Java-enabled web-based monitoring and configuration tool, and the rich functionality of Cisco IOS, this switch provides comprehensive functionality and manageability for classrooms, conference rooms, or other small workgroup environments. Easy to install and manage, periodic software updates for life, and built to last, these switches provide outstanding investment protection and the lowest total cost of ownership in its product class.

• 8 Ethernet 10/100 ports + 1 Ethernet 100BASE-FX + 1 1000BASE-X SFP port (one uplink active at a time)
• Wall-mountable, standalone, managed switch
• Catalyst 2940 Standard Image (SI) software
• Available with optional Cable Guard

During the installation, I collected screenshots of the Cisco 2940 switch's web and telnet interfaces. You can view them in the screenshot gallery.