The Cisco Catalyst 5500 is a monster switch. It can support up to 266 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet ports, making it one of the highest density switches on the market today. Although it can't claim wire speed switching, this switch is certain to deliver satisfaction, thanks to its versatility and ease of use.

Catalyst 5500's mammoth 13-slot chassis provides ample space for your network to grow with your company. Users of Cisco's Catalyst 5000 are offered an excellent upgrade path, since Catalyst 5500 uses all the legacy Catalyst 5000 modules. Catalyst 5500 is literally three times a Catalyst 5000; the switch also integrates the power of a Cisco LightStream1010 Multiservice ATM Switch. Users with diverse media across a large campus will find the 5500 especially powerful, thanks to a selection of media support. And the 5500 will continue to evolve, protecting your investment for years to come.

The 5500 is a powerful Layer 2 switch, but it also can operate as a full-fledged router. More than an IP switch, the Catalyst 5500's routing blade incorporates an entire Cisco 7200 series router on a single card. The 5500 can even behave as a rudimentary WAN router for remote sites with high-speed serial connectivity needs. Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for backbone and edge switching needs.

Cisco Catalyst 5500, $20,000 to $50,000,
Cisco Systems,
(800) 553-6387, (408) 526-4000.
www.cisco.com