The Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series is a mid-range modular switch series that offers non-blocking layer 2 through layer 4 switching capabilities for enterprise, small and medium-sized business (SMB) and metropolitan (metro) Ethernet customers. The Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series extends control to the network edge with intelligent network services including predictable performance, advanced security, comprehensive management, and integrated resiliency both in software and hardware. Watch Product Overview (Flash). Built to Lower Costs, Extend Deployment Life The Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series features a centralized modular architecture that provides operational simplicity, media flexibility, and expandability which extends deployment life while reducing the cost of ownership by minimizing recurring operational expenses and improving return on investment (ROI). Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Wins InfoWorld Technology of the year award "Best Enterprise Switch of 2006". Read Article The Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series also delivers: Investment protection: An evolutionary centralized architecture allows for the easy upgrade of all system ports to higher level functions with simple supervisor upgrades High availability: Hardware- and software-based resiliency are designed into the architecture to help minimize network downtime Ease of use and manageability: Web-based management offers centralized configuration and control of all ports for operational simplicity Comprehensive security: Advanced security capabilities mitigate information theft and limit damage from worms and viruses Power over Ethernet: PoE enables the deployment of new applications such as IP telephony, wireless access, video surveillance, building management systems, and remote video kiosks Scalability: This high-density solution offers up to 102Mpps nonblocking performance independent of the number of security policies or Layer 3 services enabled Deployment flexibility: This series offers a broad selection of chassis, high-performance supervisors, line cards, and power supplies Available for the Catalyst 4500 Series, the Cisco Network Assistant is a centralized management application that simplifies the administration task of Cisco switches, routers, and wireless access point. Free of charge, the Cisco Network Assistant provides configuration wizards that greatly simplify the implementation of converged networks and intelligent network services.