The Cisco® SM-X Layer2/3 EtherSwitch® Service Module can reduce your company's total cost of ownership (TCO) by integrating Gigabit Ethernet (GE) ports within the Cisco 4451-X and Cisco 3900 and 2900 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs). This integration allows network administrators to manage a single device using Cisco management tools or the 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.



The Cisco SM-X Layer2/3 EtherSwitch Modules are an enterprise class line of switches in Cisco ISR extended service module form factor for the Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series and Cisco 4451-X ISRs. These Cisco EtherSwitch Service Modules (Figure 1) greatly expand the capabilities of the router by integrating industry-leading Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching with feature sets identical to those found in the Cisco Catalyst® 3560-X Series.



The new Cisco SM-X Layer2/3 EtherSwitch Service Modules take advantage of the increased capabilities on the Cisco Catalyst 3560-X Series Switches and provide scalability, security, energy efficiency, and ease of operation with innovative features such as Cisco TrustSec® and Media Access Control Security (MACsec) features. Additionally, these service modules enable Cisco's industry-leading power initiatives with IEEE 802.3at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) configurations 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 Routers Generation 2 (ISR G2) Multigigabit Fabric (MGF), which separates LAN traffic from WAN resources.



Because the Cisco SM-X Layer2/3 EtherSwitch Service Modules support the same feature sets as the Cisco Catalyst 3560-X Switches, you can provide a ubiquitous configuration at headquarters and at the branch office to create a consistent experience throughout your network.