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Ryan,<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Unfortunately the 2960's cannot go to 10GE, most switches that can go 10GE are either hardwired, use a SFP, or a XenPack.<br />
<br />
you normally would use these on a virtual host, and on NAS/SAN devices. &nbsp;yes you do require a 10GE port on the server side as well. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
here are some links:<br />
<a href="http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/catalyst-6500-series-supervisor-engine-720/product_data_sheet09186a008007cd00.html" rel="ugc">http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/catalyst-6500-series-supervisor-engine-720/product_data_sheet09186a008007cd00.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/data-center-virtualization/10-gigabit-ethernet-technologies/index.html" rel="ugc">http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/data-center-virtualization/10-gigabit-ethernet-technologies/index.html</a><br />
<br />
hope this helps<br />
-=Richard
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Ryan,
     Unfortunately the 2960's cannot go to 10GE, most switches that can go 10GE are either hardwired, use a SFP, or a XenPack.

you normally would use these on a virtual host, and on NAS/SAN devices.  yes you do require a 10GE port on the server side as well.  

here are some links:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/catalyst-6500-series-supervisor-engine-720/product_data_sheet09186a008007cd00.html [http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/catalyst-6500-series-supervisor-engine-720/product_data_sheet09186a008007cd00.html]
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/data-center-virtualization/10-gigabit-ethernet-technologies/index.html [http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/data-center-virtualization/10-gigabit-ethernet-technologies/index.html]

hope this helps
-=Richard

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Thanks for the insight. &nbsp;So what are the SFP ports on my switches there for then?
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Thanks for the insight.  So what are the SFP ports on my switches there for then?

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All,<br />
<br />
I have never upgraded to 10GB ethernet before. &nbsp;I have 2 Cisco 2960s switches. &nbsp;I was wondering what hardware I need to add to my switches to make them function at 10GB. &nbsp;I was also wondering which area of my network actually benefits from the 10GB switches, my virtual servers, ect, and if so do they need 10GB nic cards? &nbsp;Any detail you could give me so that I can have a better understanding of the benefits and whats involved would be appreciated?
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All,

I have never upgraded to 10GB ethernet before.  I have 2 Cisco 2960s switches.  I was wondering what hardware I need to add to my switches to make them function at 10GB.  I was also wondering which area of my network actually benefits from the 10GB switches, my virtual servers, ect, and if so do they need 10GB nic cards?  Any detail you could give me so that I can have a better understanding of the benefits and whats involved would be appreciated?

Adding 10GB Ethernet to Cisco 2960s Switch

A switch is a device that filters and forwards packets of data between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer or the network layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model and therefore support any packet protocol. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs. A hub is a connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports; when a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all packets.

Switches / Hubs

Network design and methodology, also known as network architecture, is the design of a communication network. It is a framework for the specification of a network's physical components and their functional organization and configuration, its operational principles and procedures, as well as data formats used in its operation. In telecommunication, the specification of a network architecture may also include a detailed description of products and services delivered via a communications network, as well as detailed rate and billing structures under which services are compensated.

Network Architecture

Networking hardware includes the physical devices facilitating the use of a computer network. Typically, networking hardware includes gateways, routers, network bridges, modems, wireless access points, networking cables, line drivers, switches, hubs, and repeaters. But it also includes hybrid network devices such as multilayer switches, protocol converters, bridge routers, proxy servers, firewalls, network address translators, multiplexers, network interface controllers, wireless network interface controllers, ISDN terminal adapters and other related hardware.