Deliver Comprehensive 1/10/40G Backbone Services
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches deliver comprehensive network services, performance, and scale, optimized for your campus core and distribution network. Find out why more than 45,000 customers worldwide have made the Catalyst 6500 Series their strategic platform.
Invest with Confidence
See how Cisco Catalyst 6500 innovations can protect your investment well into the next decade. (3:26 min)
Invest with Confidence
Get Resiliency, Security, and More
Cisco IOS 15.1(1)SY1 for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is now available. (3:44 min)
Get Resiliency, Security, and More
Features and Capabilities
At Cisco, we will continue to invest -- hundreds of million dollars over the next 3 years alone -- in a 3-dimensional roadmap to:
- Improve performance and scale
- Advance our comprehensive, high-quality network services
- Bring you innovative campus features and designs that will lower total cost of ownership
Greater Scalability with Supervisor Engine 2T
You can unlock the full potential of the Catalyst 6500 Series with the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 2T. It provides the scale, security, and simplified management to help you address emerging trends such as the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) workplace and interactive collaboration.
A Lippis Report concluded that the upgrade to the Supervisor Engine 2T "is (Cisco's) most ambitious and thoughtful yet." Features include:
- Superior support for comprehensive network services
- 80 Gbps-per-slot capacity, 180 Gbps-per-slot capable
- 1, 10, and 40 Gigabit Ethernet modules shipping, 100 GE ready
- Integrated Service Modules to support wireless, network analysis and security
- Virtual Switching System for next-generation resiliency
Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 2T also demonstrates our continuous innovation in hardware and software, and our commitment to operational consistency and investment protection.
New Software Capabilities
The latest software release 15.1(1)SY1 adds support for two cutting-edge technologies that strengthen network resiliency and virtualization capabilities:
- VSS Quad Sup SSO (VS4O) helps assure 99.999% uptime in the enterprise network through multi-level failover protection with a single resilient control plane
- Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) is a scalable routing architecture that simplifies network virtualization and IPv6 transition in the campus
Your Catalyst Switch in 2025
A Lippis report analyzes the staying power of the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series. (PDF - 2.8 MB)
Read ReportProduct Support Services
Cisco's Services can help you increase operational efficiency, lower support costs, and improve availability risk management.
Additional Resources
Learn about the similarities and differences of the models within this product series.
Models (9)
Cisco Catalyst 6513-E Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6509-E Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6509-NEB-A Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6509-V-E Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6506-E Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6504-E Switch
Cisco Catalyst 6503-E Switch
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