Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that. Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that. This chapter provides details of Cisco tested access layer solutions in the enterprise data center. It includes the following topics: Access layer switches are primarily deployed in Layer 2 mode in the data center. It includes the following topics: • Overview of Access Layer Design Options • Layer 2 Looped Access Layer Model • Layer 2 Loop-Free Access Layer Model • FlexLinks Access Model Access layer switches. When selecting Cisco switches for an enterprise campus network, most teams focus on model numbers, port counts, and headline specifications. In real-world deployments, however, many network issues are caused by parameters that were underestimated or ignored during the selection stage. These. Whether to use Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet depends on the specific requirements of your network. Though Fast Ethernet is enough for IP telephony and data traffic on most small to medium enterprise networks, its performance is much lower than Gigabit switches.