Cisco 2811 Integrated Services Router with HWIC-4ESW (4-Port Fast Ethernet Switch Module): Robust Branch Office Networking

The Cisco 2811 Integrated Services Router (ISR), equipped with the versatile HWIC-4ESW (4-Port Fast Ethernet Switch High-Speed WAN Interface Card), provides a powerful and flexible networking solution for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices. This integrated system allows organizations to intelligently embed data, security, and voice services into a single, resilient platform, enabling fast and scalable delivery of mission-critical business applications.

Cisco 2811 ISR: A Foundation for Integrated Services As a cornerstone of the Cisco 2800 Series, the 2811 router is designed for wire-speed performance of concurrent services such as security and voice, even at multiple T1/E1/xDSL WAN rates. It features two onboard 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports for network connectivity, alongside two USB 1.1 ports for versatile applications. Its modular design offers unparalleled flexibility, with four High-Speed WAN Interface Card (HWIC) slots, one Network Module Expansion (NME) slot, and dedicated slots for Advanced Integration Modules (AIMs) and Packet Voice Digital Signal Processor Modules (PVDMs). This extensive modularity allows the 2811 to adapt to evolving business needs, supporting a vast array of existing and new Cisco modules for various WAN, voice, and security functions.

HWIC-4ESW: Integrated Fast Ethernet Switching Complementing the 2811’s robust routing capabilities, the included HWIC-4ESW module transforms an HWIC slot into a fully functional 4-port 10/100 Fast Ethernet switch. This managed Layer 2 switch module provides essential connectivity for local area network devices such as PCs, IP phones (without PoE, for this specific module), and network printers directly from the router chassis. Key Layer 2 features include VLAN support (802.1Q) for network segmentation, Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization, and Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1D), simplifying network design and management by consolidating routing and switching functions into a single device.

Robust Security & Performance: The Cisco 2811 ISR comes equipped with a powerful hardware-based encryption engine, supporting DES, 3DES, and advanced AES (128, 192, 256-bit) encryption for secure VPN communications. Coupled with the robust Cisco IOS Firewall, the router provides comprehensive security features to protect your network infrastructure and sensitive data. With its typical throughput of approximately 61 Mbps for concurrent services, the 2811 is well-suited for branch offices requiring a balance of performance, security, and integrated services.

While the Cisco 2811 and HWIC-4ESW are now considered legacy hardware (having reached End-of-Life and End-of-Service-Life from Cisco Systems), they remain a cost-effective and reliable solution for specific networking requirements, particularly in environments where existing Cisco infrastructure is in place or for learning and development purposes.