The WS-X6516A-GBIC is a high-density Gigabit Ethernet line card designed for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches. It provides 16 configurable Gigabit Ethernet ports using GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) transceivers, allowing flexible deployment over fiber or copper media. It is commonly used in enterprise core networks, data centers, and server aggregation environments.

Key Features

• 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports (GBIC-based, modular optics)
• Supports fiber (SX, LX/LH, ZX) and copper GBICs
• Hot-swappable module (no system downtime during replacement)
• Layer 2 switching with optional distributed forwarding (DFC support)
• High-performance shared switching fabric (up to 32 Gbps backplane)
• Flexible media selection per port
• QoS support and VLAN capabilities
• Designed for Catalyst 6500 modular chassis

Technical Specifications

• Platform compatibility: Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series
• Ports: 16 x Gigabit Ethernet (GBIC slots)
• Speed: 1 Gbps per port
• Interface type: GBIC (fiber/copper dependent on transceiver)
• Switching fabric: 32 Gbps shared bus architecture
• Form factor: 1-slot line card
• Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (typical range)
• Forwarding: Layer 2 (optional distributed Layer 3 with DFC upgrade)
• Hot-swappable: Yes