Cisco 8-Port 10/100/1000 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Unlock the power of seamless, secure networking with the Cisco 8-Port 10/100/1000 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Gigabit Ethernet Switch. Engineered for Cisco ISR 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series routers, this Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card (EHWIC) integrates a robust, multi-port Gigabit Ethernet switch directly into your routing platform. It enables you to converge data, voice, and video traffic on a single, centralized device, simplifying cabling, reducing latency, and accelerating deployment across branch offices and enterprise networks. Whether you’re expanding an existing WAN, adding IP phones, deploying wireless access points, or integrating IP-based video cameras, this 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch brings scalable performance and Cisco-grade reliability to your network infrastructure.

• Efficient 8-port Gigabit Ethernet connectivity: This EHWIC delivers eight 10/100/1000BASE-T ports, providing versatile, high-speed connections for IP phones, wireless access points, cameras, and other LAN devices. Each port supports auto-MDIX, allowing straight-through or crossover cables, which simplifies installation and reduces cabling misconfigurations. The result is faster, more reliable local-area connectivity that scales with your growing network demands.
• Integrated convergence on a single platform: Designed to plug into Cisco ISR routers, the 8-port EHWIC enables a fully integrated, secure networking solution with an embedded switch. By consolidating WAN and LAN functionality on one platform, you can streamline management, reduce equipment footprint, and lower total cost of ownership while preserving the security and reliability of Cisco’s IOS-based configurations.
• Secure, Cisco-grade networking for converged IP communications: The card is built to work seamlessly with Cisco’s security and IP communications features. When deployed in ISR environments, it supports the converged data, voice, and video workflows expected in modern branches, delivering reliable QoS, traffic prioritization, and policy enforcement to ensure critical applications operate without disruption.
• Scalability and performance for growing networks: The 8-port Gigabit switch functionality offers substantial bandwidth per device while enabling smarter traffic segmentation through VLANs, QoS policies, and access control strategies. This makes it ideal for multi-tenant offices, hybrid work setups, or networks that require reliable performance for real-time communications and high-bandwidth applications.
• Ease of deployment and centralized management: As part of the Cisco ISR ecosystem, this EHWIC leverages familiar Cisco IOS management and monitoring tools. Network administrators can configure interface addresses, VLANs, routing policies, and security settings using the same interfaces used for the router, simplifying administration and accelerating change control. It’s designed to blend into existing Cisco environments with minimal friction.

Technical Details of Cisco 8-Port 10/100/1000 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Gigabit Ethernet Switch

• Ports: 8 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet RJ-45 interfaces
• Interface type: Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card (EHWIC) with integrated switch capabilities
• Compatibility: Designed for Cisco ISR 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series routers
• Form factor: Mezzanine-style EHWIC module compatible with Cisco router chassis
• Management: Integrated into Cisco IOS-driven environment for configuration, monitoring, and security policy enforcement
• Performance characteristics: Supports full-duplex operation on each port; combines WAN and LAN connectivity to optimize data flow and reduce latency in converged networks
• Security and features: Works with Cisco security features and IP communications capabilities within IOS, enabling secure, scalable deployments

How to install Cisco 8-Port 10/100/1000 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Follow these general steps to install the EHWIC into a compatible Cisco ISR router and bring up the 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch functionality:

• Power down the router and disconnect all cables to avoid static damage during installation.
• Open the router chassis according to the device’s maintenance procedure and locate an available EHWIC slot that supports the 8-port GHz Ethernet module.
• Insert the EHWIC firmly into the slot until it seats with a secure click, then fasten any mounting screws as required by the chassis design.
• Reconnect power and attach the router to your network environment. Start the device and verify the module is recognized using the appropriate Cisco IOS commands (for example, show hw-module and show version outputs).
• Configure the new interfaces and VLANs as needed: assign IP addresses for management, create necessary VLANs for segmentation, and apply QoS policies to guarantee priority for voice and video traffic.
• Test connectivity by pinging management IPs, verifying link lights on the 8 ports, and validating end-to-end performance with representative traffic (voice, video, and data).
• Document the new topology and update network diagrams to reflect the addition of the EHWIC switch module, ensuring that IT staff can maintain the configuration going forward.

Note: For exact installation steps, slot compatibility, and IOS commands, refer to the router’s hardware installation guide and Cisco’s official documentation specific to your ISR model. Always follow your organization’s change-control process when installing or reconfiguring network hardware.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Cisco 8-Port 10/100/1000 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Gigabit Ethernet Switch?
  A: It is an Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card (EHWIC) with eight Gigabit Ethernet ports designed for Cisco ISR routers. It enables integrated switching and LAN/WAN convergence within compatible Cisco routers, helping consolidate network infrastructure and streamline management.
• Q: Which Cisco ISR series are compatible with this EHWIC?
  A: It is designed for Cisco ISR 1900, 2900, and 3900 series routers, enabling these platforms to provide enhanced WAN connectivity alongside an internal switching capability for connected devices.
• Q: Does this module support Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
  A: The information provided does not specify PoE support. In typical Cisco EHWIC configurations, PoE support depends on the specific module and router capabilities; check the exact model and IOS documentation to confirm PoE availability on the 8-port card.
• Q: How many devices can I connect through the 8 ports?
  A: The card provides eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing up to eight devices (such as IP phones, access points, cameras, or other LAN devices) to connect directly to the switch portion of the EHWIC, with bandwidth shared across those ports as configured by the IOS.
• Q: Is the EHWIC hot-swappable?
  A: In most Cisco ISR deployments, EHWIC modules are designed to be hot-swappable in supported chassis, enabling installation or replacement without powering down the entire device. Always follow proper procedures as outlined in Cisco’s hardware maintenance guidelines.
• Q: What management tools can I use to configure this module?
  A: The EHWIC relies on Cisco IOS for configuration and management. You can use standard Cisco management utilities and commands, such as IOS CLI, show commands to verify operation, and network management systems that integrate with Cisco IOS-based devices.
• Q: Can I use VLANs and QoS with this EHWIC?
  A: Yes. When integrated with IOS-based configurations on Cisco ISR routers, you can implement VLAN tagging, traffic segmentation, and QoS policies to prioritize real-time applications like voice and video, while maintaining secure and efficient data traffic.