WS-C2960+48PST-S Cisco Ethernet Switch (48-Ports)

Deep Dive: Anatomy of the Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S Switch

Understanding the model number itself reveals the core capabilities of this switch. WS-C2960+48PST-S decodes as: WS (Workgroup Switch), C2960+ (Catalyst 2960+ Series), 48 (48 Ethernet ports), P (Power over Ethernet), S (Standard AC Power Supply), T (Twisted Pair/Copper ports), and -S (LAN Base Software Image). This configuration makes it one of the most comprehensive and popular models in the lineup.

Hardware Architecture & Port Configuration

The physical design of the WS-C2960+48PST-S is built for density and power delivery in a standard 1U rack-mount form factor.

Front Panel Connectivity

48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet Ports (RJ-45): The primary switching fabric. All ports support auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDIX, simplifying cable connections. These ports deliver wire-speed Gigabit performance, eliminating bottlenecks for connected desktop computers, printers, and servers.
4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet SFP-Based Uplink Ports: This is a critical enhancement over previous generations. These dedicated, non-shared SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) slots provide flexible fiber (e.g., 1000BASE-SX/LX) or copper uplink options for connecting to distribution layer switches or aggregating traffic to the network core. They enable longer distance connections and link redundancy.

Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

This is a defining feature of the "P" model variant. The switch integrates a robust power supply to deliver inline power to connected devices.

PoE Budget & Classification

The switch provides a 370-watt PoE power budget. It supports the IEEE 802.3af (PoE) and 802.3at (PoE+) standards. This means it can automatically detect and power a wide range of devices:

802.3af (PoE): Delivers up to 15.4W per port (max ~12.95W to device). Ideal for standard IP phones, basic wireless access points, and sensors.
802.3at (PoE+): Delivers up to 30W per port. Essential for higher-demand devices like advanced wireless APs (e.g., Cisco 3700, 3800 series), pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) security cameras, video IP phones, and thin clients.

The switch performs intelligent power management, monitoring power consumption and prioritizing power delivery in the event of a power supply overload, ensuring critical devices remain operational.

Intelligent Software & Management Capabilities

Running the proven Cisco IOS Software (LAN Base image), the WS-C2960+48PST-S transforms from a simple connector into an intelligent network device with comprehensive management, security, and quality-of-service features.

Cisco IOS LAN Base Feature Set

The LAN Base software provides a robust set of Layer 2+ features essential for controlled, secure access networks.

Advanced Layer 2 Switching

VLAN Support (IEEE 802.1Q): Full support for up to 255 VLANs (normal and extended range) for logical network segmentation, improving security and broadcast containment.
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP): Robust support for IEEE 802.1D STP, 802.1w Rapid STP (RSTP), and 802.1s Multiple STP (MSTP) for high availability and loop-free topologies.
Link Aggregation (EtherChannel): Support for both Layer 2 (LACP/PAgP) and Layer 3 static EtherChannels, allowing the bundling of up to 8 physical ports into a single logical link for increased bandwidth and redundancy.
Advanced QoS: Sophisticated classification, marking, policing, and queuing based on Layer 2, 3, and 4 information. This ensures priority traffic like voice and video receives low latency and jitter.

Limited Layer 3 Routing

A key differentiator for the "+" series, the LAN Base image supports static IP routing and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) for basic inter-VLAN routing. This allows the switch to perform routing between directly connected VLANs without always requiring an external router, simplifying small network designs.

Network Security & Access Control

Security is embedded at multiple levels to protect the network infrastructure and the data it carries.

Port Security & Authentication

IEEE 802.1X: Provides port-based network access control (NAC), requiring user or device authentication before granting network access.
MAC Address-Based Security: Features like sticky MAC and dynamic port security limit access to specific devices, preventing unauthorized connections.
ACLs (Access Control Lists): Support for standard, extended, and VLAN ACLs to filter traffic based on IP address, protocol, and port number, enforcing security policies at the edge.

Network Infrastructure Protection

DHCP Snooping: Prevents rogue DHCP server attacks by validating DHCP messages.
IP Source Guard: Prevents IP spoofing attacks by filtering traffic based on the DHCP snooping binding table.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI): Protects against ARP poisoning attacks by inspecting and validating ARP packets.

Primary Use Cases & Deployment Applications

The versatility of the Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S makes it suitable for a wide array of networking scenarios where reliable, intelligent, and power-delivering access switching is required.

Enterprise Campus & Branch Office Access Layer

As a classic access layer switch, it serves as the primary connection point for end-user devices within an office floor or branch location. Its 48 Gigabit ports efficiently handle high-density workstation connectivity, while PoE+ powers associated IP phones and wireless access points, creating a converged, "one-wire" solution for desk drops.

Unified Communications & Collaboration Deployment

The combination of high-speed switching, advanced QoS, and robust PoE+ makes this switch ideal for Voice over IP (VoIP) and video collaboration environments. It ensures clear, drop-free voice calls and high-quality video conferences by prioritizing real-time traffic and reliably powering Cisco IP phones and telepresence endpoints.

Secure & Intelligent Wireless Network

Modern high-performance wireless access points (like Cisco's 802.11ac Wave 2 APs) often require PoE+. This switch can power multiple such APs simultaneously while providing the Gigabit backhaul they need. Features like ACLs and client isolation can be used to secure the wireless traffic at the edge.

Physical Security & Surveillance Systems

In security deployments, the switch can power numerous IP security cameras (including power-hungry PTZ models) over long distances using standard Ethernet cabling. VLANs can segment camera traffic for security and performance, while the switch's reliability ensures 24/7 operation.