WS-C3850-48P-E Cisco Switch with 48 Ports

Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E 48-Port Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E is a high-performance, stackable Layer 3 switch designed for enterprise networks. With 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports and advanced PoE+ capabilities, it delivers reliable connectivity and robust network management features suitable for modern IT infrastructures.

Key Manufacturer Details

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / SKU: WS-C3850-48P-E
• Device Type: Managed Ethernet Switch
• Port Count: 48 Ports

Physical & Enclosure Specifications

• Form Factor: Desktop or Rack-Mountable (1U)
• Port Type: 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet
• Power Over Ethernet: PoE+ with a budget of 435 W

Performance & Capacity

• Switching Capacity: 176 Gbps
• Stacking Bandwidth: 480 Gbps
• IPv4 Routes Support: Up to 24,000
• NetFlow Entries: 48,000
• Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs): 1,000
• MAC Address Table Size: 32,000 entries
• Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9,198 bytes

Routing Protocols & Network Management

• Supported Routing Protocols: BGP-4, IS-IS, RIP v1/v2, EIGRP, PIM-SM, OSPFv3, PIM-SSM, RIPng, EIGRP for IPv6
• Remote Management Options: SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RMON 1 & 2, Telnet, SSH, CLI

Advanced Features

• Auto-negotiation & ARP support
• VLAN & Trunking capabilities
• IGMP Snooping & MLD Snooping
• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) & Multiple STP (MSTP)
• DHCP Snooping & Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
• Port Aggregation & Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
• Quality of Service (QoS) & Shaped Round Robin (SRR)
• Virtual Route Forwarding-Lite (VRF-Lite) & Layer 3 Load Balancing
• Cisco StackWise-480 & StackPower Technologies
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)

Security & Access Control

• Access Control Lists (ACLs)
• Radius Authentication
• STP Root Guard & Uni-directional Link Detection (UDLD)
• Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN)

Compliance & Standards

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z, 802.3ab
• IEEE 802.1d, 802.1q, 802.1p, 802.1w, 802.1s, 802.1x
• IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, 802.3ad (LACP), 802.3x

Power Specifications

• Input Voltage: AC 120/230 V (50/60 Hz)
• Optional Power Redundancy for enhanced reliability

Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E 48 Ports Ethernet Switch

The Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E Ethernet Switch represents a significant advancement in network switching technology, offering 48 high-performance ports with full Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) support. This switch is part of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series, designed for enterprise-grade networking with exceptional scalability, reliability, and security. It integrates comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, enabling organizations to build resilient, efficient, and flexible network infrastructures. The WS-C3850-48P-E is engineered for environments that demand high availability, seamless application performance, and centralized management through Cisco DNA Center and Cisco IOS XE software.

High-Performance Switching and Scalability

The WS-C3850-48P-E offers robust switching capabilities with advanced hardware architecture that supports high throughput and low latency for critical applications. The 48 Ethernet ports, with optional PoE+ on all ports, provide reliable power delivery to devices such as IP phones, access points, and surveillance cameras. With support for stacking up to nine switches using Cisco StackWise-480 technology, this switch enables scalable deployments that grow with organizational requirements. The ability to manage multiple switches as a single entity enhances operational efficiency and reduces network complexity.

Advanced Layer 3 Routing Features

This switch is equipped with full Layer 3 capabilities, allowing for dynamic routing protocols including OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP. These features ensure optimized traffic management, faster convergence times, and enhanced network resilience. The switch supports inter-VLAN routing, multicast routing, and advanced Quality of Service (QoS), which are essential for environments that prioritize video, voice, and data traffic. Its routing efficiency reduces latency, improves bandwidth utilization, and ensures consistent network performance even under high traffic loads.

Comprehensive Security and Network Protection

Security is a critical aspect of the WS-C3850-48P-E switch. It incorporates features such as IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, and DHCP Snooping to prevent unauthorized access and protect against malicious network attacks. Integration with Cisco TrustSec provides scalable policy-based security that enforces access controls throughout the network. These measures ensure data integrity, protect sensitive information, and maintain a secure network environment for enterprises of any size.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

The Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E switch is designed with energy efficiency in mind, incorporating Cisco EnergyWise technology and low-power silicon to reduce overall power consumption. The PoE+ ports optimize power usage based on connected devices, ensuring efficient energy allocation. This not only reduces operational costs but also aligns with corporate sustainability initiatives, allowing organizations to deploy environmentally responsible networking solutions without compromising performance.

Flexible Deployment Options and Form Factor

The 1RU rack-mountable form factor of the WS-C3850-48P-E provides versatile deployment options for data centers, wiring closets, and enterprise network environments. Its compact size and high port density enable organizations to maximize physical space while maintaining a robust network infrastructure. The switch supports a wide range of uplink options, including 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 40 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, enabling high-speed connectivity to core networks and aggregation layers. This flexibility ensures that the switch can adapt to both current and future networking requirements.

Integrated Wireless Controller Capabilities

One of the standout features of the WS-C3850-48P-E switch is its integrated wireless controller functionality. It can manage up to 50 access points and 2000 wireless clients per switch, providing seamless convergence of wired and wireless networks. This unified approach simplifies network management, reduces hardware requirements, and ensures consistent policy enforcement across all network segments. Enterprises can benefit from simplified deployments of wireless networks without the need for separate controller appliances, lowering both CAPEX and OPEX.

Network Management and Automation

With support for Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime Infrastructure, the WS-C3850-48P-E switch offers centralized management, monitoring, and automation capabilities. Administrators can configure, monitor, and troubleshoot multiple switches through intuitive dashboards, reducing manual intervention and minimizing network downtime. Advanced automation features, such as policy-driven configurations, software-defined segmentation, and zero-touch provisioning, enable faster deployment of new services and enhance operational efficiency. These capabilities are particularly valuable for enterprises managing complex and distributed networks.

High Availability and Redundancy Features

Reliability is a critical factor for enterprise networking, and the WS-C3850-48P-E delivers through multiple redundancy features. Dual redundant power supplies, hot-swappable modules, and StackWise-480 technology ensure continuous network operation even during hardware failures. In addition, support for Virtual Switching System (VSS) allows the creation of a single logical switch from two physical units, providing high availability and simplified network management. These features minimize downtime, protect business operations, and maintain uninterrupted connectivity for mission-critical applications.

PoE+ and Device Connectivity

The WS-C3850-48P-E is equipped with 48 PoE+ ports capable of delivering up to 30 watts per port. This enables seamless connectivity and power delivery to a wide range of networked devices, including IP telephones, wireless access points, and security cameras. The PoE+ capabilities reduce the need for additional power infrastructure, simplify installation, and support scalable network expansion. The switch also offers intelligent power management, allowing administrators to allocate power based on device priority, ensuring critical devices remain operational during peak loads.

Advanced QoS and Traffic Management

Optimized Quality of Service (QoS) features in the WS-C3850-48P-E switch prioritize critical applications such as voice and video, ensuring consistent performance and low latency. The switch supports multiple QoS queues per port, hierarchical scheduling, and traffic shaping capabilities to manage congestion and maintain service-level agreements. These features are essential in modern enterprise networks, where multimedia applications and high-bandwidth services require reliable and predictable network performance.

Support for Cisco IOS XE Software

The WS-C3850-48P-E runs on Cisco IOS XE, a modular operating system that provides flexibility, stability, and security. IOS XE supports advanced programmability, including REST APIs, Python scripting, and NETCONF/YANG models for network automation. This makes the switch suitable for modern network environments where automation, analytics, and programmability are increasingly critical. Continuous software updates and feature enhancements from Cisco ensure that the switch remains relevant and capable of supporting evolving network demands.

Applications Across Enterprise Environments

The Cisco WS-C3850-48P-E 48 Ports Ethernet Switch is ideal for a wide range of enterprise applications. It supports large office networks, campus environments, branch offices, and data center access layers. The switch enables converged networks with wired and wireless integration, ensuring efficient communication between devices, applications, and users. With its high availability, advanced security features, and extensive scalability, the WS-C3850-48P-E provides a reliable foundation for enterprise networking initiatives, including unified communications, cloud integration, and IoT deployments.

Future-Proof Networking and Investment Protection

Investing in the WS-C3850-48P-E ensures long-term value and adaptability to future network requirements. The switch supports advanced features like Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), Cisco StackPower technology, and high-density uplinks for next-generation connectivity. Its modular design and extensive feature set provide organizations with the flexibility to implement emerging technologies without replacing the core infrastructure. This approach protects capital investments, reduces total cost of ownership, and enables enterprises to maintain a competitive edge in rapidly evolving networking environments.