WS-X6548-GE-45AF Cisco Catalyst 6500 48 Ports Ethernet Switch

Product Spotlight: Cisco 48-Port Gigabit Ethernet Module

The Cisco WS-X6548-GE-45AF is a high-density, 48-port 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet switching module designed for the Catalyst 6500 Series and 7600 Series routers. This module exemplifies the density and performance required for consolidating server farms, aggregating desktop switches, or providing high-speed access to power users. A key feature is its integrated IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability, allowing it to deliver up to 15.4 watts of power per port to connected devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras. This integration simplifies cabling and infrastructure by eliminating the need for separate power supplies at the endpoint location.

Hardware Architecture and Specifications

The module is engineered for performance within the shared bus architecture of earlier Catalyst 6500 chassis. It plugs into a single slot in the chassis and connects to the 32 Gbps shared switching bus. Each of the 48 RJ-45 ports supports auto-negotiation and auto-MDIX for easy deployment. The module's design includes advanced ASICs that handle packet forwarding, QoS marking, and ACL processing at wire speed.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

Deployment Flexibility

The integrated 802.3af PoE is a transformative feature. It allows network administrators to deploy a "smart" network where data and power are delivered over a single standard Category 5/5e/6 cable. This drastically reduces installation costs for endpoints and enables centralized power management and backup via the chassis' power supply system.

Power Budget Considerations

The total PoE power available is governed by the chassis power supplies. The module itself draws power for its own operations and can request additional budget from the chassis to allocate to connected devices. Careful planning of the chassis power supply configuration (e.g., using 2500W or 4000W AC or DC supplies) is essential to ensure adequate power for all PoE modules in the system.

Compatibility and Deployment Scenarios

Understanding the ecosystem in which the WS-X6548-GE-45AF operates is crucial for successful deployment. Its performance and features are intrinsically linked to the chassis and supervisor engine it is paired with.

Chassis and Supervisor Engine Compatibility

This module is compatible with a wide range of Catalyst 6500 and 7600 chassis, including the 6503, 6504, 6506, 6509, and 6513. However, its performance is maximized when paired with appropriate supervisor engines.

Optimal Supervisor Engine Pairings

For full wire-speed performance on all 48 ports, pairing with a Supervisor Engine 720 is highly recommended. The Supervisor 720 introduces a 720 Gbps crossbar switching fabric to the chassis, to which this module can connect via its fabric-enabled daughtercard (if equipped), bypassing the legacy 32 Gbps shared bus. With earlier supervisors like the Supervisor Engine 1A or 2, traffic between modules flows across the shared bus, which can become a contention point at high aggregate loads.

Ideal Use Cases and Applications

The WS-X6548-GE-45AF was designed for specific high-density aggregation roles that also benefit from PoE.

Enterprise Wiring Closet Aggregation

In a multi-story building, this module can aggregate traffic from dozens of edge switches or connect directly to a high volume of desktop PCs, IP phones, and wireless access points, providing both data and power from a central location.

Mid-Tier Data Center Server Connectivity

For server farms requiring Gigabit connectivity, this module offers a cost-effective, high-density solution for connecting 1U servers with embedded NICs. The PoE capability can also be repurposed for out-of-band management interfaces on servers or console servers.

Unified Communications Deployment Hub

As a backbone for Cisco Unified Communications systems, this module can power a large cluster of Cisco IP phones (7900 series, 8800 series) and provide the data path for call signaling and media streams, ensuring quality of service (QoS) for voice and video traffic.

Advanced Features and Network Benefits

Beyond basic connectivity, the WS-X6548-GE-45AF supports the comprehensive Cisco IOS Software feature set, enabling intelligent network services.

Quality of Service (QoS) for Multi-Service Networks

The module provides robust hardware-based QoS to classify, police, mark, and queue traffic. This is essential in converged networks carrying voice, video, and data.

Classification and Trust Boundaries

It can classify traffic based on Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), or Layer 4 parameters. Typically deployed at the access edge, it can be configured to "trust" markings from IP phones while re-marking traffic from PCs, establishing a clear trust boundary.

Egress Queuing and Scheduling

The module supports multiple egress queues per port. Weighted Round Robin (WRR) or Shaped Round Robin (SRR) scheduling ensures priority traffic, like voice, is serviced with minimal latency and jitter, even during periods of congestion.

Security and Management Feature

Security is integrated at the hardware level, providing protection and control without compromising performance.

Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Supports standard and extended IP and MAC ACLs to enforce security policies at wire speed. ACLs can permit or deny traffic based on source/destination addresses, protocols, and port numbers.

Port Security and 802.1X

Dynamic port security allows locking of MAC addresses to a specific port. When combined with IEEE 802.1X for port-based network access control, it creates a strong authentication framework, requiring user credentials before granting network access.

Secure Management

Management access is secured via SSHv2, SNMPv3, and role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring configuration integrity and operational security.

High Availability and Reliability

As part of the Catalyst 6500 system, this module contributes to a highly available network design.

In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU)

When used with a Supervisor Engine 720 and the appropriate IOS version, the system can perform software upgrades with minimal disruption, as the redundant supervisor is upgraded first and takes over control.

Hot-Swappable Design

The module can be inserted or removed from a powered chassis without disrupting operations on other modules, facilitating easy upgrades and maintenance.