WS-C3750G-48TS-S Cisco Catalyst Switch - 48 Port with 3750g 10/100/1000t +4 SFP Empty

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C3750G-48TS-S Catalyst 3750G is a high-performance enterprise-grade network switch designed to deliver reliable connectivity, advanced routing, and scalable network management. Built by Cisco Systems, Inc., this switch is ideal for business environments requiring stable Gigabit Ethernet performance and flexible expansion options.

Manufacturer & Identification Details

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750G-48TS-S
• Series: Catalyst 3750G

Device Specifications

• Network Device Type: Managed Ethernet Switch
• Form Factor: External, Rack-mountable
• Rack Height: 1U

Port Configuration & Connectivity

This Cisco Catalyst switch offers extensive port density, ensuring seamless data transmission across enterprise networks.

Ethernet Ports

• 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports
• Supports 10Base-T, 100Base-TX, and 1000Base-T standards
• Auto-sensing and auto-negotiation per port

SFP Expansion Slots

• 4 x SFP (Mini-GBIC) uplink slots
• Ideal for fiber connectivity and long-distance networking

Performance & Network Protocols

Data Transfer Capabilities

• Maximum data throughput up to 1 Gbps
• Optimized for high-speed LAN environments

Supported Data Link Protocols

• Ethernet
• Fast Ethernet
• Gigabit Ethernet

Advanced Features & Management

The Cisco WS-C3750G-48TS-S is equipped with intelligent features that enhance network efficiency, security, and scalability.

Layer & Routing Features

• Layer 3 switching with IP routing support
• IPv6 compatibility for next-generation networks
• VLAN support for traffic segmentation
• IGMP snooping for optimized multicast performance

Network Management Protocols

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3
• RMON monitoring
• Telnet-based remote management

Additional Smart Capabilities

• Full-duplex transmission
• DHCP support
• Stackable architecture for scalability
• Centralized and manageable configuration

Memory & Storage

• RAM: 128 MB
• Flash Memory: 32 MB

Power & Physical Specifications

Power Requirements

• AC input: 110/230V
• Frequency: 50/60 Hz

Dimensions & Weight

• Width: 17.5 inches
• Depth: 16.1 inches
• Height: 1.7 inches
• Weight: Approximately 14.1 lbs

In-Depth Look at the WS-C3750G-48TS-S Model

This specific switch model is engineered to provide high-density Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to the desktop, IP phones, and access points, while offering flexible uplink options for aggregation. It is a fully managed, Layer 3 switch capable of routing between VLANs and implementing advanced quality of service (QoS) and security policies.

Hardware Specifications and Physical Architecture

The WS-C3750G-48TS-S is built on a proven, resilient platform designed for 24/7 operation.

Port Configuration and Connectivity

48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet Ports: These auto-sensing, auto-negotiating copper ports provide Gigabit speed to end devices, ensuring sufficient bandwidth for data, voice, and video traffic. They support features like auto-MDI/MDIX, eliminating the need for crossover cables.
4 x SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Uplink Slots: These slots provide modular flexibility for uplink connectivity. Network administrators can choose from a wide array of Cisco SFP modules (e.g., 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX/LH, 1000BASE-ZX) to connect via fiber for longer distances or to existing fiber infrastructure, or use copper SFP modules for additional Gigabit copper links.
1 x RJ-45 Console Port: For out-of-band management and initial configuration.

Performance and Switching Capacity

The switch features a non-blocking architecture with a forwarding bandwidth of 32 Gbps and a forwarding rate of 38.7 Mpps (million packets per second). This ensures wire-speed performance on all ports simultaneously, even under full load, preventing bottlenecks at the access layer.

The Revolutionary StackWise Technology

A cornerstone feature of the Catalyst 3750G series is Cisco's proprietary StackWise technology. This goes beyond traditional stacking, creating a unified, logical switching unit from up to nine individual physical switches.

How StackWise Creates a Single Logical Switch

StackWise utilizes special, high-speed stack cables to interconnect the backplanes of member switches. This forms a closed loop, dual-ring architecture that behaves as a single switching unit.

Key Benefits of StackWise Architecture

Single Point of Management: The entire stack is configured and managed as one device via a single IP address, drastically simplifying administration.
Unified Switching Fabric: The stack's total forwarding bandwidth is shared across all units, allowing for cross-stack traffic at wire speed.
High Availability: The dual-ring architecture provides redundancy. If a stack cable fails or a switch is removed, the stack automatically recalibrates within microseconds, maintaining data flow.
Simplified Network Design: Eliminates the need for Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) block ports between stacked units, utilizing all inter-switch links actively.
Flexible Scalability: Start with one switch and add more as network needs grow, up to the stack limit, without complex reconfiguration.

Advanced Software Features and Capabilities

Running Cisco's IOS (Internetwork Operating System) software, the Catalyst 3750G is far more than a simple packet forwarder. It provides a comprehensive set of enterprise features.

Layer 3 Routing Intelligence

The switch supports static routing and dynamic routing protocols including RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP. This enables inter-VLAN routing (router-on-a-stick alternative) directly at the access layer, improving performance and reducing load on core routers.

Comprehensive Security Suite

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

Access Control and Authentication

802.1X Port-Based Authentication: Integrates with RADIUS servers (like Cisco ISE) to authenticate users and devices before granting network access.
Port Security: Restricts MAC addresses allowed on a port, preventing unauthorized device access.
ACLs (Access Control Lists): Standard, extended, and VLAN-based ACLs for granular control of traffic flows.

Network Threat Mitigation

DHCP Snooping: Prevents rogue DHCP server attacks.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI): Guards against ARP spoofing and poisoning attacks.
IP Source Guard: Prevents IP address spoofing.

Quality of Service (QoS) for Converged Networks

To reliably support voice and video alongside data, the 3750G offers sophisticated QoS.

Classification & Marking: Identifies traffic based on port, IP, DSCP, or 802.1p CoS and marks it for appropriate handling.
Congestion Management: Uses weighted tail drop (WTD) and multiple configurable queues per port to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic like VoIP.
AutoQoS: A feature that simplifies deployment by automatically generating QoS configurations based on recognized traffic patterns.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The WS-C3750G-48TS-S remains a viable and cost-effective solution for specific environments, particularly in secondary roles or where its core strengths align perfectly with requirements.

Enterprise Branch Office or Mid-Size Business Core

In a branch office, a stack of 3750G switches can serve as the entire network foundation, providing user access, inter-VLAN routing, and connectivity to the WAN router. For a small to mid-sized business, it can act as a resilient core switch.

Server Farm Access Layer

The high-density Gigabit ports and low latency make it suitable for connecting racks of servers in a small or medium data center, providing Layer 3 routing between server VLANs.

High-Performance Workgroup Clusters

For engineering departments, video editing teams, or labs requiring high-speed interconnectivity and simple management, a 3750G stack delivers reliable, low-latency switching.

Educational and Government Networks

Its robust security feature set and reliability meet the needs of secure, controlled network environments found in schools and municipal offices.

Comparison with Successor Platforms (Catalyst 3850, 9300)

Newer platforms like the Catalyst 3850 and Catalyst 9300 series offer significant advancements:

Multigigabit Ethernet (mGig): Support for speeds like 2.5G, 5G, and 10G BASE-T on standard copper cabling.
Enhanced StackWise (StackWise-480, StackWise Virtual): Higher stack bandwidth and virtual stacking across distances.
Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) Ready: Integration with Cisco's intent-based networking architecture.
Programmability: Support for APIs, Python scripting, and modern DevOps practices.
PoE++ (UPOE): Significantly higher power delivery for advanced endpoints like PTZ cameras and access points.