WS-C3750X-24P-L Cisco Catalyst Ethernet Switch (24 Ports)

Cisco WS-C3750X-24P-L: Specifications and Capabilities

The Cisco WS-C3750X-24P-L is a specific configuration within the 3750X family. The model number decodes as follows: WS-C (Wireless Switch Catalyst), 3750X (Series), 24P (24 10/100/1000 Ethernet Ports with PoE+), and L (LAN Base Feature Set). This combination makes it an exceptionally versatile workhorse for a vast array of business applications.

Understanding the LAN Base Software Image

The "L" in the model signifies the LAN Base feature set. This is a robust software tier that includes:

Advanced Layer 2 Switching

Comprehensive support for IEEE standards: 802.1Q VLANs, 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree (MST), 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP), and 802.3ad Link Aggregation (LACP). These features ensure network stability, prevent loops, and allow for the bundling of multiple ports for increased bandwidth and redundancy.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Sophisticated classification, policing, marking, and queuing based on Layer 2, 3, and 4 information. This ensures that latency-sensitive traffic like voice and video is prioritized across the network, guaranteeing clear VoIP calls and smooth video streams even during periods of high data load.

Security Features

LAN Base includes port security, DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), and IP Source Guard. These features work in concert to mitigate common network attacks, such as ARP spoofing and rogue DHCP servers, creating a secure access layer foundation.

Ideal Applications and Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco WS-C3750X-24P-L is not a niche product; its balanced feature set makes it a preferred choice across numerous verticals. Its primary strength lies in delivering PoE and high-density gigabit access with enterprise-class intelligence.

Unified Access and Converged Networks

In modern offices, the network must carry data for PCs, voice for IP telephony, and provide backhaul for wireless access points. The 3750X-24P-L consolidates these services onto a single, manageable infrastructure.

Deployment Example: Campus Wiring Closet

Deployed in a campus wiring closet, the switch connects end-user devices. Its PoE+ ports power Cisco IP Phones and Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points directly, eliminating the need for separate power injectors and electrical outlets. The advanced QoS policies embedded in the LAN Base software automatically trust and prioritize voice traffic from the IP phones, ensuring toll-quality audio.

Medium Business Core / Small Enterprise Backbone

For small to medium-sized businesses, a stack of two or three WS-C3750X-24P-L switches can form a highly resilient and performant network core. StackWise Plus provides the simplicity of a single management point and the redundancy of a distributed system.

Deployment Example: Retail Chain Backbone

In a retail environment, a stack can handle point-of-sale (POS) transactions, inventory management systems, in-store wireless for customers and staff, and IP-based security cameras—all powered via PoE. The stack's redundancy ensures that if one switch fails, the others continue to operate, preventing costly downtime during business hours.

Video Surveillance and Physical Security

The high PoE+ budget (740W) makes this switch ideal for powering a suite of high-definition IP cameras, which often require more than the standard 15.4W of 802.3af.

Camera Deployment Considerations

When deploying for surveillance, the switch's QoS can be configured to prioritize video streams to the recording server. Additionally, features like IGMP snooping optimize multicast traffic, preventing video streams from flooding all ports and conserving bandwidth.

Management, Integration, and Scalability

Managing a network of Cisco Catalyst switches is streamlined through a unified ecosystem of tools, and the 3750X integrates perfectly into this environment.

Management Interfaces

The switch can be managed through multiple avenues: a familiar Cisco IOS Command-Line Interface (CLI) accessed via console, SSH, or Telnet; a built-in web-based device manager for basic configuration; and through enterprise management suites.

Integration with Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) and Tools

While a classic product, the 3750X can be integrated into broader Cisco ecosystems. It is fully manageable by Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco DNA Center for network automation, assurance, and analytics, especially when running newer IOS XE versions. For day-to-day monitoring, it works seamlessly with Cisco EnergyWise to monitor and manage power consumption of connected PoE devices.

Scalability Through Stacking

The true scalability of the platform is unlocked via StackWise Plus. A business can start with a single WS-C3750X-24P-L and add switches as growth demands—up to a total of nine units in a single stack. This provides a seamless path from 24 to 216 PoE-capable gigabit ports managed as one entity.

Important Considerations and Comparisons

When selecting the WS-C3750X-24P-L, it is vital to understand its position relative to other models and newer technologies.

3750X vs. 3850 and 9300 Series

The Catalyst 3750X was succeeded by the Catalyst 3850 (which introduced built-in Wireless LAN Controller functionality and faster stacking) and later the Catalyst 9300 (the flagship for Cisco's Software-Defined Access). While the 3850 and 9300 offer more modern hardware, faster uplinks (multigigabit, 10G), and are designed for full programmability with IOS XE, the 3750X remains a supremely cost-effective solution for networks that do not require these cutting-edge features. Its value on the secondary market is exceptionally high.