CBS350-8FP-2G Cisco Managed Switch 350 Series L2 Support 8 Ports

Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G is an advanced, business-grade Ethernet switch engineered to deliver efficient connectivity, enhanced control, and dependable network performance. Designed for small to medium enterprises, it offers flexible management, robust security, and power-efficient operation.

Key Product Highlights

• Brand: Cisco
• Model / SKU: CBS350-8FP-2G
• Category: Managed Ethernet Switch
• Configuration: 8-Port System with Additional Uplink Options

Technical Capabilities and Performance Features

This switch ensures smooth data transmission and reliable operation in demanding environments, supporting modern devices and high-bandwidth applications.

Port Configuration and Connectivity

• Eight 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet ports for fast and stable connections
• Two combo uplink ports (1GBASE-T/SFP) for flexible expansion
• Compatible with various SFP modules, including MGBSX1, MGBLX1, MGBLH1, MGBT1, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD, GLC-BX-U, GLC-BX-D, and GLC-TE

Power Delivery and PoE+ Support

• 8 PoE+ enabled ports for powering IP phones, security cameras, wireless access points, and more
• Total power budget of 120W for energy-efficient deployment

Management and Control Options

Offering intuitive configuration tools, the CBS350-8FP-2G simplifies administration while maintaining enterprise-level control.

• Layer 3 Lite capabilities with streamlined web-based management
• Centralized configuration via Cisco Business Dashboard
• Support for QoS prioritization, VLAN segmentation, IPv6 management, and basic security functionalities

Advanced Network Optimization

• Auto Smartports for automated voice system deployment across the network
• Static IP routing with support for up to 990 routes
• Handles 4094 VLANs and up to 16K MAC addresses for broad scalability

Performance & Efficiency Metrics

• Total switching capacity: 20 Gbps for seamless traffic handling
• IPv6-ready architecture supporting next-generation networks
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) for reduced power consumption during low data activity

Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G 350 Series Ethernet Switch

The Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G 350 Series Ethernet Switch is a purpose-built network edge device designed for small to medium-sized businesses, branch offices, and distributed enterprise deployments that require dependable Layer 2 switching, advanced manageability, and integrated power over Ethernet capabilities. Engineered to deliver the balance of performance, security, and energy efficiency, this eight-port manageable switch from Cisco’s 350 Series positions itself as a versatile platform for connecting access devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, security cameras, and point-of-sale systems while simplifying network operations. The CBS350-8FP-2G emphasizes plug-and-play simplicity for typical day-to-day tasks yet exposes a rich set of features for administrators who need granular control over traffic, segmentation, and quality-of-service policies. This makes the switch ideal for organizations migrating from unmanaged switches or looking to standardize their access layer on a single, Cisco-branded solution with enterprise-grade software capabilities.

Key functional pillars: performance, manageability, and resilience

At its core, the CBS350-8FP-2G focuses on three functional pillars that matter most to IT teams: sustained switching performance for aggregated traffic, intuitive yet powerful management tools for configuration and monitoring, and resilience features that reduce downtime. Performance is achieved through full-duplex Gigabit ports that handle real-world concurrent traffic flows with low latency, while the uplink ports facilitate easy integration into existing distribution switches or routers. Manageability is delivered through a choice of interfaces — from an intuitive web-based GUI to command-line access and support for centralized management platforms — enabling administrators to apply consistent policies across sites. Resilience is supported by Layer 2 protocols like spanning tree and link aggregation, which together enable loop prevention and increased link redundancy to maintain connectivity during transient failures. Those three pillars converge to make the CBS350-8FP-2G a practical, future-aware access switch for networks that require a secure and maintainable baseline.

Design and hardware highlights: compact footprint, power delivery, and uplink flexibility

The CBS350-8FP-2G’s compact mechanical design fits neatly into desktop, wall-mount, or small rack environments where space is at a premium. The eight front-panel Ethernet ports simplify cabling for access-device deployments, and the inclusion of two dedicated uplink interfaces provides the flexibility to connect to fiber or copper aggregation layers. Built-in Power over Ethernet support allows the switch to deliver electrical power through the same cables that carry data, enabling seamless deployment of PoE-enabled devices without requiring separate power infrastructure. The switch’s thermal and energy management features help reduce operational costs, while LED indicators on the faceplate give at-a-glance status for link, activity, and PoE consumption, simplifying on-site troubleshooting and lifecycle management. Physically hardened components and Cisco-quality manufacturing practices make the CBS350-8FP-2G suitable for mission-critical edge locations where reliability matters.

Power over Ethernet benefits and considerations

Power over Ethernet is a defining capability of the CBS350-8FP-2G, enabling the switch to power devices such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, and networked cameras directly through Cat5e/Cat6 cabling. The PoE feature streamlines installations by removing the need for local power adapters and reducing cabling complexity. For planning purposes, administrators should consider the cumulative power budget and device power class when populating ports to ensure consistent uptime. Proper network planning ensures the PoE distribution aligns with peak power requirements, allowing the switch to supply critical endpoints reliably. Additionally, PoE prioritization policies can help maintain essential services during power-constrained scenarios by ensuring that high-priority devices retain power when the overall consumption approaches the switch’s budget threshold.

Layer 2 switching capabilities and advanced traffic handling

The CBS350-8FP-2G supports an extensive set of Layer 2 features that are essential for efficient traffic handling at the access layer. VLAN support enables logical segmentation of network traffic to isolate voice, data, guest, and IoT traffic flows while preserving security and reducing broadcast domains. Link aggregation allows multiple physical ports to operate as a single logical link to increase throughput and provide redundancy. The switch implements spanning tree and its newer variants for robust loop avoidance and rapid convergence in multi-path topologies. Address learning and MAC-table management are optimized to handle realistic edge-device populations without sacrificing forwarding performance. These Layer 2 features ensure predictable packet delivery and make it straightforward to implement best-practice network designs that scale horizontally across multiple access switches.

Quality of Service and traffic prioritization

Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms on the CBS350-8FP-2G enable administrators to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic such as voice and video over best-effort data streams. Per-port and per-VLAN QoS controls allow the application of bandwidth policies, traffic shaping, and queue management strategies that help ensure consistent user experiences for collaboration applications. The switch supports classification based on 802.1p priority bits, DSCP markings, or manual policy assignment, making it possible to tune the network behavior according to organizational priorities. When combined with Power over Ethernet capabilities, QoS ensures that mission-critical communication remains responsive and intelligible even during peak utilization, which is particularly important for unified communications and real-time monitoring systems.

Security and access control features

Security is a central design element in modern access switches, and the CBS350-8FP-2G offers a layered approach to protect the network edge. Network segmentation via VLANs is complemented by port-level access control mechanisms that restrict which devices can connect and what resources they can access once connected. Support for 802.1X port-based authentication allows enterprises to enforce policy-based access and integrate with directory services for centralized user identification. Additional safeguards include MAC address filtering, storm control to limit broadcast storms, and ACL-like filtering at Layer 2 to reduce the attack surface. Cisco’s software also incorporates ARP inspection and dynamic host controls that add a defensive posture against spoofing and other common edge-level threats. Together these capabilities enable IT teams to enforce consistent access policies across branches and remote offices without the overhead of complex firewall rules at every hop.

Deployment scenarios and suitable applications

The versatility of the CBS350-8FP-2G lends itself to several practical deployment scenarios. In a small office, the switch can serve as the primary access device, connecting workstations, wireless access points, and IP phones while providing the necessary segmentation and QoS. In retail environments, the switch enables point-of-sale terminals, digital signage, and security cameras to run from a single converged network, simplifying wiring and centralizing control. For education and healthcare facilities, the switch’s ability to isolate sensitive devices and prioritize critical traffic ensures regulatory compliance and user experience. In distributed enterprises, the CBS350-8FP-2G becomes an attractive building block for branch-office LANs where local IT staff require intuitive tools for management coupled with the network stability expected of Cisco hardware.

Integration with wireless and IoT ecosystems

As wireless and IoT devices proliferate, the role of the access switch as a power and data distribution point becomes more important. The CBS350-8FP-2G, with PoE capabilities, supports wireless access points and IoT endpoints without additional power infrastructure, enabling rapid expansion of wireless coverage and sensor networks. VLAN tagging and visitor or guest segmentation isolate these devices from secure corporate resources while still allowing necessary cloud or on-premises services to reach them. In environments where IoT devices require dedicated bandwidth or prioritization, the switch’s QoS and bandwidth control functions become valuable tools to maintain predictable performance for critical sensors and operational systems.