C1000FE-48P-4G-L Cisco Catalyst Managed Switch, 48-Port Rack-mountable

Core Architecture & Performance Specifications

The Cisco C1000FE-48P-4G-L is architected to deliver unwavering performance and future-ready bandwidth. Its design philosophy centers on providing a non-blocking switching fabric that ensures all ports can operate at wire speed simultaneously, preventing bottlenecks even during peak traffic loads.

Hardware Engineered for Density and Power

This model is defined by its high-density port configuration and integrated power capabilities, making it exceptionally versatile for dense office environments.

Port Configuration Breakdown

48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet Ports: These copper RJ-45 ports provide universal connectivity for a vast range of devices, from desktop PCs and VoIP phones to wireless access points and network-attached storage. Auto-negotiation and Auto-MDI/MDIX ensure simple, plug-and-play operation.
4 x 1G SFP Uplink Ports: The four dedicated Gigabit Ethernet Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) slots are critical for flexible uplink strategies. They allow for the use of either optical fiber (for long-distance connections to other switches or the core network) or copper SFP modules, providing versatility in network design and enabling high-speed aggregation.
Full PoE+ Capability: All 48 RJ-45 ports support IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (Power over Ethernet Plus), with a total power budget of 740 watts. This is a transformative feature for modern workspaces.

Switch Performance Metrics

Underpinning the port configuration is a robust switching engine. The switch offers a forwarding rate of up to 130.94 Mpps (million packets per second) and a switching bandwidth of 176 Gbps. This ensures that intra-VLAN traffic, inter-VLAN routing, and traffic to the uplinks are handled with ultra-low latency, supporting real-time applications like voice and video without jitter or delay. The integrated Layer 3 routing capabilities support static routing and RIP, allowing for efficient segmentation and routing between different network subnets directly at the access layer, offloading work from core routers.

Unified Network Management & Operational Simplicity

Managing a business network should not require a dedicated team of experts. The Cisco Catalyst C1000FE-48P-4G-L is built with operational simplicity at its core, offering multiple management pathways suitable for IT generalists and networking professionals alike.

Cisco Catalyst Center and DNA Integration

For organizations seeking a centralized, policy-driven approach, this switch is fully compatible with Cisco Catalyst Center (part of Cisco DNA). This cloud-ready platform provides automation, assurance, and analytics across the network fabric. From Catalyst Center, administrators can perform zero-touch provisioning, apply consistent security policies, monitor network health, and gain deep visibility into connected endpoints and user experiences.

Standalone Management Options

For networks not utilizing a controller, the switch offers powerful, accessible standalone management tools.

Web-Based (GUI) and CLI Management

The device features an intuitive web-based graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a dashboard view of system status, port statistics, and configuration wizards for common tasks like VLAN setup and PoE management. For seasoned network engineers, a full-featured Command-Line Interface (CLI) with a familiar Cisco IOS® XE syntax is available, offering granular control and scripting capabilities for automation.

Cisco Business Mobile App

Highlighting its ease of use, the switch can be monitored and initially configured using the Cisco Business Mobile App. This allows IT staff to perform essential tasks—such as discovering the switch on the network, checking port status, and even rebooting the device—directly from a smartphone or tablet, facilitating quick troubleshooting and onsite support.

Advanced Security and Access Control Features

In today's threat landscape, security must be pervasive, starting at the network access layer. The C1000FE-48P-4G-L integrates a comprehensive suite of security features to protect the network infrastructure and the data traversing it.

Network Access and Threat Mitigation

The switch acts as a policy enforcement point, ensuring only authorized users and devices can gain network access.

IEEE 802.1X and MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB)

It supports robust IEEE 802.1X authentication using a RADIUS server, requiring user or device credentials before granting network access. For devices that cannot support 802.1X (like printers or legacy IoT equipment), MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB) provides a fallback method to identify and authorize devices based on their physical MAC address.

ACLs and Port Security

Advanced Access Control Lists (ACLs) allow administrators to define precise rules governing what traffic is permitted or denied between VLANs or specific hosts. Port security features limit the number of MAC addresses allowed on a port, preventing unauthorized switches or hubs from being connected and mitigating MAC flooding attacks.

Network Infrastructure Protection

Beyond access control, the switch includes features to safeguard its own operation and the integrity of the network.

DHCP Snooping and IP Source Guard

DHCP Snooping acts as a firewall between untrusted hosts and trusted DHCP servers, preventing rogue DHCP servers from distributing incorrect IP addresses. IP Source Guard then uses this information to filter IP traffic, ensuring devices can only use the IP address assigned to them by the legitimate DHCP server.

Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)

DAI validates ARP packets in the network, intercepting and discarding invalid ARP messages to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker could spoof the identity of a host on the network.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

The integrated PoE+ functionality is a cornerstone feature of the C1000FE-48P-4G-L, transforming it from a simple network switch into a centralized power and data distribution unit for the entire digital ecosystem of a modern business.

Comprehensive Device Powering

With a 740-watt power budget, the switch can simultaneously power a diverse array of PoE-enabled devices directly from the network cable, eliminating the need for separate power supplies and outlets at the device location. This simplifies installation, reduces clutter, and lowers overall energy and infrastructure costs.

Key PoE-Powered Devices

Wireless Access Points (WAPs): Powers Cisco and other standards-based Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 access points, enabling seamless, high-performance wireless coverage throughout the facility.
VoIP Phones: Delivers both connectivity and power to modern IP telephony systems, ensuring business communications remain operational even during a local power outage if the switch is on a UPS.
Video Surveillance Cameras: Powers IP security cameras, allowing for flexible placement (e.g., ceilings, outdoor eaves) without regard for proximity to power outlets, which is crucial for comprehensive security coverage.
IoT Sensors and Building Automation: Supports a growing universe of IoT devices, including smart lighting controllers, environmental sensors, and digital signage.

Enhanced Availability Features

Network uptime is paramount. This switch supports IEEE 802.1s/w Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) and Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (RPVST+), which create loop-free network topologies and provide sub-second convergence in the event of a link failure, minimizing network disruption. Additionally, features like UniDirectional Link Detection (UDLD) and Ethernet OAM help monitor link health and diagnose connection issues.

Advanced Quality of Service (QoS)

The switch employs sophisticated QoS mechanisms to classify, prioritize, and manage network traffic, ensuring that latency-sensitive applications receive the bandwidth and low latency they require.

Traffic Classification and Scheduling

It supports classification based on Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), and Layer 4 (TCP/UDP ports) information. Once classified, traffic can be placed into different queues. The switch uses Weighted Tail Drop (WTD) and Strict Priority Queuing (SPQ) scheduling algorithms. This allows real-time voice traffic, for example, to be placed in a strict priority queue to be serviced instantly, while bulk data transfers are managed in weighted queues to prevent them from consuming all available bandwidth.

Flexible Stacking with Cisco StackWise

For growing businesses, the C1000FE-48P-4G-L supports Cisco StackWise virtual stacking technology. Up to eight compatible switches can be logically stacked to operate as a single, unified entity. This simplifies management (one IP address for the entire stack), increases resiliency (if one unit fails, the stack continues operating), and enables efficient use of uplink bandwidth across the stack. Stacking cables create a high-speed, bidirectional ring for inter-switch communication.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the Cisco C1000FE-48P-4G-L makes it suitable for a wide spectrum of deployment environments where high-density wired access, PoE, and managed features are required.

Medium-Sized Business Core/Edge Switching

As the primary switching fabric in a medium-sized office, it connects all end-user devices, provides PoE for phones and wireless, and performs inter-VLAN routing. Its Layer 3 capabilities allow it to efficiently handle internal traffic between departments (e.g., finance, sales, engineering on different VLANs) without sending all data to a core router.

Enterprise Branch Office Deployment

In a distributed enterprise, this model is an ideal branch office solution. It provides local switching and routing intelligence, offloading traffic from the WAN link. Its security features ensure the branch network is secure, and its compatibility with Cisco Catalyst Center allows for centralized policy and management from headquarters.

High-Density PoE Environments

It is perfectly suited for environments with a high concentration of PoE devices. Examples include modern classrooms (powering access points, VoIP phones, and teacher computers), healthcare clinics (connecting and powering medical devices, phones, and access points), and retail stores (powering point-of-sale systems, surveillance cameras, digital signage, and inventory scanners).