C1200-24T-4X Cisco Catalyst 1200 24-port Ethernet Switch

Product Outline

Discover the Cisco Catalyst C1200-24T-4X, a high-performance 24-port Gigabit Ethernet switch with 4 x 10G SFP+ uplinks, designed for seamless connectivity in modern network environments. Ideal for small to medium businesses, this Layer 3 smart switch ensures efficient data forwarding and robust network management.

Manufacturer and Device Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: C1200-24T-4X
• Device Type: Layer 3 Smart Switch
• Enclosure: Rack-mountable
• Ethernet Type: Gigabit

Key Features

Port Configuration

• 24 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports
• 4 x 10G SFP+ high-speed uplink ports

Performance Specifications

• Forwarding Rate (64-byte packets): 95.23 Mpps
• Switching Capacity: 128 Gbps

Network Capacity

• MSTP Instances: 8
• PVST+ Instances: 126
• RPVST+ Instances: 126
• Link Aggregation Groups: 4
• Link Aggregation Ports: 8
• Active VLANs: 255
• IGMP Multicast Groups: 255
• IPv4 Static Routes: 32
• IPv4 Interfaces: 16
• ACL Rules: 512
• Priority Queues: 8
• Packet Buffer Size: 1.5 MB
• MAC Address Table: 8000 entries
• Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9000 Bytes

Routing and Management Protocols

• Routing Protocols: IGMPv2, IGMPv3, MLDv2, Static IP Routing, MSTP, RSTP, STP, CIDR
• Remote Management: SNMP, RMON, Telnet, HTTP/HTTPS, SSH, SCP, CLI, TFTP, DHCP, Radius, Syslog

Security & Compliance

• Encryption: SSL
• Authentication: RADIUS
• Standards Compliance: IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z, 802.1d, 802.1q, 802.3ab, 802.1p, 802.3x, 802.3ad, 802.1w, 802.1x, 802.1s, 802.1ab, 802.3az

Hardware Specifications

Processor & Memory

• CPU: ARM 1.4 GHz
• RAM: 1 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Flash Memory: 512 MB

Status Indicators

• System
• Link/Activity/Speed

Connectivity and Expansion

Interfaces and Ports

• 24 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports
• 4 x 10GBase-X SFP+ ports
• 1 x RJ-45 Console port
• 1 x USB-C Console port

Expansion Slots

• Type: SFP
• Number of Slots: 4
• Shared Slots Supported

Power Requirements

• Internal Power Supply
• Input Voltage: AC 100-240V, 50-60Hz

Product Series and Special Features

• Series: Catalyst 1200
• Layer Support: 3
• Fanless Operation for Silent Performance

Supported Network Technologies and Media

• 10GBase-X, 10/100/1000Base-T
• Twisted Pair and Optical Fiber Media

Cisco C1200-24T-4X Catalyst 1200 24-port SFP+ Ethernet Switch

The Cisco C1200-24T-4X belongs to the Catalyst 1200 Series, a family of switches designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that require enterprise-grade reliability, simplified management, and cost efficiency. This category emphasizes a balance between access density and uplink bandwidth, offering 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports for endpoint connectivity and 4 dedicated 10G SFP+ uplinks for high-speed backbone integration. The C1200-24T-4X is engineered to deliver consistent performance, security, and scalability, making it a cornerstone for modern office and branch deployments where cloud adoption, collaboration tools, and hybrid workflows dominate.

With a switching capacity of 128 Gbps and a forwarding rate of approximately 95.23 Mpps, the C1200-24T-4X ensures wire-speed forwarding across multiple VLANs and traffic types. Its dual-core ARM CPU architecture supports responsive management operations, enabling administrators to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot with ease through Cisco Business tools. This combination of hardware and software capabilities positions the switch as a reliable, future-ready solution for SMBs seeking to optimize their network infrastructure without incurring the costs associated with high-end enterprise gear.

Hardware and Performance Architecture

The C1200-24T-4X integrates 24x 10/100/1000BASE-T access ports with four 10G SFP+ uplinks, providing a versatile foundation for access and aggregation. This architecture supports a wide range of deployment scenarios, from connecting user endpoints such as desktops, phones, and printers to linking servers, storage arrays, and distribution switches. The 128 Gbps switching fabric ensures that traffic flows seamlessly across all ports, while the forwarding rate of 95.23 Mpps guarantees consistent packet delivery even during peak usage.

The dual-core ARM processor running at 1.4 GHz enhances the management plane, enabling faster interface transitions, SNMP responsiveness, and dashboard interactions. This processing capability ensures that the switch can handle routine monitoring, automation tasks, and policy enforcement without compromising performance. The hardware design reflects Cisco’s commitment to delivering enterprise-grade reliability in a form factor tailored to SMBs.

Port Roles and Connectivity Options

The 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports serve as the primary access layer, connecting endpoints such as workstations, IP phones, printers, and IoT devices. These ports provide the density required for small to medium office floors, ensuring that users have reliable connectivity for everyday tasks. The 4x 10G SFP+ uplinks, on the other hand, are designed for backbone connectivity, linking the switch to distribution layers, firewalls, or servers. This separation of roles ensures that access traffic is efficiently managed while uplink bandwidth supports high-demand applications and services.

SFP+ uplinks offer flexibility in cabling options, supporting both copper DAC cables for short runs and fiber modules for long-distance connections. This adaptability allows businesses to tailor their uplink infrastructure to their specific needs, whether connecting within a rack or across buildings. The modular nature of SFP+ interfaces ensures that the switch remains relevant as network requirements evolve, supporting incremental upgrades without the need for wholesale hardware replacements.

Switching Capacity, Forwarding Rate, and Traffic Assurance

The C1200-24T-4X’s 128 Gbps switching capacity provides ample bandwidth to support simultaneous traffic across all ports, ensuring that multiple VLANs and dynamic workflows can coexist without bottlenecks. The forwarding rate of 95.23 Mpps aligns with the port density, enabling near line-rate forwarding across common packet sizes. This performance ensures that endpoints consuming rich media, cloud applications, and collaboration tools experience consistent packet delivery and minimal latency.

For workloads involving bursty traffic, such as video conferencing, large file transfers, or cloud synchronization, the 10G uplinks provide the necessary headroom to prevent congestion. By connecting to higher-tier switches or servers via SFP+ interfaces, the C1200-24T-4X ensures deterministic performance for critical applications, maintaining stability even during peak usage.

Management and Ease-of-Use

The Catalyst 1200 Series emphasizes simplified management through Cisco Business tools, including the mobile app and dashboard. These platforms provide guided workflows, graphical topologies, and contextual alerts, reducing the complexity associated with traditional CLI-based management. Administrators can configure VLANs, monitor port states, and check system health through intuitive interfaces, making network management accessible to small IT teams and consultants.

The dashboard consolidates visibility, allowing administrators to monitor performance, link status, and security postures from a single pane of glass. This centralized approach reduces administrative overhead and enables faster deployments, routine changes, and troubleshooting. The focus on ease-of-use aligns with the needs of SMBs, where dedicated networking specialists may not be available.

Deployment Personas

Typical users of the C1200-24T-4X include branch IT coordinators, managed service providers (MSPs), and office administrators responsible for infrastructure oversight. These roles benefit from the switch’s approachable management tools, which reduce the need for on-site troubleshooting and enable remote visibility. When issues arise, clear port labeling and diagnostics facilitate rapid identification and resolution, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.

Security and Segmentation

Security at the access layer begins with segmentation, and the C1200-24T-4X supports VLAN-based isolation to separate departments, IoT devices, and guest traffic. This segmentation reduces broadcast domains, enforces least-privilege access, and enhances overall network security. Administrators can easily create and manage VLANs through the Cisco Business dashboard, simplifying the process for non-expert users.

Additional security measures include strong admin authentication, port security practices, and anomaly monitoring. While the complexity of policies may be lower than in enterprise environments, the core principles of security—authenticating sessions, updating firmware, and limiting trunk exposure—remain critical. The C1200-24T-4X provides a practical platform for implementing these measures, supporting SMBs as they transition from flat networks to segmented architectures.

Uplink Design and Aggregation

The four 10G SFP+ uplinks enable flexible link designs, supporting redundancy, load distribution, and traffic engineering. Businesses can configure dual uplinks to upstream switches for resilience, dedicate uplinks to server racks for east-west traffic, or allocate uplinks to storage lanes for backup workflows. This flexibility mitigates single points of failure and ensures that critical applications have the bandwidth they require.

Whether using DAC cables for short interconnects or fiber modules for extended runs, the C1200-24T-4X adapts to diverse physical layouts. This modularity ensures that the switch remains relevant as office configurations change, supporting evolving traffic patterns driven by hybrid work and cloud adoption.

High-Availability Design

In multi-switch deployments, the C1200-24T-4X can connect upstream via multiple 10G links to distribution switches, enabling redundancy and faster convergence. This design aligns with SMB resilience goals, ensuring that network services remain available even during link failures. By distributing risk across multiple paths and monitoring link health, businesses can maintain service continuity and minimize downtime.

Workloads and Application Fit

The C1200-24T-4X is well-suited for environments running cloud SaaS, VoIP, and high-definition conferencing. Its Gigabit access ports provide reliable connectivity for endpoints, while the 10G uplinks ensure that backbone traffic remains stable. Small-scale server rooms and edge compute nodes benefit from the switch’s high-speed uplinks, enabling efficient backups and intra-rack synchronization.

Use cases include education centers, design studios, and retail operations, where bulk data transfers and collaborative workflows create periodic traffic peaks. The 24-port density supports mid-sized office floors, while the manageable platform allows for incremental growth. MSPs deploying the C1200-24T-4X across multiple clients benefit from operational consistency, shared playbooks, and simplified remote oversight.