C1300-12XS Cisco Catalyst 1300 12-Ports Switch

Product Overview: Cisco Catalyst 1300 C1300-12XS Switch

The Cisco C1300-12XS Catalyst 1300 series switch delivers high-performance connectivity with 12 SFP+ ports and 2x10GE uplinks, making it ideal for modern enterprise networks. Designed for rack-mount deployment, this wired switch ensures seamless and secure network integration.

Manufacturer and Product Details

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model Number: C1300-12XS
• Device Type: Network Switch
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable
• Connectivity: Wired Ethernet
• Data Transfer Rate: 10 Gbps
• Supported Protocol: Gigabit Ethernet

Key Features and Specifications

Performance and Memory

• Processor: ARM architecture
• RAM: 1 GB installed memory
• Flash Memory: 512 MB

Networking Standards and Compatibility

• IEEE 802.1s, 802.1w, 802.1d, 802.1x compliant
• Supports both Layer 2 and Layer 3 network operations
• Enables simple network management with SNMP protocol

Power and Reliability

• Power Supply: Included
• Voltage Requirement: 100-240V, 50-60 Hz
• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 2,165,105 hours

Security and Management

• Supports remote management via SNMP, SSH, HTTP, TFTP, HTTPS, Syslog, DHCP
• Authentication through RADIUS and TACACS+
• SSL encryption for secure communication

Interface and Connectivity Options

• 12 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports
• USB interface for management and configuration
• Jumbo frame support up to 9000 bytes
• MAC address table capacity of 16,000 entries

Network Features

• No Power over Ethernet (PoE) support
• Compatible with IPv4, IPv6, and CIDR routing protocols
• Plug-and-play design simplifies device rollout and network provisioning
• Intuitive user interface reduces deployment and troubleshooting time

Ideal Use Cases

• Enterprise data centers requiring high-speed 10G connectivity
• Medium to large-scale office networks with advanced security needs
• Organizations seeking simplified network provisioning and remote management

Cisco C1300-12XS Catalyst 1300 12-ports SFP+ Switch

The Cisco C1300-12XS Catalyst 1300 12-ports SFP+ and 2x10GE shared switch is engineered for high-performance access and aggregation in modern small-to-medium business (SMB) and branch office networks, providing 10 Gigabit SFP+ connectivity with additional 10GE copper/SFP+ combo flexibility to build resilient, scalable, and secure infrastructures tailored for cloud-era applications and workflows. Managed with an intuitive web interface, the Cisco Business mobile app, and Cisco Business Dashboard, the C1300 family delivers approachable configuration and monitoring without sacrificing enterprise-grade reliability, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing simplicity, affordability, and robust operational continuity.

Within the C1300-12XS model, ten 10G SFP+ ports are dedicated for fiber uplinks or server/storage interconnects, complemented by two 10G copper/SFP+ combo ports that offer deployment agility for mixed media environments or incremental upgrades. This model supports a high switching capacity and packet forwarding throughput designed to sustain demanding east-west traffic between virtualization hosts, hyperconverged nodes, and high-bandwidth endpoints in converged access designs. The combination of form factor, port density, and management tooling positions the C1300-12XS as a critical building block for branch edges and performance-sensitive SMB cores, where bandwidth headroom and operational simplicity are essential.

Key hardware features and technical specifications

10G SFP+ port density

The C1300-12XS provides ten 10G SFP+ ports, enabling dense fiber-based connectivity for switches, servers, and storage, and facilitating uplinks to distribution or core layers with scalable bandwidth and low latency for demanding workloads like backup windows, media streaming, and analytics pipelines.

Shared 2x10GE copper/SFP+ combo

Two 10GE combo ports support RJ45 10GBASE-T or SFP+ modules, allowing flexible deployment in environments where copper runs are preferred for short-distance top-of-rack or office wiring closets, while preserving the option to switch to fiber with pluggable optics as needs evolve.

Switching capacity and forwarding rate

Built to handle significant traffic, the C1300-12XS lists a switching capacity of 240 Gb/s and a forwarding rate of approximately 178.57 Mpps, suitable for high-volume microburst patterns commonly observed in virtualization clusters, content delivery nodes, and backup replication streams.

Management options and simplicity

Management is available via the Cisco Business Dashboard, the Cisco Business mobile app, and a local web interface. This triad simplifies setup and monitoring with guided workflows, enabling IT generalists and partners to deploy, observe, and adjust settings without deep CLI expertise, improving time to value and reducing operational complexity.

Design for SMBs and enterprise branches

The Catalyst 1300 series, including the C1300-12XS, is explicitly designed for SMB and enterprise branch contexts, emphasizing reliability, security, and affordability. The portfolio’s management experience and feature set align to practical needs of smaller teams and distributed sites that require consistent, high-speed connectivity to cloud and SaaS applications.

Use cases and deployment scenarios

High-throughput access and aggregation

In a branch or SMB headquarters, the C1300-12XS serves as an aggregation switch for lower-layer access devices and a high-speed interconnect for servers, NAS devices, and hyperconverged nodes. Ten 10G SFP+ ports can anchor fiber uplinks and server interfaces, while the two 10GE combo ports ease transitions from copper to fiber, enabling staged upgrades or mixed cabling plants with minimal disruption.

Server and storage connectivity

Organizations deploying virtualization or container platforms can directly connect compute nodes via SFP+ DACs or optics for deterministic bandwidth, while storage arrays (iSCSI, NVMe/TCP over 10G) gain predictable throughput and reduced contention. The forwarding performance and 10G density support resilient leaf-spine or collapsed core designs suitable for modest data center rooms and high-performance branch computing.

Converged unified communications and media

Unified communications workloads benefit from deterministic paths and QoS when aggregated through 10G interlinks, reducing jitter and maintaining call quality. Media production teams, especially in SMB creative agencies, can consolidate editing stations and render nodes over 10G, accelerating file transfers and collaborative workflows while preserving operational simplicity via the Cisco Business Dashboard and mobile app.

Cloud-first branch networks

As branch sites lean on SaaS and cloud services, the C1300-12XS can provide reliable, high-bandwidth uplinks and secure segmentation frameworks to keep traffic deterministic and resilient. Its ease of management helps non-specialist IT staff maintain oversight of critical links, minimizing outages and optimizing performance for productivity suites, CRM platforms, and remote collaboration tools.

Network design considerations

Media selection and optics planning

For the ten SFP+ ports, you can use 10G DAC cables for short rack-to-rack runs to reduce cost and latency, or select SR/LR optics based on multimode versus single-mode fiber layouts for extended distances. The two 10GE combo ports add flexibility to connect legacy copper-attached systems, easing phased migrations or interop with devices lacking SFP+ interfaces.

Redundancy and failover

Designs should consider redundant uplinks and link aggregation to ensure failover continuity. With the available port density, organizations can implement dual-homing to upstream devices and use link aggregation groups across fiber pairs to sustain throughput even during maintenance events, minimizing business disruption in branch environments.

Segmentation and QoS

Effective segmentation through VLANs and QoS policies ensures sensitive or latency-critical traffic (voice, video, transactional systems) remains prioritized. The C1300-12XS, as part of the Catalyst 1300 series, is aligned with secure, reliable SMB operations where policy consistency and service quality are critical to user experience.

Performance headroom

Switching capacity and forwarding rate should be matched to workload demands. The C1300-12XS’s 240 Gb/s aggregate switching and ~178.57 Mpps forwarding throughput provide headroom for mixed traffic profiles including microburst-heavy storage and compute flows, making it suitable for compact server rooms and high-performance branches with future growth in mind.

Security and reliability

Secure access policies

Security posture for access switches centers on segmentation, control-plane protections, and secure management. The Catalyst 1300 series is built with reliability and security in mind for branch and SMB operations, providing the foundation to implement access policies that reduce lateral movement, enforce compliance, and maintain consistent network hygiene.

Operational continuity

Affordability combined with reliability ensures the C1300-12XS can serve as a dependable anchor for critical connectivity. By consolidating bandwidth and simplifying management, it mitigates complexity-driven risks, supporting organizations whose missions depend on consistent network experiences for cloud apps, collaboration, and data exchange.

Port configuration and media

SFP+ optics and DAC considerations

Choosing the right SFP+ media depends on distance, cabling plant, and budget. DACs provide cost-effective, low-latency options for short runs (typically up to 3–7 meters), while SR/LR optics accommodate longer distances over multimode or single-mode fibers; the C1300-12XS’s 10 SFP+ ports offer the flexibility to mix these according to topology and device placement.

Combo port scenarios

The two 10GE copper/SFP+ combo ports support RJ45 connections for legacy servers or workstations with 10GBASE-T NICs, enabling quick upgrades without optics investment, while preserving the option to transition to fiber for longer runs or electromagnetic interference considerations as environments scale or densify.

Performance and scalability

Throughput and microburst resilience

High-performance environments with bursty traffic—such as virtualization vMotion, backup replication, or analytics shuffles—benefit from the C1300-12XS’s forwarding rate and switching capacity. In compact leaf-spine or collapsed-core designs, maintaining non-blocking performance across 12 10G lanes helps ensure consistent application behavior during peak cycles.

Growth planning

SMBs can stage upgrades by initially activating copper combo ports before migrating to SFP+ fiber as the network grows, balancing capital expenditures with performance needs. Flexible management tooling streamlines scaling across additional sites and switches, supporting organic expansion without a steep operations learning curve.

Operational simplicity for SMBs and branch offices

Approachable management stack

The trio of the Cisco Business Dashboard, mobile app, and local web interface reduces barriers to adoption and lowers operational overhead. Guided workflows, inventory visibility, and straightforward status checks help non-specialist teams keep networks humming, aligning to the Catalyst 1300 series’ ethos of simple, reliable operations for business-critical connectivity.

Affordability and feature balance

Designed with affordability in mind, the C1300 line balances enterprise features with the pragmatic needs of SMBs. Organizations gain high-speed port density, resilient performance, and practical management without excessive complexity, fitting budgets and staffing realities common in distributed business environments.

Integration with existing infrastructure

Interop with upstream and downstream layers

The C1300-12XS can serve as an aggregation point for multiple access switches, or as a high-speed access layer for servers and workstations, using the SFP+ ports for fiber uplinks and the combo ports for copper endpoints. This flexibility streamlines integration with legacy wiring and staged modernization across distributed floors or sites.

Compatibility with standardized optics

Using standardized SFP+ optics eases procurement and spares management, while DACs support quick, cost-effective rack-level links. The ability to interchange copper and fiber on the combo ports helps preserve cabling investments and ease long-term maintenance in environments with mixed media requirements.

Branch office reliability

Consistent user experience

Cloud application consistency depends on stable uplinks and reliable internal bandwidth. By consolidating 10G connectivity and simplifying management tasks, the C1300-12XS helps maintain predictable performance for SaaS suites, collaboration tools, and vertical applications, even in remote or lightly staffed branch locations.

High-bandwidth workflow enablement

Creative and engineering teams

Design, CAD, and creative workloads involve large file transfers, version control synchronization, and render farm coordination. With 10G SFP+ links and resilient throughput, the C1300-12XS supports these teams by reducing wait times, sustaining streams, and keeping pipelines responsive, all while fitting SMB budgets and staffing models.

Data protection and backups

Backup windows and replication benefit from predictable 10G paths, reducing the risk of overruns into business hours. The forwarding capacity helps manage microbursts and concurrent streams, enabling organizations to tighten recovery point objectives while maintaining operational simplicity through the Cisco Business Dashboard and app.

Portfolio context in the Catalyst 1300 series

Series positioning

The Catalyst 1300 and 1300X series are designed as affordable, simple-to-use switches for enterprise branches and SMBs, with management via Cisco Business Dashboard and mobile app delivering a reliable operational experience. This positioning underscores the intent to serve business journeys that depend on secure, dependable connectivity without heavy operational complexity.

Model selection strategy

Organizations can choose models based on port counts, media options, and performance requirements across the 1300 portfolio. The 12XS variant suits environments requiring concentrated 10G fiber with combo flexibility, making it a strong candidate for compact server rooms, performance access layers, and aggregation points in distributed topologies.

Security posture and segmentation

VLANs and access control

Use VLANs to separate departments, devices, and critical systems from general user traffic, enforcing least privilege and reducing broadcast domains. The C1300 series is aligned to branch reliability and security, providing a foundation to implement segmentation and consistent policy across sites.

Secure management practices

Run management interfaces on isolated networks, enforce strong authentication, and maintain firmware hygiene through centralized updates. The combination of dashboard oversight and approachable local tools helps maintain secure operations without extensive specialized staff, supporting SMBs and branches in compliance efforts.

High-availability and redundancy options

Dual uplinks and LAGs

Implement dual uplinks to upstream distribution/core layers and leverage link aggregation groups to enhance availability and throughput. The 12-port 10G capacity supports robust redundancy designs, providing both performance and resiliency for mission-critical applications and cloud connectivity.

Power and environmental resilience

Ensure stable power, UPS coverage, and proper environmental controls in wiring closets and server rooms. Coupled with the switch’s hardware reliability ethos, these measures reduce unexpected downtime and help sustain consistent service for remote sites and SMB hubs.

Application performance and user experience

Collaboration and productivity suites

Modern collaboration tools rely on low-latency, jitter-free networks. By aggregating traffic over 10G bandwidth and applying QoS, the C1300-12XS helps maintain fluid meetings, shared document editing, and presence services, minimizing performance complaints in busy offices and branches.

Vertical line-of-business systems

Healthcare, retail, and manufacturing systems often require strict availability and consistent latency. The switch’s design for reliability and simple management pathways ensures IT teams can quickly identify and resolve issues, protecting uptime for revenue-related workflows and customer experiences.