C1300-48T-4G Cisco Catalyst 48 Port Managed Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst C1300-48T-4G Ethernet Switch is a high-performance, enterprise-grade networking solution designed for scalable and secure business environments. Built for reliability and flexibility, this rack-mountable switch delivers advanced Layer 3 capabilities, modular uplinks, and efficient Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to support growing network demands.

General Product Information

Brand & Manufacturer Details

• Brand: Cisco
• Manufacturer: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Product Line: Catalyst
• Series: 1300
• Model: C1300-48T-4G

Product Type

• Manageable Ethernet Switch
• Enterprise and business network deployment

Interfaces and Ports

Network Connectivity

This Cisco Catalyst switch provides extensive port density to ensure seamless data transfer across multiple devices.

• Total Network Ports: 54
• RJ-45 Network Ports: Yes
• Uplink Port Support: Yes
• Modular Design for future expansion

Port and Expansion Slot Details

• 48 x Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed access
• 4 x Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots

Management and Network Protocols

Advanced Manageability

Designed for network administrators, this switch supports full management features, enabling better traffic control and monitoring.

• Fully manageable network switch
• Optimized for enterprise-level networking

Layer Support

• Layer 3 switching for enhanced routing and performance

Technical Specifications

Performance and Design Features

• Fanless architecture for silent operation
• Energy-efficient design with approximately 48.64 W power consumption
• 1U form factor for space-saving rack installation

I/O Expansion Capabilities

SFP Expansion Slots

The switch includes flexible fiber uplink options to support long-distance and high-speed connections.

• Expansion Slot Type: SFP (Mini-GBIC)
• Number of SFP Slots: 4
• Shared SFP Slots: Yes
• Total Expansion Slots: 4

Media and Network Performance

Supported Network Technologies

• 10/100/1000Base-T for copper Ethernet connections
• 1000Base-X for fiber-based networking

Supported Media Types

• Twisted Pair cabling
• Optical Fiber connections

Ideal Use Cases

• Enterprise LAN infrastructure
• Business data centers
• High-density office networks
• Scalable and future-ready network environments

Deep Dive: The C1300-48T-4G Architecture & Core Capabilities

This switch is far more than a simple port aggregator. It embodies Cisco's enterprise-class pedigree in a compact, fanless (for some models) or quiet fan design, offering a feature-rich platform that simplifies network deployment while future-proofing your investment. Its architecture is built for performance and intelligence, enabling it to understand and prioritize different types of network traffic, enforce security policies at the port level, and recover from unexpected issues automatically.

Port Configuration & Scalability

The "48T-4G" designation is key to understanding its physical capabilities. The switch provides:

48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet Ports: These copper RJ-45 ports offer the flexibility to connect to a vast array of devices including desktop computers, IP phones, wireless access points, surveillance cameras, and servers. Auto-negotiation and Auto-MDI/MDIX ensure simple, plug-and-play connectivity.
4 x 1 Gigabit SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Uplink Ports: These fiber-ready ports are critical for upstream connectivity. They allow for long-distance, noise-immune connections to a core switch or router using optional SFP modules (e.g., GLC-SX-MMD for multi-mode fiber, GLC-LH-SMD for single-mode). The four ports support link aggregation for increased bandwidth and redundancy, enabling a resilient 4Gbps uplink trunk.

Performance & Switching Fabric

At its heart, the C1300-48T-4G boasts a non-blocking switching fabric, ensuring all ports can operate at wire-speed simultaneously without contention. This is crucial for bandwidth-intensive applications and prevents bottlenecks in busy network environments. With a high forwarding rate, it delivers low-latency performance, making it suitable for real-time applications like VoIP and video conferencing.

Key Performance Specifications

Switching Capacity: Sufficient for full line-rate throughput across all 52 ports.
Forwarding Rate: High millions of packets per second (Mpps) to handle dense traffic loads.
Jumbo Frames Support: Up to 9KB, improving efficiency for large data transfers common in storage and server applications.

Advanced Feature Set for Intelligent Networking

As a fully managed switch, the Catalyst 1300-48T-4G provides granular control over network traffic, security, and quality of service.

Layer 3 Lite Routing

Beyond basic Layer 2 switching, this switch supports essential static routing and Routing Information Protocol (RIP). This "Layer 3 Lite" functionality allows for inter-VLAN routing, enabling you to segment your network into logical broadcast domains (VLANs) for security and performance, while still allowing controlled communication between them without the need for an external router. This simplifies network design and reduces latency for internal traffic.

Comprehensive Quality of Service (QoS)

To ensure business-critical applications receive the bandwidth and priority they require, the switch offers sophisticated QoS mechanisms.

QoS Implementation Features

Classification & Marking: Identifies and tags traffic based on IP address, TCP/UDP port, or 802.1p Class of Service (CoS).
Policing & Shaping: Controls the rate of traffic to prevent any single application or user from consuming excessive bandwidth.
Congestion Management: Uses weighted tail drop (WTD) and strict priority queuing to prioritize delay-sensitive voice and video packets, ensuring clear calls and smooth video streams.

Robust Security Suite

Network security starts at the access edge. The C1300-48T-4G integrates multiple layers of defense.

Access Control & Authentication

IEEE 802.1X: Provides port-based network access control (NAC), requiring user or device authentication before granting network access.
Web Authentication: A captive portal for guest users, perfect for visitor or contractor access.
MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB): For devices that don't support 802.1X, like printers or cameras.
ACLs (Access Control Lists): Define granular security policies to permit or deny traffic based on Layer 2, 3, and 4 information.

Network Protection Features

DHCP Snooping: Prevents rogue DHCP servers from distributing incorrect IP addresses.
IP Source Guard: Blocks IP address spoofing by validating the source IP of traffic.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI): Protects against ARP poisoning attacks.
Port Security: Limits the number of MAC addresses on a port, preventing unauthorized device connections.

Resiliency and High Availability

Business continuity depends on a stable network. This switch is designed for maximum uptime.

Link Aggregation & Redundancy

Supports Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and static EtherChannel, allowing multiple physical links to be bundled into a single logical link. This increases bandwidth, provides load balancing, and ensures immediate failover if one link is lost. This is essential for both uplink and server connections.

Fast Layer 2 Convergence

Implements Rapid Per VLAN Spanning Tree Protocol (RPVST+), which creates a loop-free topology and allows for sub-second convergence in case of a link failure, minimizing network disruption.

Reliable Power with PoE+ Support (on PoE Models)

While the standard C1300-48T-4G does not provide Power over Ethernet, it's important to note that the Catalyst 1300 series includes PoE+ models. For context, those models can deliver up to 30W per port (IEEE 802.3at PoE+), allowing them to power devices like advanced wireless access points, IP phones, and PTZ cameras directly over the Ethernet cable, simplifying installations and reducing clutter.

Simplified Management and Deployment

Cisco provides multiple intuitive pathways to configure, monitor, and maintain the switch, catering to both CLI experts and GUI-oriented administrators.

Cisco Business Dashboard & Mobile App

For cloud-based management, the switch can be registered to the free Cisco Business Dashboard. This centralized portal offers an at-a-glance view of network health, client details, and facilitates firmware updates across multiple devices. The accompanying mobile app allows for monitoring from anywhere.

Built-in Web User Interface (GUI)

The device features an intuitive, browser-based graphical interface for step-by-step configuration wizards, real-time monitoring graphs, and easy-to-navigate menus for all advanced features. This makes it accessible for IT generalists.

Time-Saving Features

Cisco Smartport Macros: Auto-configure ports with optimal settings for specific device types (e.g., IP phone, wireless AP) with a single click.
Plug-and-Play Deployment: New switches can be pre-staged and shipped to remote sites for zero-touch deployment, significantly reducing rollout time and complexity.
Configuration Backups & Rollback: Easily save and restore switch configurations, protecting against operational errors.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios

The density and features of the C1300-48T-4G make it exceptionally versatile for a range of business environments.

Branch Office & Mid-Size Business Core

Acts as the central networking node, connecting all end-user devices, servers, and providing reliable, secure uplinks to the corporate data center or internet via its SFP ports.

Advanced Campus Access Layer

In educational institutions or corporate campuses, it provides high-density access for classrooms, offices, and labs, with VLANs segmenting traffic between departments, students, and guests.

Video Surveillance & IoT Convergence

The high port count is ideal for connecting numerous IP security cameras. Advanced QoS ensures surveillance video streams are prioritized, while security features like ACLs and port security protect the network from compromised devices.

Small Data Center or Server Room Aggregation

With its four high-speed SFP uplinks and support for link aggregation, it can effectively aggregate traffic from multiple servers or access switches before passing it to the core network.