C1300-8T-E-2G Cisco Catalyst 1300 8 Ports Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Cisco C1300-8T-E-2G Catalyst 1300 Series Managed Switch

The Cisco C1300-8T-E-2G Catalyst 1300 Series is a high-performance Gigabit Ethernet switch designed for small to medium-sized business networks. It delivers reliable connectivity, advanced switching capabilities, and enterprise-grade durability in a compact, rack-mountable form factor.

General Specifications

Device and Hardware Details

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Number: C1300-8T-E-2G
• Device Category: Managed Network Switch
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable
• Maximum Data Throughput: 1 Gbps
• Networking Protocol: Gigabit Ethernet

Performance and Processing Capabilities

Internal Hardware Configuration

• Processor Architecture: ARM-based processor
• Installed Memory (RAM): 1 GB
• Flash Storage Capacity: 512 MB

Reliability and Longevity

• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 2,171,669 hours
• Designed for continuous, mission-critical network operations

Power and Electrical Specifications

Power Supply Information

• Power Supply Type: External Power Supply
• Input Voltage Range: 100–240V AC
• Frequency: 50–60 Hz

Network Features and Capabilities

Advanced Switching Features

• MAC Address Table Size: Supports up to 16,000 entries
• Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9,000 bytes for improved throughput
• Efficient traffic handling for high-bandwidth applications

Connectivity and Interface Options

Available Ports and Interfaces

• 8 × RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• 2 × 1G Combo ports (Copper / SFP)
• 1 × USB Type-C port
• 1 × RJ-45 Console port for management

Ideal Use Cases

• Small to medium business networks
• Branch office connectivity
• Enterprise edge and access layer deployments

Core Architecture and Hardware Specifications

At its heart, the C1300-8T-E-2G model is engineered for operational simplicity and unwavering performance in diverse environments. Its hardware design prioritizes silent operation, energy efficiency, and deployment flexibility.

Physical Port Configuration and Design

The switch's port layout is its defining hardware characteristic, offering a balanced mix of connectivity options suitable for various deployment scenarios.

Eight Gigabit Ethernet Copper Ports (10/100/1000 Mbps)

These eight auto-sensing RJ-45 ports provide the primary connectivity for end-user devices such as desktop computers, IP phones, wireless access points, and network printers. They support Auto-MDI/MDIX, eliminating the need for crossover cables, and offer basic quality of service (QoS) prioritization for latency-sensitive traffic like voice and video.

Two 1 Gigabit Combo Ports (SFP/RJ-45)

This is a critical feature for network flexibility. Each combo port allows you to choose between a copper RJ-45 connection (10/100/1000 Mbps) or a fiber optic Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver. This enables longer-distance uplinks to a core switch or router, connections across electrically noisy environments, or simply provides an additional copper port if needed. The combo design future-proofs your investment.

External Power Supply (Ext PS)

The inclusion of an external power adapter contributes to the switch's fanless, silent operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive areas like offices, classrooms, or retail spaces. It also simplifies replacement and reduces internal heat generation.

Performance and Switching Capacity

Despite its compact size, the C1300-8T-E-2G is built on a non-blocking switching architecture. It offers a forwarding bandwidth sufficient to handle line-rate traffic on all ports simultaneously, ensuring no internal bottleneck for demanding applications like multimedia streaming, large file transfers, and real-time backups. The switch employs store-and-forward switching methodology, which checks each frame for errors before forwarding, enhancing network integrity.

Key Features and Operational Benefits for Your Network

Moving beyond raw specifications, the true value of the Cisco Catalyst 1300-8T-E-2G lies in the features that solve everyday business network challenges. It bridges the gap between a completely unmanaged plug-and-play switch and a fully managed, complex device.

Simplified Network Management and Deployment

This switch is designed for ease of use, requiring minimal networking expertise for setup while offering tools for basic oversight.

Zero-Touch Deployment and Cisco Business Mobile App

For small businesses without dedicated IT staff, the switch can be deployed straight out of the box. By using the intuitive Cisco Business Mobile App, network administrators can quickly discover the switch on the network, configure basic settings like VLANs and port management, and monitor its status—all from a smartphone or tablet. This dramatically reduces deployment time and complexity.

Web-Based Management Interface

For more detailed configuration, the switch provides a secure, built-in web interface. This GUI allows for straightforward setup of advanced features like VLANs, Link Aggregation, QoS, and security settings without requiring command-line interface (CLI) knowledge.

Network Visibility and Basic Diagnostics

Integrated LEDs provide at-a-glance status for power, link activity, and port speed. Through the management interfaces, users can access basic diagnostics, view traffic statistics, and monitor system health, aiding in quick troubleshooting.

Enhanced Network Security and Protection

Security is a paramount concern, even at the network edge. The C1300-8T-E-2G incorporates several layers of protection for your connected devices and data.

Robust Access Control Lists (ACLs)

The switch supports ACLs, allowing administrators to create rules that permit or deny traffic based on IP addresses, MAC addresses, or protocol types. This can be used to segment network traffic, restrict device communication, and mitigate basic internal threats.

Port Security and MAC Address Limiting

This feature helps prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network. Administrators can define a maximum number of MAC addresses allowed on a port or statically assign specific MAC addresses, effectively locking down network access points.

DHCP Snooping and IP Source Guard

These features work in tandem to protect against rogue DHCP servers (which can assign incorrect IP addresses) and IP address spoofing attacks. They help ensure that devices receive legitimate IP configurations and only use authorized source IP addresses.

Storm Control

The switch can detect and suppress broadcast, multicast, or unknown unicast traffic storms that can swamp network bandwidth and cause outages, maintaining network stability during anomalous events.

Network Reliability and Quality of Service (QoS)

To support converged networks carrying data, voice, and video, the switch includes mechanisms to prioritize critical traffic and ensure network resilience.

Basic Layer 2/3/4 QoS

The switch can classify traffic based on IEEE 802.1p Class of Service (CoS) tags or IP Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) values. It then queues and schedules traffic accordingly, ensuring that Voice over IP (VoIP) calls and video conferencing streams are prioritized over general web browsing, resulting in clear, jitter-free communications.

Link Aggregation (802.3ad LACP)

The two Gigabit combo ports, along with the copper ports, can be grouped into a Link Aggregation Group (LAG). This combines multiple physical links into a single logical channel, increasing uplink bandwidth, providing load balancing, and enabling automatic failover for improved redundancy.

IEEE 802.1x Network Access Control

For environments requiring stronger access authentication, the switch supports 802.1x. This standard requires users or devices to authenticate via a RADIUS server before gaining network access, integrating with existing enterprise security systems.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the Cisco C1300-8T-E-2G makes it a suitable choice for a wide array of networking environments where simplicity, reliability, and basic intelligence are required.

Small and Medium-Sized Business (SMB) Core Connectivity

In a typical SMB office, the switch can serve as the central connectivity hub. It connects employee workstations, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, network printers, and wireless access points to the internet router. Its QoS capabilities ensure that business VoIP systems and video collaboration tools perform optimally, while basic security features protect sensitive business data from internal threats.

Branch Office and Remote Site Deployment

For organizations with distributed locations, this switch provides a standardized, reliable edge solution. Its combo SFP ports are particularly valuable here, as they can use fiber optic uplinks to connect back to a corporate headquarters over longer distances via a service provider. The web management interface allows IT staff at a central location to configure and monitor the remote switch with ease.

Managed Service Provider (MSP) Infrastructure

MSPs can standardize on the Catalyst 1300 series for their client deployments. The consistent feature set, Cisco reliability, and remote management capabilities via the mobile app or cloud management platforms (when used in conjunction with other tools) allow MSPs to efficiently deploy and support numerous client networks with a reduced need for on-site visits.

Specialized Environments Requiring Silent Operation

The fanless design makes this switch perfect for deployment in libraries, clinics, recording studios, residential settings, or open-plan offices where audible noise from network equipment is a significant concern.

Comparison and Considerations Within the Catalyst 1300 Family

The C1300-8T-E-2G exists within a broader family of Catalyst 1300 switches. Understanding its place helps in making the correct purchasing decision.

Key Differentiator: Port Density and Type

This model is specifically configured with 8 fixed Gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 dual-purpose Gigabit combo ports. Other models in the series may offer more ports (e.g., 24 or 48), include PoE (Power over Ethernet) capabilities to power devices like phones and cameras, or feature 10 Gigabit uplinks. The "8T-E-2G" nomenclature clearly indicates its port makeup: 8 Twisted-pair (copper) ports, External power, and 2 Gigabit combo ports.

When to Choose This Model vs. Other Options

Choose the C1300-8T-E-2G if:

Your connectivity needs are in the range of 8-10 devices, you require the flexibility of fiber or copper uplinks, you operate in a noise-sensitive area, and you do not require PoE. It is an excellent cost-effective foundation for a growing business.

Consider a Different Catalyst 1300 Model if:

You need to connect more than ~12 wired devices (look for 24 or 48-port models), you need to power wireless access points, IP phones, or surveillance cameras (look for PoE or PoE+ models), or you require faster-than-Gigabit uplink speeds for aggregation (look for models with 10G SFP+ ports).