CBS350-12NP-4X Cisco Business 350 Series 12 Ports Layer 3 Managed GE Network Switch

Cisco Managed Switching for Growing Networks

The Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X Business 350 Series Layer 3 managed switch is engineered to deliver high-speed connectivity, advanced routing, and robust security for modern business environments. Designed for scalable and intelligent network infrastructures, this rack-mountable and stackable switch combines multi-gigabit Ethernet, high PoE+ power delivery, and 10G uplink flexibility to support bandwidth-intensive applications, IP devices, and future-ready deployments.

General Product Specifications

• Brand: Cisco
• Series: Business 350
• Model Number: CBS350-12NP-4X
• Device Category: Layer 3 Managed Network Switch
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable, Stackable
• Total Ports: 12 Multi-Gigabit Ethernet with PoE+

Port

• 12 x 100/1000/2.5G/5GBase-T RJ-45 ports with PoE+
• 8 ports supporting High-PoE up to 60W
• 2 x Combo 10G SFP+ / RJ-45 uplink ports
• 2 x Dedicated 10G SFP+ fiber uplink ports

Uplink and Expansion Interfaces

• 4 x 10GBase-X SFP+ uplinks
• 2 x 10GBase-T RJ-45 uplinks
• 1 x RJ-45 console port
• 1 x USB Type-A port

PoE Performance Highlights

• Total PoE budget of up to 375 watts
• Supports IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at standards
• Optimized for high-power endpoints
• Centralized power management for reduced infrastructure costs

Performance Metrics

• Switching capacity up to 200 Gbps
• Forwarding rate of 148.8 Mpps (64-byte packets)
• Jumbo frame support up to 2 KB
• MAC address table supporting 16,000 entries

Routing and Switching Protocols

• Static IPv4 and IPv6 routing
• Policy-Based Routing (PBR)
• IGMP v1/v2/v3 and MLD for multicast optimization
• RSTP, MSTP, STP, and Rapid PVST+

Network Capacity and Limits

• Up to 4,094 VLANs supported
• 126 Rapid PVST+ instances
• 8 MSTP instances
• 1,024 ACL rules
• 3 MB packet buffer memory

Security and Authentication Features

• 802.1X port-based authentication
• Secure Shell (SSH & SSH v2)
• RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication
• SSL encryption support

Threat Prevention and Network Protection

• DoS attack prevention
• DHCP snooping and IP source guard
• Dynamic ARP inspection (DAI)
• BPDU guard and STP root guard
• Storm control for broadcast, multicast, and unknown traffic

QoS and Traffic Management 

• DiffServ and DSCP support
• Weighted Round Robin (WRR) scheduling
• Traffic shaping and rate limiting
• Flow control and HOL blocking prevention

Management Protocols Supported

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3
• HTTP and HTTPS web-based management
• CLI via console, SSH, and Telnet
• TFTP, SCP, and DHCP services

Monitoring and Diagnostics

• Syslog and RMON support
• Cable diagnostics and loopback detection
• Dual image firmware support
• Status LEDs for link, activity, and speed

System Hardware Specifications

• Processor: ARM-based CPU running at 800 MHz
• System memory: 512 MB RAM
• Flash storage: 256 MB

Power Supply and Electrical Requirements

• Internal power supply unit
• Input voltage range: AC 100–240V
• Frequency: 50/60 Hz
• Optimized for energy efficiency (IEEE 802.3az)

Supported IEEE Standards Include

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3an
• IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, 802.3az
• IEEE 802.1Q, 802.1D, 802.1W, 802.1S
• IEEE 802.1X and 802.1AB (LLDP)

Cisco Layer 3 Managed Switching

The Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X Business 350 Series switch category represents a class of advanced managed Ethernet switches engineered for small to medium-sized enterprises that require enterprise-level intelligence, scalability, and performance without the operational complexity of large campus platforms. This category focuses on compact yet powerful Layer 3 managed switches that integrate multi-gigabit Ethernet, Power over Ethernet Plus, and high-speed uplink connectivity into a single unified hardware platform. The design philosophy behind this category emphasizes predictable performance, long-term reliability, and flexible deployment models suitable for modern converged networks.

Switches within this category are purpose-built to support dynamic business environments where voice, video, wireless access points, IoT endpoints, and traditional data workloads coexist. By combining advanced routing capabilities with simplified management workflows, this category bridges the gap between entry-level smart switches and fully modular enterprise switching systems. The Cisco Business 350 Series family is positioned to deliver consistent throughput, advanced security enforcement, and network segmentation capabilities that scale with organizational growth.

Layer 3 Intelligence for Distributed Network Topologies

The defining attribute of this category is native Layer 3 routing functionality integrated directly into the switching fabric. Static routing, inter-VLAN routing, and advanced IP services allow traffic to be efficiently segmented and forwarded at wire speed. This capability reduces dependency on external routers for internal network traffic, improving latency characteristics and simplifying network topology design. Businesses deploying multiple VLANs across departments, floors, or branch offices benefit from the localized routing intelligence embedded in this category of switches.

The Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X category supports IPv4 and IPv6 routing scenarios, enabling organizations to modernize addressing strategies without hardware replacement. This dual-stack support ensures seamless coexistence of legacy and next-generation network services while maintaining consistent policy enforcement. Layer 3 switching within this category is optimized for reliability and deterministic forwarding, making it suitable for mission-critical business applications.

Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity for High-Density Endpoints

This category is defined by its support for multi-gigabit Ethernet standards, specifically 2.5G and 5GBase-T technologies. These interfaces are engineered to deliver higher bandwidth over existing copper cabling infrastructures, eliminating the need for costly recabling projects. The CBS350-12NP-4X class of switches provides organizations with a practical migration path from traditional Gigabit Ethernet to multi-gigabit networking.

Multi-gigabit ports are particularly valuable in environments deploying Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points, where aggregated wireless throughput can exceed 1 Gbps. By supporting higher port speeds, this category ensures that access-layer bottlenecks are minimized, preserving the performance advantages of next-generation wireless technologies. Additionally, high-speed connectivity benefits multimedia production workflows, network-attached storage access, and real-time collaboration platforms.

Optimized Copper Port Design for Flexible Deployment

The copper port configuration within this category is engineered for versatility and consistent performance across diverse endpoint types. Auto-negotiation capabilities ensure seamless connectivity with legacy devices while dynamically adapting to higher-speed endpoints. This adaptability allows IT administrators to deploy the same switching platform across mixed-use environments without sacrificing efficiency or compatibility.

Advanced buffering and queue management techniques ensure that bursty traffic patterns common in video conferencing and cloud application access are handled gracefully. The result is stable throughput and reduced packet loss during peak usage periods. This category’s focus on copper-based multi-gigabit connectivity aligns with the practical requirements of modern office infrastructures.

Integrated Power over Ethernet Plus Capabilities

Power over Ethernet Plus functionality is a foundational characteristic of this switch category, enabling centralized power delivery to connected devices directly over Ethernet cabling. This capability simplifies deployment of IP phones, wireless access points, surveillance cameras, and IoT devices by eliminating the need for separate power sources. The CBS350-12NP-4X category emphasizes efficient power budgeting and intelligent power allocation to ensure reliable operation of all connected endpoints.

Dynamic PoE management allows administrators to monitor power consumption at the port level and prioritize critical devices during constrained power scenarios. This granular control improves operational resilience and supports business continuity strategies. By integrating PoE+ capabilities into a compact form factor, this category reduces infrastructure complexity while enhancing deployment flexibility.

Energy Efficiency and Power Optimization Strategies

Energy-efficient Ethernet technologies are embedded within this category to minimize power consumption during periods of low network activity. Intelligent power scaling mechanisms dynamically adjust energy usage based on link status and cable length. These optimizations contribute to lower operational costs and align with sustainability initiatives without compromising performance.

Thermal management design within this category supports quiet operation and efficient heat dissipation, making these switches suitable for office environments, retail spaces, and distributed branch locations. The balance between power delivery capability and energy efficiency reflects Cisco’s commitment to responsible network engineering.

High-Speed Uplink and Expansion Connectivity

Uplink flexibility is a core design principle of the Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X category. The inclusion of high-speed SFP+ interfaces enables seamless integration with aggregation switches, core networks, or high-performance servers. These uplinks support 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, ensuring sufficient bandwidth for upstream traffic aggregation and inter-switch communication.

Combo port configurations within this category provide deployment versatility by allowing administrators to choose between copper or fiber connections based on distance, electromagnetic interference considerations, and infrastructure availability. This adaptability ensures that the switch can be deployed in a wide range of physical environments without sacrificing performance or reliability.

Scalable Network Architecture Support

The high-speed uplink design supports scalable network architectures that can evolve over time. Organizations can start with a standalone deployment and later integrate the switch into a larger hierarchical topology as requirements grow. The consistent management interface and feature set across the Business 350 Series simplify expansion and reduce training overhead.

Link aggregation capabilities allow multiple uplinks to be combined into a single logical interface, increasing bandwidth and providing redundancy. This approach enhances fault tolerance and ensures continuous network availability in the event of individual link failures.

Advanced Security and Network Segmentation Features

Security is a central focus of this category, with integrated features designed to protect network infrastructure and connected devices from unauthorized access and malicious activity. Access control lists, port security, and secure management protocols provide multiple layers of defense. These capabilities enable administrators to enforce granular access policies and maintain compliance with organizational security standards.

Network segmentation through VLANs and routing policies allows sensitive data and critical applications to be isolated from general user traffic. This segmentation reduces attack surfaces and improves overall network resilience. The Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X category supports robust authentication mechanisms, including integration with external identity services, to ensure only authorized users and devices gain network access.

Protection Against Network-Based Threats

Built-in safeguards such as storm control and loop prevention mechanisms help protect the network from misconfigurations and broadcast storms. These features ensure stable operation even in complex environments with multiple interconnected devices. Secure boot and firmware integrity checks further enhance trust in the platform by preventing unauthorized software modifications.

The combination of proactive threat mitigation and reactive control mechanisms positions this category as a reliable foundation for secure business networking.

Quality of Service and Traffic Prioritization

Quality of Service functionality within this category is designed to support latency-sensitive applications such as voice over IP, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration tools. Traffic classification and prioritization mechanisms ensure that critical data streams receive appropriate bandwidth and minimal delay. This intelligent traffic handling improves user experience and maintains service quality during periods of high network utilization.

Advanced queuing strategies and congestion management techniques allow administrators to define policies that align with business priorities. By ensuring predictable performance for essential applications, this category supports productivity and operational efficiency.

Optimized Support for Unified Communications

Unified communications deployments benefit from automatic traffic recognition and prioritization features embedded in this category. Voice and video packets are identified and processed with higher priority, reducing jitter and latency. This capability simplifies deployment of communication platforms and reduces the need for manual configuration.

The result is consistent call quality and reliable video performance across the network, even as additional devices and applications are introduced.

Reliability and Hardware Design Considerations

Hardware reliability is a cornerstone of this category, with components selected for durability and long operational lifespans. Solid-state design principles and high-quality materials contribute to stable performance under continuous operation. The compact form factor is optimized for rack mounting while maintaining efficient airflow and thermal management.

Redundant design elements and robust power delivery mechanisms enhance uptime and support business-critical operations. This focus on reliability ensures that the switch remains a dependable part of the network infrastructure over extended deployment cycles.

Environmental Adaptability and Deployment Flexibility

The Cisco CBS350-12NP-4X category is designed to operate reliably across a range of environmental conditions commonly found in business settings. Quiet operation and efficient cooling make it suitable for installation in office spaces, wiring closets, and branch locations. The flexibility to deploy in diverse environments reduces the need for specialized infrastructure.

This adaptability, combined with advanced feature integration, positions the category as a versatile solution for organizations seeking a balance between performance, manageability, and cost efficiency.