N3048EP Dell 48-Port Network Switch

Highlights of Dell 48-Port Switch

The Dell N3048EP 48-Port Network Switch is a powerful, stackable, Layer 3 managed device designed to deliver high-speed connectivity, advanced routing, and enterprise-grade performance for modern IT infrastructures.

Main Information

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Model Number: N3048EP
• Device Type: Switch - 48 Ports - L3 - Managed - Stackable

Technical Specifications

Enclosure & Design

• Rack-mountable 1U form factor
• Subtype: 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Port Configuration

• 48 x 10/100/1000 (PoE+)
• 2 x 10 Gigabit SFP+
• 2 x Combo Gigabit SFP

Performance Metrics

• Switching Fabric Bandwidth: 260 Gbps
• Forwarding Performance: 193 Mpps
• Stacking Bandwidth: 21 Gbps

Routing & Capacity

• IPv4 Static Routes: 1024
• IPv6 Static Routes: 1024
• IPv4 Dynamic Routes: 8160
• IPv6 Dynamic Routes: 4096
• Maximum VLANs Supported: 4094
• MAC Address Table Size: 32K entries

Protocols & Standards

Routing Protocols

• OSPF, RIP-1, RIP-2
• IGMPv2, IGMPv3
• VRRP, PIM-SM, PIM-DM
• OSPFv2, OSPFv3
• MLDv2, MLD

Remote Management Protocols

• SNMP v1, v2, v3
• RMON 1, 2, 3, 9
• Telnet, HTTP, TFTP, SSH-2

Security & Encryption

• Encryption: MD5, AES, SSL, TLS
• Authentication: RADIUS, TACACS+, SSH2

Advanced Features

Network Capabilities

• Flow Control & Auto-negotiation
• ARP & VLAN Support
• Port Mirroring & DiffServ
• Broadcast Storm Control
• IPv4 & IPv6 Support
• Quality of Service (QoS)
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
• Energy Efficient Ethernet
• Dual Firmware Images
• Redundant Fans

Compliant Standards

• IEEE 802.2, 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z
• IEEE 802.1d, 802.1q, 802.1p
• IEEE 802.3ab, 802.3x, 802.3ad (LACP)
• IEEE 802.1w, 802.1x, 802.3ae
• ANSI/TIA-1057
• IEEE 802.3at, 802.3az, 802.3ax

Memory & Storage

• RAM: 2 GB
• Flash Memory: 1 GB

Expansion & Connectivity

Interfaces

• 48 x Gigabit LAN RJ-45 (36 PoE+ / 12 PoE - 30.8W)
• 2 x 10GbE SFP+
• 2 x Gigabit LAN RJ-45/SFP
• 1 x Serial (RS-232) RJ-45 Management
• 1 x USB Type-A
• 2 x Network Stack Device

Power Specifications

Power Supply

• Internal hot-plug power supply
• Installed Quantity: 1 (supports up to 2)
• Optional power redundancy
• Total Power Provided: 1100W

Dell N3048EP EMC N3048EP-ON 48-Port Switch Overview

The Dell N3048EP EMC Networking N3048EP-ON 48-Port Network Switch with Dual Power Supply and Rack Mount Kit is a powerful enterprise-grade switching solution designed to support modern business networks with advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities. As part of the scalable and resilient N3000 Series, this high-performance switch is engineered to meet the connectivity demands of growing organizations, data-driven environments, educational campuses, healthcare institutions, and distributed enterprise infrastructures. Built with reliability, scalability, and security at its core, the N3048EP-ON model delivers exceptional port density, PoE+ support, flexible management features, and redundant hardware components for maximum uptime.

Enterprise-Class 48-Port Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

The Dell N3048EP-ON network switch features 48 auto-sensing 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet ports designed to deliver consistent high-speed wired connectivity across enterprise environments. Each port supports full-duplex communication, enabling simultaneous data transmission and reception, which significantly enhances bandwidth efficiency and minimizes latency across mission-critical applications. The switch is ideal for supporting IP phones, wireless access points, surveillance cameras, desktop systems, servers, and other network-enabled devices.

High Port Density for Scalable Infrastructure

With 48 integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports, this switch supports dense user environments without requiring additional hardware. Organizations can consolidate access-layer switching requirements into a single 1U rack-mountable unit, reducing hardware footprint and simplifying network architecture. The high-density configuration makes it suitable for branch offices, enterprise access layers, and campus edge deployments.

Integrated Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+)

The N3048EP-ON model supports IEEE 802.3at PoE+, delivering up to 30 watts of power per port. This capability enables direct power delivery to connected devices such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, IP cameras, and IoT endpoints without the need for separate power adapters. Centralized power management reduces cable clutter, simplifies installations, and enhances deployment flexibility in environments where power outlets are limited.

Optimized Power Budget Management

Advanced power allocation mechanisms intelligently distribute available PoE power across connected devices. Administrators can configure power priorities to ensure that essential systems remain operational during peak loads or partial power conditions. The integrated dual power supply architecture further enhances PoE reliability and redundancy.

Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching Capabilities

The Dell N3048EP-ON provides comprehensive Layer 2 switching features alongside robust Layer 3 routing functionality. This dual capability allows enterprises to build efficient, segmented, and secure networks without requiring additional routing hardware.

Layer 2 Switching Performance

The switch supports advanced Layer 2 protocols such as VLAN segmentation, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol, link aggregation, and port mirroring. These features enhance traffic control, prevent network loops, and improve overall network resilience. VLAN segmentation ensures logical network isolation, allowing administrators to separate departments, guest networks, and sensitive systems within the same physical infrastructure.

Layer 3 Routing Efficiency

Integrated Layer 3 functionality supports static routing and dynamic routing protocols, enabling efficient inter-VLAN routing directly on the switch. This reduces network bottlenecks and improves internal traffic performance. By eliminating the need for external routers for internal segmentation, businesses can streamline infrastructure design while lowering equipment costs.

Dynamic Routing Protocol Support

The N3048EP-ON supports routing protocols such as OSPF and RIP, allowing intelligent path selection and automatic route updates in complex network topologies. This ensures efficient data flow across distributed enterprise networks.

High-Performance Switching Architecture

Built for performance-intensive environments, the Dell N3048EP-ON delivers high switching capacity and forwarding rates to accommodate demanding workloads. The switch architecture is optimized to handle large volumes of simultaneous traffic while maintaining low latency.

Non-Blocking Switching Fabric

The non-blocking architecture ensures that all ports can operate at full line rate simultaneously without performance degradation. This is particularly beneficial in environments with heavy data transfers, cloud-based applications, and virtualized workloads.

High Throughput and Forwarding Rates

The switching fabric capacity and packet forwarding capabilities allow seamless handling of multimedia streaming, large file transfers, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration platforms. Enterprises can rely on consistent throughput even during peak network usage periods.

Stacking Capabilities for Simplified Network Expansion

The Dell N3048EP-ON supports advanced stacking technology, allowing multiple switches to be interconnected and managed as a single logical unit. This simplifies configuration, enhances redundancy, and improves scalability across enterprise networks.

Single Management Interface

When stacked, multiple N3000 Series switches operate under one management interface, reducing administrative overhead. Network administrators can configure VLANs, routing policies, and security settings across the entire stack simultaneously.

Redundancy and Failover Protection

Stacking enhances availability by enabling automatic failover between units. If one switch in the stack experiences a hardware issue, traffic can be rerouted through remaining switches, minimizing downtime and maintaining operational continuity.

Dual Power Supply for Maximum Uptime

The inclusion of dual hot-swappable power supplies ensures uninterrupted power delivery. In the event of a power supply failure, the secondary unit automatically takes over, preventing service disruption.

Hot-Swappable Power Modules

Hot-swappable functionality allows IT teams to replace faulty power modules without shutting down the switch. This feature is critical for environments requiring continuous network availability, such as hospitals, financial institutions, and data centers.

Enhanced PoE Reliability

The dual power design ensures stable PoE output, safeguarding connected devices against unexpected shutdowns. This is especially important for security cameras, access control systems, and communication devices.

Comprehensive Security Features

Security is a cornerstone of the Dell N3048EP-ON switch. It integrates multiple layers of protection to defend against unauthorized access, network threats, and data breaches.

Access Control and Authentication

The switch supports 802.1X authentication, MAC-based authentication, and RADIUS integration, ensuring that only authorized devices gain network access. Port security features help prevent rogue device connections.

Advanced Traffic Filtering

Access Control Lists enable administrators to define granular traffic policies, filtering packets based on IP addresses, protocols, and port numbers. This strengthens internal segmentation and protects sensitive resources.

Denial-of-Service Protection

Built-in protection mechanisms detect and mitigate malicious traffic patterns that could otherwise disrupt network performance. Storm control and rate limiting features further enhance network stability.

Flexible Management and Deployment Options

The Dell N3048EP-ON offers versatile management interfaces, enabling seamless integration into existing IT ecosystems.

Web-Based Graphical Interface

An intuitive web-based interface allows administrators to configure and monitor the switch without requiring advanced command-line expertise. This simplifies deployment in small and medium-sized businesses.

Command Line Interface and SNMP

For advanced configurations, the switch provides a robust CLI along with SNMP support for centralized monitoring through enterprise network management systems.

Open Networking Compatibility

The N3048EP-ON is built with open networking principles, allowing greater flexibility and programmability. This adaptability supports integration into software-defined networking environments.

Rack Mount Design and Physical Specifications

Engineered for professional IT environments, the switch includes a rack mount kit for seamless integration into standard 19-inch server racks. The 1U form factor conserves valuable rack space while maintaining optimal airflow for thermal efficiency.

Efficient Cooling Mechanisms

Advanced cooling technology ensures stable operating temperatures even under heavy workloads. Intelligent fan control reduces noise levels and improves energy efficiency.

Durable Enterprise-Grade Construction

The rugged chassis is designed to withstand continuous operation in demanding network environments. High-quality components contribute to long-term reliability and reduced maintenance requirements.