WS-C3750X-48PF-E Cisco Catalyst 3750X Ethernet Switch 48 Ports

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C3750X-48PF-E Catalyst 3750X is a high-performance, enterprise-grade Layer 3 managed switch designed for scalable and secure network environments. Featuring 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports with full PoE+ support, this stackable switch is ideal for powering IP phones, wireless access points, and other network devices while delivering advanced routing and switching capabilities.

General Specifications

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750X-48PF-E
• Device Category: Managed Layer 3 Ethernet Switch
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable, 1U chassis
• Stacking: Cisco StackWise Technology supported

Port Configuration

• 48 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Full Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+)
• Automatic speed and duplex negotiation
• Auto MDI/MDI-X uplink detection

Performance & Throughput

Built for demanding enterprise networks, the Cisco Catalyst 3750X delivers consistent throughput and low latency for mission-critical applications.

Switching Capacity

• Switching Fabric Bandwidth: Up to 160 Gbps
• Forwarding Rate: 101.2 million packets per second (Mpps)

Frame & Traffic Handling

• Jumbo frame support up to 9216 bytes
• Advanced traffic shaping and storm control
• Multicast, broadcast, and unicast traffic protection

Network Capacity & Scalability

VLAN & Interface Support

• Up to 1005 Virtual LANs (VLANs)
• Supports 1000 Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs)
• Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+)

High Availability

• Hot-swappable module replacement
• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
• Uni-directional Link Detection (UDLD)

Advanced Routing Capabilities

This Cisco switch supports a comprehensive set of IPv4 and IPv6 routing protocols, making it suitable for complex enterprise and service provider networks.

Supported Routing Protocols

• OSPF, OSPFv3
• BGP-4
• IS-IS
• RIP v1, RIP v2, RIPng
• EIGRP and EIGRP for IPv6
• Static IPv4 and IPv6 routing
• Policy-Based Routing (PBR)
• PIM-SM, PIM-DM, PIM-SSM
• HSRP support

Security & Traffic Control Features

Integrated Security

• Access Control Lists (ACLs)
• IEEE 802.1X authentication
• Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
• DHCP snooping
• VRF-Lite for network segmentation

Quality of Service (QoS)

• Advanced QoS for voice, video, and data
• Shaped Round Robin (SRR) scheduling
• Traffic prioritization and bandwidth management

Standards & Compliance

IEEE Supported Standards

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z, 802.3ab
• IEEE 802.1D, 802.1Q, 802.1P
• IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at (PoE / PoE+)
• IEEE 802.3ad (LACP)
• IEEE 802.1W, 802.1S, 802.1X
• IEEE 802.1AE

Power Requirements

• AC input: 120V / 230V
• Frequency: 50/60 Hz
• Optimized for energy-efficient enterprise deployments

Architectural Overview and Core Capabilities

Built on Cisco's StackWise-Plus technology, the WS-C3750X-48PF-E Catalyst 3750X transforms individual switches into a single, unified, logical switching unit. This architectural philosophy is central to its value proposition, offering simplified management, increased resilience, and a scalable bandwidth backbone.

StackWise-Plus Technology: The Unifying Backbone

The StackWise-Plus fabric creates a 64 Gbps bidirectional ring for inter-switch communication within a stack. This high-bandwidth, low-latency backplane allows all switches in a stack to operate as a single device for management, routing, and forwarding tables. Key benefits include:

Single Point of Management: An entire stack of up to nine switches is configured and managed as one entity, drastically reducing operational overhead.
Cross-Stack EtherChannel: Enables the creation of multi-chassis EtherChannel links, providing superior resiliency and load balancing across physical stack members.
Automatic Service Restoration: In the event of a switch failure or removal, the stack automatically recalculates topology and continues forwarding traffic, minimizing downtime.

The Power Advantage: Full 48-Port PoE+

The "-48PF-" designation is critical. This switch provides full IEEE 802.3af (PoE) and 802.3at (PoE+) capability on all 48 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports. With a total power budget of up to 740W (supported by dual, redundant, hot-swappable power supplies), it can deliver up to 30W per port. This makes it an ideal convergence point for power-hungry devices.

PoE+ Applications and Device Support

Unified Communications: Powers Cisco IP phones, including advanced models with color displays and video capabilities.
Wireless Networking: Fully supports Cisco Aironet wireless access points, including high-power 802.11ac and Wi-Fi 6 models that require PoE+.
Physical Security: Powers pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) IP cameras, IP video encoders, and other advanced surveillance equipment.
Building Automation: Can power LED lighting controllers, HVAC sensors, and digital signage.

Advanced Feature Set with IP Services Software

The "-E" suffix denotes the IP Services (IPS) feature set, the most advanced software image available for the platform. This elevates the switch from a basic Layer 2/3 access switch to a full-featured routing switch capable of complex network roles.

Comprehensive Routing Protocol Support

Unlike the IP Base image, IP Services includes support for dynamic routing protocols essential for medium to large enterprise networks and for acting as a distribution layer switch in smaller deployments.

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol): Full BGP v4 support for enterprise WAN edge or data center interconnect scenarios.
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First): Advanced OSPF features, including multiple area types and sophisticated route redistribution.
EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol): Full EIGRP support for Cisco-centric network environments, offering fast convergence and efficient bandwidth usage.
Policy-Based Routing (PBR): Allows for granular control over traffic paths based on source, application, or other criteria, overriding the routing table.

Enhanced Security and Multicast Features

The IP Services image provides tools for securing the network infrastructure and efficiently delivering multimedia content.

ACLs with VLAN Maps: Apply security policies at the VLAN level for broader control.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) & IP Source Guard: Protect against ARP spoofing and IP address theft attacks.
Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM): Supports PIM Sparse Mode, Dense Mode, and Sparse-Dense Mode for scalable multicast routing, essential for video distribution and financial data feeds.
IPv6 Routing: Full support for IPv6 routing protocols (RIPng, OSPFv3, EIGRP for IPv6, BGP for IPv6) and IPv6 ACLs, ensuring future-ready networks.

Resilience, Redundancy, and Serviceability

The WS-C3750X-48PF-E Catalyst 3750X platform is designed for maximum uptime. Its modular design minimizes single points of failure and allows for maintenance without network disruption.

Modular Power and Fan Tray System

Unlike fixed-configuration switches, the 3750X features rear-accessible, hot-swappable modules.

Dual Redundant Power Supplies

The switch supports one or two AC or DC power supplies. In a dual-power configuration, they operate in a 1+1 redundant mode. If one fails, the other instantly takes the full load without interruption. The flexible 715W AC or 350W DC power supply options allow for customization based on PoE requirements and data center power standards.

Hot-Swappable Fan Tray

The fan tray is also modular and hot-swappable. It features a side-to-side airflow design (port-side exhaust or intake) to align with modern data center hot/cold aisle containment strategies. A faulty fan tray can be replaced in minutes without powering down the switch or the stack.

Network Module Uplink Flexibility

A dedicated network module slot on the rear of the switch provides crucial uplink flexibility, allowing networks to evolve without replacing the entire chassis.

Available Uplink Module Options

Organizations can choose from several Cisco pluggable uplink modules to tailor connectivity:

4 x 1G SFP Module: Adds four Gigabit Ethernet fiber (SFP) uplinks for cost-effective fiber connectivity.
2 x 10G SFP+ Module: Adds two 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks for high-bandwidth aggregation to the network core, essential for backhauling traffic from multiple stacked switches or for storage connectivity. 4 x 10G SFP+ Module: Provides maximum uplink density and bandwidth for the most demanding environments.

This modularity ensures the switch can start with 1G uplinks and be upgraded to 10G as bandwidth needs grow, protecting the initial investment.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the WS-C3750X-48PF-E makes it suitable for a wide array of deployment models.

Enterprise Campus Access Layer

This is its primary role. Deployed in wiring closets, it provides:

High-Density User Access: Connectivity for 48 desktop users, with PoE+ for their IP phones.
Unified Access for Wireless: Acting as a controller for Cisco Catalyst 3850/3650 access points (with the appropriate license) or as a standard switch for Aironet APs, providing both data and power.
Video Ready: The combination of high PoE budget and advanced multicast support makes it ideal for IP video surveillance deployments.

Mid-Size Network Core/Distribution

In smaller branch offices or mid-sized businesses, a stacked pair of Catalyst 3750X switches running IP Services can act as the core routing and switching layer, terminating VLANs, enforcing security policies, and connecting to the WAN.

Data Center Server Access (Top-of-Rack)

While often superseded by Nexus switches for high-density data centers, the 3750X with 10G uplinks can serve effectively in smaller server rooms or for specific application tiers, providing low-latency Layer 3 switching and PoE for connected devices within the rack.

Management and Integration

The Cisco Catalyst 3750X-48PF-E integrates seamlessly into existing Cisco and multi-vendor network ecosystems.

Management Interfaces

It can be managed through multiple avenues:

Cisco CLI (Command-Line Interface): The industry-standard, powerful CLI for granular configuration and troubleshooting.
Cisco Prime Infrastructure: For centralized, template-based provisioning, monitoring, and assurance across the entire network.
Cisco DNA Center: While more focused on newer Catalyst 9000 series, DNA Center can manage aspects of the 3750X through device packages, enabling some level of intent-based networking and assurance.
SNMP, Syslog, NetFlow: Full support for standard network management protocols for integration with third-party tools like SolarWinds, ManageEngine, or PRTG.

Energy Management and Efficiency

The switch incorporates several Cisco EnergyWise technologies to reduce operational costs.

Automated Power Management: Can dynamically adjust power to connected devices based on policy (e.g., lowering power to phones after hours).
Efficient Hardware Design: The modular power supplies are 80 Plus Platinum certified, delivering high efficiency (up to 94%) across load ranges, reducing electricity consumption and heat output.