WS-C3850-48U-L Cisco 48 Port Switch

Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L is engineered for high-density enterprise networks requiring advanced control, scalability, and intelligent power delivery. Designed with 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, this manageable and stackable switch supports demanding campus and branch deployments while maintaining operational efficiency.

Manufacturer and Product Identification

• Brand: Cisco
• Model / SKU: WS-C3850-48U-L
• Product Category: Enterprise Network Switch
• Port Configuration: 48 Ethernet Ports

Hardware Design and Form Factor

Physical Characteristics

• Rack-mountable 1U chassis for structured network environments
• Desktop-compatible enclosure for flexible installation
• Durable construction suitable for continuous operation

Switch Architecture

• Managed and stackable design for centralized administration
• Integrated Cisco StackWise-480 technology for unified switching
• Cisco StackPower support for optimized power sharing

Port Density and Power Capabilities

Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

• 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet interfaces
• Auto-negotiation for seamless device compatibility
• Auto MDI/MDI-X for simplified cabling

Universal Power over Ethernet (UPOE)

• Supports UPOE for advanced powered devices
• Total PoE power budget up to 800 watts
• Ideal for IP phones, wireless access points, and IoT hardware

Performance and Switching Capacity

Throughput and Bandwidth

• Switching capacity of up to 176 Gbps
• Stacking bandwidth reaching 480 Gbps
• Optimized for data-intensive applications

Frame and Table Support

• Jumbo frame handling up to 9198 bytes
• MAC address table with 32,000 entries
• Up to 1,000 switched virtual interfaces (SVIs)

Routing, Monitoring, and Scalability

Layer 3 and Network Intelligence

• IPv4 routing capacity up to 24,000 routes
• Layer 3 load balancing for traffic optimization
• VRF-Lite support for network segmentation

Traffic Analysis and Visibility

• Flexible NetFlow (FNF) for detailed traffic insights
• NetFlow table capacity of 48,000 entries
• Remote SPAN (RSPAN) for distributed monitoring

Advanced Network Features

Switching and VLAN Management

• VLAN tagging and trunking support
• Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP)
• Port Aggregation with PAgP and LACP

Spanning Tree and Loop Protection

• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
• Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
• Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+)
• STP Root Guard and Uni-directional Link Detection (UDLD)

Security and Traffic Control

Network Protection Mechanisms

• Access Control Lists (ACLs) for granular security
• Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
• DHCP snooping to prevent rogue devices

Quality of Service and Authentication

• Advanced QoS with Shaped Round Robin (SRR)
• RADIUS authentication support
• IPv4 and IPv6 traffic handling

Management and Remote Administration

Supported Management Protocols

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3
• RMON 1 and RMON 2
• SSH, Telnet, and CLI access
• Syslog and TFTP support

Standards Compliance and Power Specifications

Industry Standards

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3af, 802.3at
• IEEE 802.1D, 802.1Q, 802.1P, 802.1W, 802.1S, 802.1X
• IEEE 802.3ad for link aggregation

Electrical and Power Options

• AC input: 120–230V at 50/60 Hz
• Optional power redundancy for high availability
• Energy Efficient Ethernet for reduced power consumption

Enterprise-Class Access Switching Architecture

The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L 48 Port Manageable Switch represents a robust access-layer switching solution designed for modern enterprise networks that require high performance, scalability, and centralized management. Built as part of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series, this switch category is engineered to unify wired and wireless services on a single platform, making it suitable for organizations seeking simplified infrastructure without compromising advanced networking capabilities. The 48-port configuration provides ample connectivity for endpoint-dense environments such as corporate offices, educational campuses, healthcare facilities, and distributed branch locations where reliable access switching is critical.

Unified Wired and Wireless Control

This category of manageable switches integrates wireless controller functionality directly into the switching fabric, allowing network administrators to manage both wired and wireless access points from a single device. This architectural approach reduces the need for standalone wireless controllers, streamlining deployment and lowering operational complexity. The unified control plane enables consistent policy enforcement, seamless mobility, and simplified troubleshooting across both wired and wireless domains, enhancing overall network efficiency.

Role in Access Layer Deployments

The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category is purpose-built for the access layer, where end devices connect to the enterprise network. At this layer, performance, security, and reliability are essential, as the switch directly interfaces with user devices, IP phones, wireless access points, and IoT endpoints. The manageable nature of this switch allows fine-grained configuration, monitoring, and optimization, ensuring that access-layer traffic is handled efficiently while maintaining compliance with organizational policies.

Port Density and Connectivity Capabilities

With forty-eight access ports, this switch category supports high-density connectivity requirements common in medium to large-scale environments. The availability of numerous ports enables organizations to connect a wide range of devices without additional access switches, reducing hardware sprawl and simplifying network topology. The design supports scalable deployments where growth can be accommodated without extensive reconfiguration.

Support for Diverse Endpoint Types

The switch category is suitable for connecting traditional computing devices, IP-based telephony systems, wireless access points, printers, surveillance cameras, and other network-enabled equipment. Its manageable feature set allows administrators to tailor port configurations to match the requirements of each endpoint type, ensuring optimal performance and reliability across diverse use cases.

High Availability for Connected Devices

In access-layer environments, downtime can directly impact user productivity. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category emphasizes high availability through resilient hardware design and advanced software features. These capabilities help maintain continuous connectivity for critical endpoints, supporting business continuity and minimizing service disruptions.

Advanced Manageability and Control

Manageability is a defining characteristic of the Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category. Designed for enterprise administrators, it provides comprehensive tools for configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. These features enable proactive network management, allowing issues to be identified and resolved before they affect end users.

Centralized Network Management Integration

This switch category integrates seamlessly with Cisco network management platforms, enabling centralized visibility and control across the entire infrastructure. Administrators can apply consistent configurations, monitor performance metrics, and manage software updates from a unified interface. This centralized approach reduces administrative overhead and ensures consistent policy enforcement across multiple switches and locations.

Automation and Programmability

The manageable nature of the Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category extends to automation and programmability. Support for modern network management paradigms allows administrators to automate routine tasks, streamline provisioning, and reduce the likelihood of configuration errors. Automation capabilities contribute to faster deployment cycles and more agile network operations.

Operational Efficiency Through Simplified Workflows

By enabling automated workflows and programmable interfaces, this switch category helps organizations improve operational efficiency. Network teams can focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive manual tasks, resulting in a more responsive and adaptable network environment.

Performance and Switching Capacity

Performance is a critical consideration in access-layer switching, and the Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L category is designed to deliver consistent throughput and low latency. The internal architecture supports high-speed packet forwarding, ensuring that data traffic flows smoothly even during peak usage periods.

Optimized Traffic Handling

This switch category efficiently manages a mix of data, voice, and video traffic commonly found in enterprise environments. Advanced traffic handling mechanisms prioritize latency-sensitive applications, such as voice and video communications, while maintaining reliable data transfer for standard applications. This balanced approach ensures a high-quality user experience across all connected services.

Scalable Performance for Growing Networks

As organizations grow, network demands increase. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category is designed with scalability in mind, allowing performance to scale alongside network expansion. This makes it a suitable choice for organizations planning long-term growth without frequent infrastructure overhauls.

Security Features at the Access Layer

Security is a fundamental requirement for access-layer switches, as they represent the primary entry point into the network. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L category incorporates advanced security features that help protect against unauthorized access, threats, and policy violations.

Identity-Based Access Control

This switch category supports identity-based networking, enabling administrators to define access policies based on user or device identity rather than physical port location. This approach enhances security by ensuring that only authorized users and devices can access network resources, regardless of where they connect.

Threat Detection and Mitigation

Integrated security capabilities help detect anomalous behavior and potential threats at the network edge. By identifying and mitigating threats early, the switch category contributes to a more secure overall network posture, reducing the risk of lateral movement and widespread compromise.

Compliance and Policy Enforcement

For organizations operating in regulated industries, consistent policy enforcement is essential. The manageable features of the Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category allow administrators to implement and enforce security policies uniformly, supporting compliance with industry standards and internal governance requirements.

Stacking and Scalability Options

The Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series, including the WS-C3850-48U-L category, is designed to support stacking technologies that enable multiple switches to operate as a single logical unit. This capability simplifies management and enhances scalability in growing network environments.

Simplified Expansion Through Stacking

Stacking allows organizations to expand port capacity and performance without increasing management complexity. Multiple switches can be added to a stack and managed as one, providing seamless scalability while maintaining consistent configuration and policy enforcement.

Resilience and Redundancy Benefits

Stacking also enhances resilience by providing redundancy across member switches. In the event of a hardware failure, traffic can be rerouted within the stack, minimizing downtime and maintaining service availability for connected devices.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Design

Modern enterprise networks must balance performance with energy efficiency. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category is designed with power-efficient components and intelligent energy management features that help reduce overall power consumption.

Adaptive Power Management

Energy-efficient technologies allow the switch to adjust power usage based on network activity and connected device requirements. This adaptive approach helps organizations lower operational costs while supporting sustainability initiatives.

Support for Green IT Strategies

By incorporating energy-efficient design principles, this switch category aligns with green IT strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact. Organizations can deploy high-performance access switching while contributing to broader sustainability goals.

Use Cases Across Industries

The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L 48 Port Manageable Switch category is versatile enough to support a wide range of industry-specific use cases. Its combination of performance, security, and manageability makes it suitable for diverse operational environments.

Corporate and Enterprise Offices

In corporate settings, this switch category provides reliable connectivity for employees, supporting collaboration tools, unified communications, and cloud-based applications. Its manageability ensures that IT teams can maintain consistent performance and security across the organization.

Education and Campus Networks

Educational institutions benefit from the high port density and unified wired and wireless capabilities of this switch category. It supports large numbers of student and faculty devices while enabling centralized management across campus networks.

Healthcare and Critical Environments

In healthcare facilities, network reliability and security are paramount. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L category supports critical applications, medical devices, and secure data access, contributing to efficient and compliant healthcare operations.

Long-Term Value and Lifecycle Management

Investing in an enterprise-class manageable switch involves considering long-term value and lifecycle management. The Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L switch category is designed to deliver sustained performance and adaptability throughout its operational lifespan.

Software Feature Evolution

Ongoing software support and feature enhancements ensure that this switch category can adapt to evolving network requirements. Administrators can leverage updates to improve functionality, security, and performance without replacing hardware.

Cost-Effective Network Modernization

By combining advanced features, scalability, and centralized management, the Cisco WS-C3850-48U-L category supports cost-effective network modernization strategies. Organizations can meet current demands while preparing for future technologies and usage patterns.