WS-C3850-24XS-S Cisco Catalyst 24 Ports Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C3850-24XS-S Catalyst 3850 is a high-performance Layer 3 network switch designed for enterprise-grade scalability, reliability, and advanced routing capabilities. Built to support demanding data center and campus environments, this switch delivers exceptional speed, secure connectivity, and simplified network management.

General Product Details

Manufacturer and Model Information

• Brand: Cisco Systems
• Model: WS-C3850-24XS-S
• Series: Catalyst 3850
• Device Type: Managed Layer 3 Ethernet Switch

Switch Architecture and Port Configuration

Ports and Stacking Capabilities

This Cisco Catalyst switch is engineered to handle high-density networking with seamless stacking support, making it ideal for growing enterprise infrastructures.

• Total Network Ports: 24
• Port Type: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Stacking Bandwidth: Up to 480 Gbps
• Stack Port Availability: Yes
• Layer Support: Layer 3 Routing

Manageability and Design

• Fully manageable for advanced network control
• Non-modular chassis for stable performance
• Optimized for enterprise and data center deployments

Performance and Networking Technologies

High-Speed Connectivity Features

The WS-C3850-24XS-S delivers ultra-fast data transmission using advanced fiber-based networking technologies.

• Media Support: Optical Fiber
• Ethernet Standard: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Network Technology: 10GBase-X

Expansion and Interface Options

SFP+ Expansion Slots

This switch supports extensive expansion options, allowing flexible network customization.

• Total Expansion Slots: 24
• Slot Type: SFP+
• Number of SFP+ Ports: 24

Power and Reliability Specifications

Power Input and Redundancy

• Input Voltage: 100–240 VAC
• Power Source: Integrated Power Supply
• Redundant Power Support: Yes

In-Depth Look at the WS-C3850-24XS-S Model

This 1RU switch is configured with 24 fixed 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports, providing immense bandwidth capacity right out of the box. The "S" designation in the part number signifies it includes the IP Services feature set, the most comprehensive Layer 3 software bundle Cisco offers. This enables advanced routing protocols, granular security policies, and full programmability, making it far more than a simple access switch.

Core Hardware Architecture & Performance

At the heart of the Catalyst 3850 lies the Cisco StackWise-480 technology and a powerful CPU/ASIC combination. This architecture is built for deterministic performance and low latency.

StackWise-480 Technology

Unlike traditional stacking, StackWise-480 creates a single, logical switching unit from up to nine individual switches. It utilizes special stack cables to form a 480 Gbps ring for stack-wide packet forwarding. This creates a unified management plane, a single IP address for management, and a combined forwarding table, vastly simplifying operations.

Port Configuration & Capabilities

The 24 SFP+ ports support a wide range of optics, including 1G, 10G, and 40G (via breakout cables). This flexibility allows for cost-effective connectivity to existing 1G servers or access switches, while providing ample bandwidth for 10G server farms, high-speed uplinks, and future-proofing network infrastructure.

Software & Feature Set: IP Services Advantage

The IP Services (IP-S) software image unlocks the full enterprise and data center capabilities of the hardware, distinguishing it from the cheaper IP Base image.

Advanced Layer 3 Routing

Supports full dynamic routing with protocols like OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and IS-IS. It also includes advanced features like Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) for multicast routing, essential for media streaming and financial data distribution.

Enhanced Security & Policy Enforcement

Goes beyond standard ACLs with features like TrustSec, which uses Security Group Tags (SGTs) to enforce policy regardless of IP address. It also supports MACsec encryption at line rate on all ports for hop-to-hop data confidentiality.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The WS-C3850-24XS-S is versatile enough for several critical roles in modern network topology.

High-Density 10G Access Layer

Ideal for connecting high-value assets such as CAD workstations, financial trading desks, video editing suites, or high-performance computing clusters where 1Gbps is a bottleneck. Its PoE+ capability on specific models (not the 24XS) also makes it suitable for powered devices, though this model excels in data-only, high-bandwidth environments.

Aggregation or Core Switch for Midsize Networks

With its high 10G port density and powerful routing capabilities, a stack of 3850-24XS-S switches can serve as the collapsed core or distribution layer for campus networks, aggregating traffic from dozens of access switches and routing between VLANs and subnets with high efficiency.

Data Center Top-of-Rack (ToR) Switch

In small to medium data centers or server rooms, it provides low-latency, high-throughput connectivity for a rack of servers. Support for features like VXLAN gateways (with appropriate licensing) allows for modern overlay network architectures.

Key Differentiators and Competitive Advantages

The Catalyst 3850 series was designed with specific innovations that set it apart during its product lifecycle.

Unified Access & Converged Wired/Wireless

Its most significant innovation was the integration of a wireless LAN controller (WLC) directly into the switching hardware. A single switch could natively control and forward traffic for up to 50 Cisco access points, simplifying management and improving application visibility for both wired and wireless clients.

Energy Efficiency and Stack Power

The series introduced StackPower, a technology allowing switches in a stack to share power supplies. This creates a pooled power resource, increasing efficiency and providing power redundancy without requiring a dedicated, fully-loaded power supply in every chassis.

Programmability and Automation

Built on Cisco's IOS XE, a modern operating system that separates the control plane (software) from the data plane (hardware). It provides open APIs, supports Python scripting, and is compatible with DevOps tools like Ansible and Puppet, enabling network automation.