WS-C3750X-48P-E Cisco Catalyst Switch Managed L3 Poe+ Ethernet (48 Port)

Enterprise-Grade Managed Layer 3 Network Switch

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3750X-48P-E is a high-performance managed Layer 3 switch designed for scalable enterprise and campus networks. With advanced routing, switching, and Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) capabilities, this rack-mountable solution delivers reliability, speed, and flexibility for modern IT infrastructures.

Main Information about this Cisco WS-C3750X-48P-E

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750X-48P-E
• Device Category: Managed Layer 3 Ethernet Switch
• Form Factor: 1U Rack-mountable, stackable design
• Network Interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet

Port Configuration and PoE Capabilities

High-Density Ethernet Ports

• 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports
• Auto-negotiation and auto MDI/MDI-X support

Advanced Power over Ethernet Plus

• PoE+ support for IP phones, access points, and cameras
• Total PoE power budget up to 435 watts
• Ideal for powering multiple network devices efficiently

Switching and Performance Specifications

High-Speed Data Handling

• Switching capacity of up to 160 Gbps
• Forwarding rate reaching 101.2 million packets per second

Jumbo Frame and Traffic Optimization

• Jumbo frame support up to 9216 bytes
• Traffic shaping and Quality of Service (QoS)

VLAN and Network Capacity

Scalable Virtual Networking

• Supports up to 1005 VLANs
• Up to 1000 switched virtual interfaces (SVIs)
• Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+)

Routing and Protocol Support

Layer 3 Routing Features

• Static IP routing
• RIP v1, RIP v2, and RIPng
• HSRP and EIGRP stub routing

Advanced Network Features

Security, Reliability, and Availability

• Access Control Lists (ACL) for enhanced security
• DHCP snooping and Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
• Hot-swappable module replacement
• High availability with Cisco StackWise technology

Layer 2 and Multicast Enhancements

• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
• IGMP and MLD snooping
• Broadcast, multicast, and unicast storm control

Link Aggregation and Diagnostics

• LACP and PAgP support
• Uni-directional Link Detection (UDLD)
• Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN)

Standards and Compliance

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

Power and Redundancy

• AC input: 120V / 230V at 50–60 Hz
• Optional redundant power supply support

Core Architectural Advantages

At its heart, the Catalyst 3750-X is built for performance and reliability. Unlike standalone switches, its stacking technology is a game-changer, allowing multiple physical switches to operate as a single, logical entity.

StackWise Plus Technology

The proprietary StackWise Plus backplane creates a unified switching fabric across up to nine stack members. This 64 Gbps stacking ring provides deterministic performance and resilient, hitless failover. If one switch in the stack fails, the stack continues to operate, minimizing network disruption. This architecture simplifies management—the entire stack is configured and monitored as one device—while also enabling flexible scaling of port density and power resources as network needs evolve.

Modular Power and Redundancy

The WS-C3750X-48P-E features a field-replaceable, modular power supply and fan tray. This design is critical for maintaining uptime and tailoring the switch to its environment.

Power Supply Options (PSU)

The switch supports various AC and DC power supply modules. The default 715W AC power supply provides ample juice for full PoE+ budget across all 48 ports. For critical operations, a second, redundant power supply can be installed, enabling power source redundancy for the highest availability.

Fan Tray Redundancy

The modular fan tray ensures proper cooling and is also field-replaceable. In a stack, fan trays operate independently per switch, localizing a cooling failure to a single unit and preserving the health of the remaining stack members.

Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) Capabilities

The "48P" in the model number signifies this switch's mission: to power a vast array of network devices directly from the Ethernet cable. The PoE+ functionality, compliant with the IEEE 802.3at standard, is a cornerstone feature for modern networks.

High-Density Power Budget

With a total PoE budget of up to 740W (with dual PSUs), the WS-C3750X-48P-E can deliver up to 30W per port on all 48 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ports. This ample budget allows network administrators to power a diverse mix of devices simultaneously without fear of over-subscription.

Devices and Applications Enabled

This high-power capability unlocks numerous deployment scenarios:

Unified Communications

Power advanced IP phones with color displays, video conferencing units, and speakerphones.

Wireless Networking

Fully power Cisco Aironet access points, including high-end 802.11ac and Wi-Fi 6 models that require more than the classic 15.4W, enabling dense, high-performance wireless coverage.

Building Management & Security

Support IP security cameras with pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) and heating elements, video surveillance door locks, biometric access controls, and building automation sensors, consolidating data and power infrastructure.

Layer 3 Routing and Intelligent Switching

As a full Layer 3 switch, the Catalyst 3750X-48P-E performs hardware-based routing at wire speed, enabling efficient network segmentation and inter-VLAN routing without the need for an external router.

Advanced Routing Protocols

It supports static routing, RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into complex enterprise network topologies. This capability makes it perfect for the access-distribution layer boundary in a collapsed core design.

Quality of Service (QoS)

To ensure optimal performance for real-time applications, the switch offers sophisticated QoS features. It can classify, police, prioritize, and mark traffic based on Layer 2, 3, and 4 parameters.

AutoQoS and Trust Boundaries

The AutoQoS feature simplifies deployment by automatically configuring QoS policies for recognized applications like VoIP. The switch can also establish trust boundaries, honoring or overriding QoS markings from connected devices like phones and access points.

Enterprise-Grade Security and Management

Security is integrated at every level, from physical port access to network-wide threat control.

Comprehensive Feature Set

The switch includes a vast array of security tools: 802.1X port-based authentication for user and device access control, DHCP snooping to prevent rogue DHCP servers, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to block ARP poisoning attacks, and IP Source Guard to prevent IP spoofing.

Network Access Control (NAC)

Through integration with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), the switch can enforce detailed policies, providing role-based network access and ensuring endpoints are compliant with security policies before granting network entry.

Flexible Management Options

Administrators can manage the switch through multiple avenues: the familiar Cisco IOS Command-Line Interface (CLI) for granular control, an embedded web-based GUI (Device Manager), or through centralized management suites like Cisco Prime Infrastructure for overseeing the entire network fabric.

Resiliency and High Availability Features

Network uptime is paramount. The 3750X platform is engineered with several features to maximize availability.

Software and Hardware Resilience

Features like Fast Link Recovery (Spanning Tree PortFast, UplinkFast), Cross-Stack EtherChannel, and optional redundant power supplies ensure minimal service interruption during link failures, stack member changes, or power events.

Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD)

UDLD actively monitors fiber and copper link states to detect and disable unidirectional links caused by faulty hardware, which can cause spanning-tree loops and network instability.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the WS-C3750X-48P-E makes it suitable for a wide range of environments.

Enterprise Campus/Wiring Closet

Its most common deployment is in the wiring closet, aggregating traffic from end-user devices, phones, and wireless access points. Its Layer 3 capabilities allow it to perform inter-VLAN routing locally, offloading traffic from the core.

Mid-Sized Business Core

For smaller to mid-sized organizations, a stack of 3750-X switches can serve as the entire network core, providing routing, switching, PoE, and high availability in a cost-effective, simplified package.

High-Power Density Workspaces

In environments like modern offices, hospitals, or schools filled with PoE devices, the switch's high power budget and port density make it the perfect one-stop solution for connectivity and power delivery.