WS-C2960+48PST-S Cisco 48 Ports Managed Switch - H1

Product Outline

The Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S is a reliable and high-performance 48-port Ethernet switch designed for enterprise and business networks. Part of the renowned Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series, this switch delivers efficient connectivity, advanced manageability, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities to support modern networking demands.

Manufacturer and Product Details

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Product Line: Catalyst
• Series: Cisco Catalyst 2960
• Model / SKU: WS-C2960+48PST-S
• Device Type: 48-Port Managed Ethernet Switch

Port Configuration and Expansion Options

Network Interface Specifications

• Total Network Ports: 50 Ethernet ports
• Fast Ethernet Ports: 48 x 10/100 RJ-45
• PoE-Enabled Ports: 48 RJ-45 ports
• Uplink Connectivity: 2 Gigabit Ethernet slots

Expansion Slot Information

This Cisco Ethernet switch includes flexible uplink expansion to enhance network scalability and performance.

• Expansion Slot Type: SFP
• Total Expansion Slots: 2

Performance and Networking Capabilities

Supported Ethernet Technologies

The Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S supports multiple Ethernet standards, ensuring compatibility with various network environments.

• Ethernet Type: Gigabit Ethernet
• Network Standards: 10/100Base-TX, 1000Base-T

Layer and Protocol Support

• Network Layer: Layer 2 switching
• Management: Fully managed for advanced configuration and monitoring

Management and Control Features

Advanced Network Management

This fully manageable Cisco Catalyst switch enables administrators to optimize traffic flow, improve security, and maintain network stability through intuitive management tools.

Power and Electrical Specifications

Input Power Requirements

• Input Voltage Range: 110V AC to 220V AC

Detailed Product Overview: Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S

The WS-C2960+48PST-S is a fully managed, layer 2+ Ethernet switch that provides 48 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet ports. Crucially, all 48 ports support IEEE 802.3af PoE, enabling the switch to deliver both data and electrical power to connected devices over standard Ethernet cabling. The "S" in the model name denotes the LAN Base feature set, which offers advanced quality of service (QoS), security, and manageability features. Housed in a 1-rack-unit (1RU) form factor, it is designed for deployment in wiring closets, small to medium-sized business server rooms, and as a core switch for branch offices.

Hardware Architecture and Key Components

The hardware design of the 2960+ series focuses on reliability and performance. Key internal components include a high-performance forwarding ASIC, dual flash memory for resilient image storage, and robust power supply design to handle the cumulative PoE budget.

Switch Fabric and Performance

The switch features a non-blocking switch fabric architecture with a forwarding bandwidth of up to 104 Gbps. This ensures wire-speed performance on all ports simultaneously, even under full-duplex operation, preventing bottlenecks at the access layer—a critical consideration for bandwidth-intensive applications and high-density user environments.

Power Supply and Cooling

The unit includes a fixed internal AC power supply. Its intelligent fan design ensures quiet operation suitable for office environments while providing adequate cooling for PoE loads. The thermal management system dynamically adjusts based on temperature and power draw, enhancing hardware longevity.

Port Configuration and Connectivity

The front panel of the WS-C2960+48PST-S is dominated by its 48 RJ-45 copper ports, each capable of auto-negotiation to 10/100/1000 Mbps and auto-MDIX for simplified cabling. Additionally, the switch is equipped with four fixed Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) uplink ports for fiber or copper gigabit connectivity. These uplinks provide flexible options for connecting to distribution layer switches or servers, offering greater distance capabilities and link aggregation for increased bandwidth and redundancy.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

A defining characteristic of this switch is its comprehensive PoE support. With IEEE 802.3af compliance on every one of its 48 ports, it becomes a centralized power source for a vast ecosystem of networked devices.

PoE Specifications and Budget

The switch provides a total PoE power budget of up to 370 watts. Each connected device can receive the standard 802.3af power allocation of up to 15.4 watts per port. The switch intelligently manages this budget, allocating power on a first-come, first-served basis and providing the capability to pre-allocate power for critical devices. This ensures that essential equipment like VoIP phones and security cameras always receive power, even if the total budget is approached.

Software Features and Manageability: The LAN Base Advantage

The "LAN Base" feature set differentiates this switch from unmanaged or smart-managed alternatives. It provides a comprehensive suite of management, security, and QoS tools essential for professional network administration.

Layer 2+ Switching and Routing

While primarily a Layer 2 switch, the LAN Base software supports static routing for IPv4 and IPv6. This limited Layer 3 functionality allows for basic inter-VLAN routing, simplifying network design by eliminating the need for an external router for small-scale segmentation.

VLAN and Spanning Tree Protocol

It supports IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging (up to 255 VLANs) and multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) variants, including Rapid PVST+ and MSTP, for creating loop-free, resilient network topologies and segmenting network traffic for security and performance.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Advanced QoS features ensure optimal performance for latency-sensitive applications like voice and video. The switch supports:

Classification and marking based on Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), and Layer 4 parameters. Policing and shaping to manage bandwidth utilization. Strict priority and weighted round-robin (WRR) scheduling for egress queues.

Security and Access Control

Network security is built-in, not bolted-on. Key security features include:

Port Security: Limits MAC addresses per port to prevent unauthorized access.
802.1X Authentication: Provides identity-based network access for users and devices.
ACLs (Access Control Lists): Standard and extended IPv4/IPv6 ACLs for granular traffic filtering.
DHCP Snooping: Prevents rogue DHCP server attacks.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI): Guards against ARP spoofing attacks.

Management Interfaces

The switch can be managed through multiple intuitive interfaces:

Cisco CLI (Command-Line Interface): Accessed via console, SSH, or Telnet for granular control.
Cisco Network Assistant: A free GUI-based management tool for configuring and monitoring switches.
Cisco Prime Infrastructure Integration: For enterprise-wide management in larger deployments.
Web-based (HTTP/HTTPS) Interface: A built-in GUI for basic configuration and monitoring.
SNMP (v1, v2c, and v3): For integration with network monitoring systems like SolarWinds, Nagios, or PRTG.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the Cisco WS-C2960+48PST-S makes it suitable for a wide array of networking scenarios.

Enterprise Access Layer Deployment

In a corporate setting, it is ideally deployed in wiring closets on each floor, connecting end-user devices (computers, phones) and wireless access points. Its 48-port density matches typical office floor plans, while the PoE capability powers the VoIP phone and wireless infrastructure, creating a clean, single-cable solution.

Branch Office and Small Business Core

For small to medium-sized businesses or remote branch offices, this switch can serve as the core network device. Its Layer 3 lite functionality allows for the creation of separate VLANs for data, voice, and guest traffic, improving security and performance without requiring a separate router for inter-VLAN communication.

Specific Configuration for SMB Core

A typical configuration might involve VLAN 10 for staff data, VLAN 20 for VoIP phones, and VLAN 30 for guest Wi-Fi. Static routes can be configured to direct traffic to the internet firewall/router.

Educational and Campus Environments

In schools and universities, the switch can connect classrooms, labs, and administrative offices. The high port count accommodates dense computer labs, while PoE supports wireless access points for campus-wide coverage and security cameras for enhanced safety.

Comparison with Successor Models (e.g., Cisco Catalyst 9200/9300)

Modern successors like the Catalyst 9200 series offer advantages such as:

Multigigabit Ethernet (mGig) ports for high-speed wireless backhaul.

Support for newer PoE standards like 802.3at (PoE+) and 802.3bt (UPoE).

DNA Center programmability and intent-based networking features.

Official Cisco software updates and security patches.

The choice between a proven, cost-effective 2960+ and a newer model depends on budget, feature requirements, and the need for ongoing vendor support.