WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Cisco Catalyst Switch Chassis 6-slot Gigabit Ethernet

Cisco Catalyst 4506-S4-AP25 Modular Switch Chassis Overview

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst switch chassis is engineered for scalable enterprise networking, delivering modular flexibility and dependable Layer 4 performance. Designed for demanding campus and data center environments, this chassis-based switch supports high availability, advanced traffic control, and simplified network administration.

Product Identification and Lineage

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• SKU / Part Number: WS-C4506-S4-AP25
• Product Family: Catalyst
• Series Classification: 4500 Series
• Model Reference: 4506-S4-AP25
• Device Category: Network Switch
• Form Factor: Modular Chassis

Chassis Architecture and Expansion Design

This Catalyst 4506 chassis is built with a modular slot-based architecture, allowing organizations to customize switching capacity and control functions as network demands evolve.

Slot Configuration Details

• Total available expansion bays: 6
• Dedicated support for supervisor engines
• Compatible with multiple switching modules

Modular Advantages

• Future-ready scalability through hot-swappable modules
• Reduced downtime during upgrades or maintenance
• Optimized investment protection for growing networks

Network Performance and Communication Capabilities

Designed to support Gigabit Ethernet deployments, the Catalyst 4506-S4-AP25 ensures efficient data forwarding with enhanced control over application traffic.

Layer Support

• Operational support up to Layer 4
• Enhanced traffic prioritization and policy enforcement

Advanced Management and Control Features

Comprehensive management tools are integrated to simplify configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting across enterprise networks.

Supported Management Protocols

• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP v1, v2c)
• Remote Monitoring (RMON)
• Command Line Interface (CLI)
• Telnet-based remote access
• CiscoView graphical management interface

Traffic Optimization and Policy Control

• Virtual LAN (VLAN) segmentation
• Quality of Service (QoS) for application prioritization
• Centralized visibility into network performance

Power and Availability Specifications

The Cisco Catalyst 4506-S4-AP25 chassis is designed to maintain uninterrupted operation with flexible power options and redundancy support.

Power Delivery and Input Options

• Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability via RJ-45 ports
• Dual voltage compatibility: 110V AC and 220V AC
• Internal power supply architecture

High-Availability Power Design

• Redundant power supply support
• Improved fault tolerance for mission-critical environments
• Consistent uptime for enterprise-grade deployments

Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis 6-slot Gigabit Ethernet platform represents a highly scalable and modular switching foundation designed for enterprise-grade campus networks, aggregation layers, and core switching environments. This chassis-based architecture is built to deliver long-term investment protection, consistent performance, and operational flexibility across diverse networking scenarios. The six-slot design allows organizations to deploy a mix of supervisor engines, line cards, and power modules that align precisely with evolving network demands while maintaining a unified management and forwarding architecture.

The Catalyst 4500 series chassis family, to which the WS-C4506-S4-AP25 belongs, is recognized for its balance of performance, resiliency, and scalability. This model is engineered to support Gigabit Ethernet connectivity while accommodating advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features required in modern enterprise networks. Its modular design enables network administrators to scale port density, bandwidth, and redundancy without replacing the entire switching infrastructure, making it particularly suitable for organizations planning gradual network expansion.

Six-Slot Modular Chassis Architecture

The six-slot configuration of the Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis provides a versatile platform capable of supporting multiple line cards and supervisor engines. This modularity ensures that network architects can customize the system according to application requirements, traffic patterns, and redundancy needs. The chassis layout is optimized to ensure efficient airflow, proper thermal management, and reliable operation in data center or wiring closet deployments.

Each slot within the chassis is designed to accommodate high-performance modules that integrate seamlessly with the backplane. This architecture enables consistent throughput across all installed modules while minimizing latency. The backplane design ensures that switching capacity is distributed efficiently, supporting high-volume traffic without bottlenecks, even as additional line cards are added over time.

Supervisor Engine Compatibility and Control Plane Integration

The WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis is designed to work with compatible Cisco Catalyst 4500 series supervisor engines that provide centralized control plane intelligence. The supervisor engine handles forwarding decisions, routing protocols, policy enforcement, and system management, ensuring consistent behavior across all line cards. This centralized approach simplifies configuration, troubleshooting, and ongoing network optimization.

Advanced supervisor engines available for this chassis support features such as hardware-based forwarding, Quality of Service enforcement, and comprehensive security capabilities. These features enable enterprises to maintain predictable performance for critical applications such as voice, video, and real-time collaboration tools, even under heavy network load.

High Availability and Redundant Supervisor Options

High availability is a core design principle of the Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis. The platform supports redundant supervisor engines, allowing organizations to deploy active and standby configurations that minimize downtime in the event of a hardware or software failure. Stateful switchover capabilities ensure that traffic disruption is minimized, preserving session continuity for users and applications.

This redundancy model is particularly valuable in environments where network uptime is mission-critical. Educational institutions, healthcare facilities, financial organizations, and large enterprises benefit from the resilience provided by redundant supervisors and modular components that can be replaced without taking the entire system offline.

Gigabit Ethernet Performance and Switching Capacity

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis is engineered to deliver consistent Gigabit Ethernet performance across all supported ports. This capability ensures that access layer switches, servers, and network appliances can communicate at high speeds without congestion. The internal switching fabric is designed to handle simultaneous data flows efficiently, making it suitable for high-density user environments and application-intensive workloads.

Gigabit Ethernet connectivity remains a foundational requirement for enterprise networks, and this chassis supports it with reliability and scalability in mind. The system is capable of supporting both copper and fiber-based Gigabit Ethernet line cards, allowing network designers to optimize connectivity for distance, bandwidth, and environmental considerations.

Backplane Design and Traffic Flow Optimization

The backplane architecture of the WS-C4506-S4-AP25 plays a critical role in ensuring high-throughput switching performance. It provides a high-speed interconnection between all installed modules, allowing traffic to flow efficiently between line cards and the supervisor engine. This design minimizes latency and packet loss, even under peak traffic conditions.

By supporting distributed forwarding capabilities on compatible line cards, the chassis can offload certain forwarding tasks closer to the ports themselves. This approach improves overall system performance and reduces the processing burden on the supervisor engine, resulting in faster convergence and more predictable behavior.

Support for Advanced Layer 2 Features

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis supports a comprehensive set of Layer 2 switching features that are essential for modern enterprise networks. These features include VLAN segmentation, Spanning Tree Protocol enhancements, link aggregation, and multicast optimization. Together, they enable efficient traffic management and improved network stability.

Layer 2 capabilities within this chassis are designed to scale as the network grows. Administrators can define and manage numerous VLANs to segment traffic logically, improving security and performance while maintaining centralized control through the supervisor engine.

Layer 3 Routing and Enterprise Network Integration

In addition to robust Layer 2 functionality, the WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis supports advanced Layer 3 routing features when paired with appropriate supervisor engines and software licenses. These capabilities enable the chassis to function as a distribution or core layer switch, handling inter-VLAN routing, dynamic routing protocols, and policy-based routing.

This integration of Layer 3 intelligence within the switching platform reduces the need for separate routing devices, simplifying network design and reducing operational complexity. Enterprises benefit from lower latency and improved efficiency by consolidating switching and routing functions within a single modular chassis.

Scalability and Investment Protection

Scalability is a defining characteristic of the Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis. The modular six-slot design allows organizations to start with a minimal configuration and expand incrementally as network requirements evolve. This approach ensures that capital expenditures are aligned with actual demand, reducing upfront costs while preserving the ability to grow.

Investment protection is further enhanced by Cisco’s long-term support for the Catalyst 4500 series. Compatibility with a wide range of line cards, supervisor engines, and power modules ensures that existing hardware investments remain valuable even as newer technologies are introduced.

Flexible Line Card Options

The WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis supports a diverse selection of line cards that provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity across different media types and port densities. This flexibility allows network designers to tailor the system to specific deployment scenarios, whether supporting high-density user access, server aggregation, or uplink connectivity to other network segments.

By mixing and matching line cards within the same chassis, organizations can support a wide variety of devices and applications without deploying multiple standalone switches. This consolidation simplifies management and reduces the physical footprint of the network infrastructure.

Power Supply Modularity and Redundancy

Power reliability is a critical consideration for enterprise switching platforms, and the Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis addresses this requirement through modular power supply options. The chassis can accommodate redundant power supplies that provide continuous operation in the event of a power module failure.

This modular power design allows organizations to scale power capacity as additional line cards are installed. It also supports efficient energy utilization by matching power resources to actual system requirements, contributing to lower operational costs over time.

Environmental and Thermal Management Considerations

The chassis design incorporates advanced thermal management features to ensure reliable operation in a variety of deployment environments. Efficient airflow patterns and intelligent fan control mechanisms help maintain optimal operating temperatures for all installed modules.

These thermal management capabilities contribute to longer hardware lifespan and reduced risk of performance degradation due to overheating. They also support deployment in wiring closets and data centers where space and cooling resources may be constrained.

Enterprise Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis is well suited for a broad range of enterprise use cases, including campus networks, large office environments, and institutional deployments. Its modular design and robust feature set make it adaptable to diverse networking requirements while maintaining consistent performance and reliability.

In campus environments, the chassis can function as a distribution layer switch, aggregating traffic from multiple access layer switches and enforcing network policies centrally. In larger deployments, it can also serve as a core switch, providing high-speed connectivity between different network segments.

Support for Voice, Video, and Data Convergence

Modern enterprise networks must support a mix of voice, video, and data traffic, each with unique performance requirements. The WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis supports advanced Quality of Service mechanisms that prioritize latency-sensitive traffic, ensuring consistent performance for real-time applications.

This capability is particularly important for organizations deploying unified communications solutions, video conferencing systems, and collaboration platforms. By ensuring predictable performance, the chassis helps maintain user satisfaction and productivity.

Security Integration and Network Segmentation

Security is an integral component of the Cisco Catalyst 4500 series architecture. The WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis supports features such as access control lists, VLAN-based segmentation, and integration with enterprise security frameworks. These capabilities enable organizations to enforce security policies at the network edge and within the core.

By segmenting traffic and applying policy controls centrally, the chassis helps reduce the attack surface and improve overall network security posture. This approach is essential for organizations handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries.

Operational Efficiency and Centralized Management

Centralized management is a key advantage of deploying a modular chassis such as the WS-C4506-S4-AP25. Network administrators can manage multiple line cards and ports from a single control plane, simplifying configuration and monitoring tasks.

Integration with Cisco network management tools and standardized command-line interfaces ensures that administrators can maintain visibility and control across the entire switching environment. This operational efficiency reduces administrative overhead and supports faster troubleshooting and optimization.

Reliability, Longevity, and Enterprise-Grade Design

The Cisco WS-C4506-S4-AP25 Catalyst Switch Chassis is engineered to meet the reliability and longevity requirements of enterprise networks. High-quality components, robust chassis construction, and comprehensive testing contribute to consistent performance over extended operational lifecycles.

This focus on durability ensures that the chassis can support mission-critical applications and services without frequent maintenance or replacement. Organizations benefit from reduced total cost of ownership and greater confidence in their network infrastructure.

Hot-Swappable Components and Maintenance Flexibility

The modular design of the WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis supports hot-swappable components, including line cards and power supplies. This capability allows maintenance and upgrades to be performed without taking the entire system offline, minimizing disruption to network services.

Such flexibility is particularly valuable in environments where downtime must be minimized. Network administrators can replace or upgrade components during normal business hours while maintaining service continuity.

Software Support and Feature Evolution

The Catalyst 4500 series benefits from Cisco’s ongoing software development and support, ensuring that the WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis can take advantage of new features, security enhancements, and performance optimizations over time. Software updates enable organizations to adapt to changing requirements without replacing hardware.

This software-driven evolution enhances the long-term value of the chassis, allowing it to remain relevant as networking standards and best practices evolve.

Alignment with Enterprise Networking Standards

The WS-C4506-S4-AP25 chassis is designed to align with established enterprise networking standards and architectures. Compatibility with widely adopted protocols and management frameworks ensures seamless integration with existing network infrastructure.

This standards-based approach reduces integration risks and simplifies interoperability with third-party devices and applications, supporting a cohesive and future-ready enterprise network environment.