WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 Cisco Catalyst 6 Slots Gigabit Ethernet Switch Chassis

Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switch Chassis Overview

The Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 is engineered as a modular switch chassis designed for scalable enterprise networks. Built within the Catalyst 4500 family, this chassis-based solution delivers dependable Layer 2 switching with flexible expansion options and centralized management.

Product Identification and Classification

• Manufacturer: Cisco Systems
• SKU / Part Number: WS-C4506E-S6L-2800
• Category: Network Switch
• Form Factor: Modular Chassis
• Product Line: Catalyst

Chassis Architecture and Expansion Flexibility

This managed switch chassis is designed to adapt to evolving network requirements by supporting multiple modules and supervisors.

Slot Configuration

• Total of 6 expansion slots for modular deployment
• Supports a wide range of line cards and supervisor engines
• Optimized for high-density Gigabit Ethernet environments

Per-Slot Throughput

Each slot delivers up to 24 Gbps bandwidth, ensuring efficient data handling and consistent performance across installed modules.

Switching and Network Capabilities

Layer Support

The Catalyst 4506-E chassis operates at Layer 2, making it suitable for access and distribution layer deployments where reliable switching and segmentation are essential.

Traffic Management and VLAN Support

• IEEE 802.1q for VLAN tagging and traffic separation
• IEEE 802.1p for Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization
• Enhanced traffic visibility through RMON

Management, Monitoring, and Control

Designed for enterprise-grade administration, this Cisco switch chassis integrates seamlessly with multiple management platforms.

Supported Management Tools

• Cisco Network Assistant for simplified configuration
• CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution (LMS)
• Resource Manager Essentials (RME)

Access and Configuration Methods

• Command Line Interface (CLI)
• Web-based management via HTTP
• Remote access using Telnet
• Dynamic addressing through DHCP
• Monitoring and alerts using SNMP v2c

Power, Reliability, and Redundancy

Power Infrastructure

• Operates on 200V AC input
• Supports redundant power supplies for high availability
• Designed to maintain uptime in mission-critical environments

Power over Ethernet Capability

The chassis supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) through compatible RJ-45 modules, enabling direct power delivery to connected devices such as IP phones and access points.

Security and Access Control Features

Authentication and Network Protection

• IEEE 802.1X for port-based authentication
• Centralized access control using TACACS+
• Secure management access and policy enforcement

Enterprise-Ready Design

With modular scalability, robust security standards, and comprehensive management support, the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 switch chassis is built to meet the demands of growing and performance-driven network infrastructures.

Cisco Catalyst 4500E Series Modular Switch Chassis

The Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 Catalyst 6 Slots Switch Chassis Gigabit Ethernet belongs to the Cisco Catalyst 4500E Series, a class of enterprise-grade modular switching platforms engineered for high-performance campus networks, aggregation layers, and scalable enterprise infrastructures. This category focuses on modular chassis-based Ethernet switches that deliver robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, high availability, and flexible expansion options. The six-slot architecture of the Catalyst 4506E enables organizations to design resilient networks that can evolve with growing bandwidth demands, increasing device density, and advanced application workloads.

Within this category, modular switch chassis systems are distinguished by their ability to separate control, forwarding, and interface functions into distinct components. The Catalyst 4506E-S6L-2800 chassis supports supervisor engines, line cards, power supplies, and fan trays that can be selected according to specific deployment requirements. This design philosophy allows enterprises to extend the operational life of their network investments by upgrading individual modules rather than replacing entire switches, making this category especially attractive for long-term infrastructure planning.

Six-Slot Chassis Architecture and Design Philosophy

The six-slot chassis configuration defines the core identity of the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category. This architecture provides dedicated slots for supervisor engines and multiple line cards, ensuring separation of control plane and data plane functions. Such separation enhances performance stability and simplifies maintenance operations. The physical chassis is designed for rack-mounted enterprise environments, offering efficient airflow management and structural durability suitable for continuous operation in data centers and wiring closets.

Chassis-based Gigabit Ethernet switches in this category emphasize modular scalability. Organizations can deploy the chassis with a minimal initial configuration and later expand port density or performance by adding compatible modules. This scalability is crucial for enterprise campuses where network demands evolve over time due to increased user counts, IoT device adoption, and bandwidth-intensive applications.

Supervisor Engine Integration

The Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category is closely associated with supervisor engine compatibility, particularly the Supervisor Engine 6L. Supervisor engines serve as the central intelligence of the switch, managing forwarding decisions, control protocols, and system-level features. The Supervisor 6L delivers integrated Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, hardware-based forwarding, and advanced software capabilities that align with modern enterprise networking standards.

By supporting interchangeable supervisor engines, this category ensures flexibility in performance scaling and feature sets. Enterprises can select supervisor engines that match their Layer 2 and Layer 3 requirements, routing scale, and security needs, making the Catalyst 4506E chassis adaptable to a wide range of network designs.

Line Card Flexibility and Port Density

Line cards define the interface capabilities of switches in this category. The Cisco Catalyst 4506E chassis supports multiple Gigabit Ethernet line card options, enabling high port density configurations for access and aggregation layers. This flexibility allows network architects to design topologies that consolidate access switches, reduce cabling complexity, and simplify management.

Gigabit Ethernet connectivity remains a cornerstone of enterprise networking, and this category emphasizes reliable, non-blocking performance across all ports. Line cards are engineered to deliver consistent throughput and low latency, supporting applications such as IP telephony, video conferencing, and enterprise resource planning systems.

Gigabit Ethernet Performance and Switching Capabilities

The Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category is centered around Gigabit Ethernet switching, delivering wire-speed performance across all supported interfaces. Hardware-based forwarding ensures that packets are processed efficiently, minimizing latency and jitter even under heavy traffic loads. This performance profile is essential for enterprise environments where real-time applications and mission-critical services coexist on the same network.

Advanced switching capabilities within this category include support for VLAN segmentation, Quality of Service enforcement, and multicast traffic handling. These features allow organizations to prioritize critical traffic, optimize bandwidth usage, and maintain consistent user experiences across diverse application workloads.

Layer 2 Switching Features

Layer 2 functionality is a foundational aspect of the Catalyst 4506E switch chassis category. Features such as spanning tree protocols, link aggregation, and VLAN trunking are integral to ensuring network stability and redundancy. These capabilities enable seamless connectivity across large campus networks while preventing loops and minimizing downtime during topology changes.

Enterprises deploying switches in this category benefit from mature Layer 2 feature sets that have been refined through years of real-world deployment. This reliability makes the category suitable for environments where uptime and predictable behavior are critical.

Layer 3 Routing and Network Intelligence

Beyond Layer 2 switching, the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category supports advanced Layer 3 routing features when equipped with appropriate supervisor engines. These capabilities include static routing, dynamic routing protocols, and inter-VLAN routing, allowing the switch chassis to function as a powerful aggregation or distribution layer device.

Integrated routing within the chassis reduces the need for external routers, simplifying network architecture and reducing latency between network segments. This convergence of switching and routing functions aligns with modern enterprise network design principles.

High Availability and Redundancy Mechanisms

High availability is a defining characteristic of the Cisco Catalyst 4500E chassis category. The WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 is engineered to support redundant power supplies, hot-swappable line cards, and resilient supervisor engine configurations. These features minimize service disruption during maintenance or component failures, ensuring continuous network operation.

Redundancy mechanisms are especially important in enterprise and campus networks where downtime can impact productivity and business continuity. By incorporating modular redundancy at multiple levels, this category addresses the stringent availability requirements of mission-critical environments.

Power Supply Redundancy and Efficiency

Switch chassis in this category support multiple power supply options, enabling redundant and load-sharing configurations. This design ensures that the system continues operating even if one power supply fails. Efficient power management also supports energy-conscious deployments, aligning with organizational sustainability goals.

The ability to scale power capacity as additional line cards are installed further enhances the flexibility of the Catalyst 4506E chassis, making it suitable for incremental network growth.

Hot-Swappable Components and Maintenance

Hot-swappable modules are a key feature of the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category. Line cards, power supplies, and fan trays can be replaced without powering down the chassis, significantly reducing maintenance windows and operational risk. This capability supports enterprise change management practices and minimizes user impact during upgrades or repairs.

Such serviceability features contribute to lower total cost of ownership by reducing downtime-related costs and simplifying ongoing network management.

Enterprise Campus and Aggregation Use Cases

The Cisco Catalyst 4506E switch chassis category is widely used in enterprise campus networks, where it serves as an access aggregation or distribution layer solution. Its modular design and high port density enable consolidation of multiple access switches, simplifying topology and reducing operational complexity.

In aggregation roles, the chassis provides high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connectivity between access and core layers, supporting consistent policy enforcement and traffic management across the network. This makes the category suitable for organizations with large user populations, diverse device ecosystems, and evolving application requirements.

Scalability for Growing Network Demands

Scalability is a central theme of this category. The six-slot chassis design allows organizations to expand port capacity and performance incrementally. This approach aligns with budgetary constraints and phased network expansion strategies, enabling IT teams to respond to growth without disruptive infrastructure overhauls.

The Catalyst 4506E category supports long-term scalability by accommodating future module upgrades and software enhancements, protecting the initial investment.

Policy Enforcement and Traffic Control

Switches in this category support advanced traffic control mechanisms, enabling consistent policy enforcement across the enterprise. Quality of Service features allow prioritization of latency-sensitive traffic, while access control capabilities support network security and segmentation strategies.

These features make the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category well-suited for environments where voice, video, and data traffic must coexist without compromising performance.

Software, Management, and Network Integration

The Cisco Catalyst 4506E-S6L-2800 category is supported by Cisco’s robust network operating system, providing a comprehensive set of management and monitoring tools. Centralized management capabilities enable administrators to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the switch chassis efficiently.

Integration with enterprise network management platforms enhances visibility into traffic patterns, device health, and performance metrics. This visibility supports proactive maintenance and informed capacity planning, contributing to overall network reliability.

Security and Compliance Capabilities

Security is an integral aspect of this category, with features designed to protect enterprise networks from internal and external threats. Capabilities such as access control lists, port security, and secure management interfaces help enforce organizational security policies.

By embedding security features directly into the switching infrastructure, the Catalyst 4506E category supports compliance with industry standards and best practices.

Interoperability within Cisco Ecosystems

The Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category is designed to integrate seamlessly with broader Cisco networking ecosystems. Compatibility with other Cisco switches, routers, and wireless solutions enables cohesive end-to-end network architectures.

This interoperability simplifies deployment and management while ensuring consistent feature behavior across the network, making the category a reliable choice for organizations standardizing on Cisco technologies.

Long-Term Value and Enterprise Reliability

The Cisco Catalyst 4506E six-slot Gigabit Ethernet switch chassis category represents a balance of performance, scalability, and reliability tailored for enterprise environments. Its modular design, advanced switching capabilities, and high availability features deliver long-term value for organizations seeking stable and adaptable network infrastructure.

By supporting evolving network requirements through modular expansion and software enhancements, the Cisco WS-C4506E-S6L-2800 category continues to serve as a dependable foundation for enterprise and campus networking architectures.