C1-WS3650-48PD/K9 Cisco ONE Catalyst 3650-48PD Managed Switch

Designed for Modern Enterprise Networks

The Cisco C1-WS3650-48PD/K9 ONE Catalyst 3650-48PD managed switch family represents a powerful, versatile platform for access-layer deployments in enterprise, campus, branch, and high-density PoE environments. Built around a 48-port Gigabit Ethernet fabric with 48 PoE+ capable ports and dual 10-Gigabit SFP+ uplinks, these switches deliver predictable performance, advanced security, and simplified management through Cisco's ONE software and feature sets.

Hardware Specifications and Port Architecture

48 PoE+ Gigabit Ethernet Ports

The Catalyst 3650-48PD is configured with forty-eight (48) RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports that support IEEE 802.3af/802.3at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+). This enables centralized delivery of power to a broad array of edge devices — VoIP phones, wireless access points (WAPs), IP cameras, and IoT endpoints — without separate power adapters.

PoE Budget and Power Distribution

Understanding PoE budget is critical for planning. The 3650-48PD is engineered to provide ample power across multiple ports while balancing thermal and power-supply limits. Typical enterprise planning considerations include:

Per-port maximum (PoE+): up to 30W per port (802.3at)Total available PoE budget: consult exact SKU documentation — plan around realistic simultaneous-load scenarios rather than theoretical max on every port.
Power redundancy and PSU options — evaluate whether higher-capacity external power shelves or redundant PSUs are required in high-availability deployments.

Two 10-Gigabit SFP+ Uplinks

Dual SFP+ 10G uplinks provide high-bandwidth aggregation to core switches, distribution layers, or fiber backbones. These ports support a range of optics for short- and long-reach connectivity, enabling flexible design for campus and data-center interconnects.

Uplink Use-Cases

High-performance aggregation into distribution or core switches for multi-gig user traffic.Stacking with other Catalyst switches using 10G SFP+ cables or transceivers.
Connecting to modular fiber backbone infrastructure for campus ring designs and redundant paths.

Performance, Layer-3 Capabilities

Wire-Speed Switching & Forwarding Capacity

Catalyst 3650 switches provide wire-speed switching across all ports. This translates to high throughput for aggregated user traffic and latency-sensitive applications such as voice, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration tools.

Layer 3 Routing & Enterprise Features

Unlike basic layer-2 access switches, this series supports full Layer 3 capabilities (static routing, RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, and advanced policy-based routing in supported images), enabling distributed routing architectures and reduced need for separate router appliances at the access layer.

Stacking & Scalability

StackWise and Unified Stacking Advantages

Some Catalyst 3650 deployments use stacking to create a single management and control plane across multiple switches. Benefits include simplified management, increased uplink capacity, and resilient topologies with failover.

Design considerations for Stacking

Stack size limits and master election behavior — confirm supported stack member limits for the exact hardware revision.Firmware and feature parity — ensure consistent IOS-XE versions across members for stable operation.
Redundancy — stacking provides hardware-level redundancy for access-layer resiliency.

Compatibility, Interoperability & Transceivers

SFP+/Fiber & Uplink Options

Uplinks accept a broad variety of SFP+ transceivers (SR, LR, LRM, DAC) which makes the switch compatible with short-reach copper DACs for stacking/short hops or singlemode/multimode fiber for long campus links. Always verify optics compatibility with Cisco’s transceiver interoperability matrix for best results.

Third-party Optics Considerations

While compatible third-party optics exist, many enterprises prefer Cisco-branded optics to ensure full compatibility and predictable performance with IOS-XE features like DOM (Digital Optical Monitoring).

Catalyst 3650-48PD vs Alternatives

Vs. Lower-end Access Switches

Compared to unmanaged or lower-end managed switches, the Catalyst 3650 provides enterprise-grade security, robust QoS, full Layer-3 routing, and much higher manageability. If your environment needs identity-based access control, advanced telemetry, and predictable PoE delivery, the 3650 is a clear step up.

Vs. Newer Catalyst Series (e.g., 9000 Series)

Newer Catalyst families (such as the 9000 series) add enhanced programmability, higher performance silicon, and deeper DNA integration. Budget and specific feature needs will drive decisions: for many established campus deployments the 3650 remains cost-effective, especially for PoE-heavy access floors, but organizations seeking the latest segmentation and automation may evaluate newer lines.