C1000-8P-E-2G-L Cisco Catalyst Managed Switch 8+ Ethernet Ports

Product Overview

The Cisco C1000-8P-E-2G-L Catalyst Managed Switch is a compact yet powerful networking solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Built for reliability and efficiency, this managed Ethernet switch delivers secure connectivity, Power over Ethernet support, and flexible uplink options for modern network environments.

General Product Details

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Number: C1000-8P-E-2G-L
• Device Category: Managed Network Switch

Key Features and Benefits

High-Speed Ethernet Connectivity

• Eight auto-sensing 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports
• Optimized for smooth data transfer and stable network performance

Power over Ethernet (PoE+) Support

• Total PoE power budget of up to 67 watts
• Ideal for powering IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras

Flexible Uplink Options

• Two 1 Gigabit combo uplink ports
• Supports both SFP fiber modules and RJ-45 copper connections

Silent and Energy-Efficient Design

• Fanless architecture for quiet operation
• Suitable for offices, classrooms, and retail spaces

Technical Specifications

Networking Capabilities

• Number of Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 8
• Combo Uplink Interfaces: 2 (SFP/RJ-45)
• PoE Power Budget: 67 Watts
• Cooling System: Fanless

Performance and Processing

• Processor Type: ARM v7
• CPU Speed: 800 MHz
• System Memory (DRAM): 512 MB
• Flash Storage: 256 MB

Switching and Forwarding Performance

• Forwarding Bandwidth: Up to 10 Gbps
• Total Switching Capacity: 20 Gbps
• Packet Forwarding Rate: 14.88 Mpps (64-byte Layer 3 packets)

Physical Specifications

Compact Form Factor

• Width: 10.56 inches
• Depth: 7.28 inches
• Height: 1.73 inches

Detailed Product Specifications and Hardware Overview

The C1000-8P-E-2G-L is built with meticulous attention to the hardware details that ensure performance and longevity. Understanding its physical and technical specifications is key to evaluating its fit for your network infrastructure.

Port Configuration and Performance

At the heart of this switch are its ten Gigabit Ethernet ports, strategically divided to serve distinct purposes within the network hierarchy.

Primary Access Ports: 8-Port PoE+ Capability

These eight ports support IEEE 802.3af (PoE) and 802.3at (PoE+) standards, providing up to 30 watts per port. This enables the switch to power a diverse mix of devices simultaneously. The total PoE budget is a critical specification, dictating how many high-power devices can be supported concurrently without overloading the switch's power supply.

PoE Budget Management and Device Compatibility

Effective management of the PoE budget is facilitated through the switch's intuitive web interface or command-line interface (CLI). Network administrators can monitor power consumption in real-time, set priority levels for ports to ensure critical devices like phones remain powered during budget constraints, and even schedule power on/off cycles for devices like cameras. Compatibility spans across the ecosystem of PoE-powered devices, from VoIP phones and most wireless access points (including those supporting newer Wi-Fi 6 standards) to advanced pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) IP cameras.

Dedicated Uplink Ports: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet

The two additional non-PoE Gigabit Ethernet ports are designed as dedicated uplinks. They provide high-bandwidth, lossless connections to core network switches, routers, or servers. This segregation ensures that backbone traffic does not interfere with access-layer traffic, maintaining optimal performance for end-user devices connected to the PoE ports. These ports support features like Link Aggregation (LAG) using LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), allowing both ports to be combined into a single, logical 2 Gbps trunk for increased bandwidth and redundancy.

Form Factor, Design, and Operational Characteristics

The C1000-8P-E-2G-L features a fanless, desktop/wall-mountable design. The absence of moving parts makes it completely silent, a highly desirable trait for deployment in open offices, retail spaces, or healthcare waiting rooms. Its robust metal enclosure aids in passive cooling and ensures durability. The front panel includes clearly labeled LEDs for system status, link activity, and PoE utilization per port, providing at-a-glance health monitoring.

Advanced Software Features and Capabilities

Beyond its hardware, the true value of the Catalyst 1000 switch lies in its sophisticated software, driven by the LAN Base feature set. This transforms it from a simple "dumb" switch into an intelligent, manageable, and secure network node.

Layer 3 Lite Functionality for Enhanced Routing

The "L" in the model name signifies the LAN Base software, which includes what Cisco terms "Layer 3 Lite" functionality. This provides static routing and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) capabilities. While not a full dynamic routing protocol suite like OSPF or EIGRP, this allows the switch to perform inter-VLAN routing, a crucial feature for segmenting network traffic.

Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing

By creating multiple Virtual LANs (VLANs)—for instance, separating user data, VoIP traffic, and guest Wi-Fi onto different broadcast domains—the network's security and performance are enhanced. The C1000-8P-E-2G-L can route traffic between these VLANs internally, eliminating the need for a separate router to handle this traffic and reducing latency for inter-VLAN communication. This is a defining feature that elevates it above basic Layer 2-only managed switches.

Comprehensive Security Suite

Network security is paramount, and this switch includes a multi-layered security approach to protect the network edge.

Port Security and Access Control

Features like 802.1X port-based authentication integrate with RADIUS servers to ensure only authorized users and devices can access the network. MAC address-based port security can limit port access to specific devices, preventing unauthorized connections. DHCP snooping helps prevent rogue DHCP servers from distributing incorrect IP information, while IP Source Guard validates the source IP address of traffic to prevent spoofing attacks.

Network Threat Mitigation

The switch supports Access Control Lists (ACLs) for both IPv4 and IPv6, allowing granular control over traffic flows based on source/destination IP, protocol, and port numbers. This can be used to block malicious traffic or enforce policies. Storm control features protect the network from broadcast, multicast, or unicast traffic storms that can degrade performance.

Quality of Service (QoS) for Prioritized Traffic

In a converged network carrying data, voice, and video, ensuring that delay-sensitive traffic like VoIP or video conferencing is prioritized is essential. The switch offers sophisticated QoS mechanisms.

Classification, Marking, and Queuing

Traffic can be classified and marked based on Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), or Layer 4 (TCP/UDP port) information. The switch then uses weighted tail drop (WTD) and strict priority queuing (SPQ) to manage congestion, ensuring that high-priority packets are forwarded with minimal delay and jitter, even during periods of high network utilization.

Deployment, and Ecosystem Integration

Cisco provides multiple pathways for deploying, configuring, and monitoring the C1000-8P-E-2G-L, catering to different levels of administrator expertise.

Flexible Management Interfaces

The switch can be managed through a variety of methods: a user-friendly web-based interface (GUI) for quick setup and visual monitoring; a traditional Command-Line Interface (CLI) for granular control and scripting; and SNMP (v1, v2c, v3) for integration into centralized network management systems (NMS) like Cisco Prime or third-party platforms.

Simplified Deployment with Cisco DNA Center and Catalyst Center

For organizations adopting an intent-based networking model, the Catalyst 1000 series is fully compatible with Cisco DNA Center (now evolving into Cisco Catalyst Center). This allows for zero-touch provisioning, automated configuration, and centralized policy application across the entire network fabric, dramatically simplifying the management of distributed deployments.

PoE Ecosystem and Converged Network Advantages

This switch acts as the power and data backbone for a converged Cisco ecosystem. It seamlessly integrates with Cisco IP Phones (automatically assigning them to a voice VLAN), Cisco Wireless Access Points (Aironet series), and Cisco Video Surveillance IP Cameras. This integration often enables plug-and-play functionality and unified management, reducing operational overhead.

Ideal Use Cases and Application Scenarios

The specific combination of 8 PoE+ ports, 2 uplinks, and LAN Base software makes the C1000-8P-E-2G-L exceptionally suited for several common deployment scenarios.

Small to Medium Business (SMB) Core Networking

For a typical SMB office, this single switch can serve as the complete network foundation. It can power and connect IP phones for every desk, provide backhaul for wireless access points throughout the office, connect office computers and a network printer, and still have capacity for a small surveillance system—all while routing traffic between the data, voice, and guest networks.

Branch Office and Remote Site Deployment

In a branch office, reliability and remote manageability are key. The switch's rugged design and advanced features like static routing allow it to handle local inter-VLAN traffic efficiently. IT teams at headquarters can manage it remotely via CLI or an NMS, ensuring consistent policy enforcement across all sites without requiring on-site expertise.

Specialized Environments: Education and Healthcare

In classrooms, the fanless operation is a significant benefit. The switch can power VoIP phones for teachers, wireless access points for student devices, and potentially video conferencing systems. In a clinic or small medical practice, it can support connected healthcare devices, VoIP systems, and administrative computers, with VLAN segmentation helping to meet data privacy requirements for patient information.

Comparison and Positioning Within the Cisco Portfolio

Understanding where the C1000-8P-E-2G-L sits relative to other Cisco switches helps in making an informed purchasing decision.

Catalyst 1000 Series vs. Catalyst 2000/3000 Series

The Catalyst 1000 series is positioned as the entry-level managed switch with essential Layer 3 features. The Catalyst 2000 and 3000 series offer higher port densities, greater PoE budgets, more advanced stacking technologies (like FlexStack), and in some models, full Layer 3 routing with dynamic protocols. The C1000 is the ideal choice when advanced stacking or dynamic routing is not a requirement.

Catalyst 1000 vs. Small Business SG Series

Historically, Cisco's SG series was targeted at SMBs. With the introduction of the Catalyst 1000, Cisco has aligned its SMB offerings with its enterprise-grade operating system (IOS). The Catalyst 1000 runs a full Cisco IOS, offering a CLI and feature set that is consistent with larger Catalyst switches, providing a smoother upgrade path and more familiar management for Cisco-trained network professionals.