WS-C3750G-48TS-E Cisco Catalyst 3750 48 Ports Stackable Switch Rack Mountable

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C3750G-48TS-E is a high-performance enterprise-grade network switch from the renowned Cisco Catalyst 3750G Series. Designed for scalable business networks, this 48-port Gigabit Ethernet switch delivers reliable connectivity, advanced Layer 3 routing, and robust management capabilities for modern IT infrastructures.

General Product Details

Manufacturer Information

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750G-48TS-E
• Series: Catalyst 3750G
• Device Type: Managed Network Switch

Hardware Specifications

Physical Characteristics

• Form Factor: External, Rack-mountable (1U)
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 17.5 x 16.1 x 1.7 inches
• Weight: Approx. 14.1 lbs

Memory & Performance

• RAM: 128 MB
• Flash Storage: 32 MB
• Switching Speed: Up to 1 Gbps

Connectivity & Ports

Ethernet Interfaces

• 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Auto-sensing and auto-negotiation per port

Expansion Options

• 4 x SFP (mini-GBIC) uplink slots
• Flexible fiber or copper connectivity

Networking Protocols & Management

Supported Data Link Protocols

• Ethernet
• Fast Ethernet
• Gigabit Ethernet

Remote Management & Monitoring

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3
• RMON support
• Telnet-based management

Advanced Features

Switching & Routing Capabilities

• Layer 3 switching with IP routing
• Full-duplex communication
• VLAN segmentation and management
• IGMP snooping for multicast optimization

Enterprise-Ready Functions

• DHCP support
• IPv6 compatibility
• Stackable architecture for scalability
• Highly manageable and secure design

Power & Reliability

Power Requirements

• AC input: 110–230V
• Frequency: 50/60 Hz
• Optimized for continuous enterprise operation

Core Architecture and Performance Specifications

At its heart, the WS-C3750G-48TS-E is engineered for performance and reliability. Understanding its core specifications is key to evaluating its fit for network infrastructure.

Switch Fabric and Forwarding Capacity

The switch operates on a 32 Gbps stacking/forwarding backplane. Individually, it provides wire-speed forwarding across all ports, capable of a switching capacity of 64 Gbps in full-duplex mode. Its packet forwarding rate reaches up to 38.7 Mpps (million packets per second), ensuring that latency-sensitive applications and high-volume data transfers are handled efficiently without creating bottlenecks at the access layer.

Port Configuration and Uplinks

48 Copper Gigabit Ethernet Ports

The primary interface consists of 48 RJ-45 ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDIX, eliminating the need for crossover cables. These ports provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability? No, a critical distinction: the "TS" model is a non-PoE switch. For PoE requirements, the "PS" model variant must be considered.

4 SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet Uplinks

The integrated uplink module offers four SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) slots for fiber (multimode or single-mode) or copper Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This provides tremendous flexibility for uplinking to a core switch or another distribution layer switch over longer distances using fiber optics, or for connecting to other high-speed devices. The SFP modules are sold separately, allowing network administrators to choose the exact transceiver needed for their cabling infrastructure.

The Power of StackWise Technology

A defining feature of the entire Cisco 3750 Series, including the WS-C3750G-48TS-E, is Cisco StackWise technology. This is not simple daisy-chaining; it is a dedicated, high-performance stacking interconnect that creates a unified, logical switching entity from up to nine individual physical switches.

How StackWise Transforms Deployment

Using special stacking cables, the backplanes of individual switches are connected to form a single logical unit with a 32 Gbps inter-ring connection. This stack operates as one managed entity with a single IP address, a single configuration file, and a unified routing table, dramatically simplifying management and scaling.

Benefits of a Stacked Configuration

The advantages are profound. It enables simplified management—configuring the stack is as easy as configuring one switch. It provides increased resiliency; if one switch in the stack fails, the stack continues to operate, and master election happens automatically. It allows for scalable bandwidth through cross-stack EtherChannel, enabling link aggregation across multiple physical units in the stack. Finally, it offers investment protection, as new switches can be added to the stack to expand port density without complex reconfiguration.

Advanced Software Features: The "Enhanced" Image

The "-E" in WS-C3750G-48TS-E denotes the Enhanced Software Image (previously known as the "IP Services" image). This software license unlocks the full capabilities of the switch's hardware, making it suitable for sophisticated Layer 3 deployments.

Comprehensive Layer 3 Routing

Unlike the Standard Image (SI), the Enhanced Image supports dynamic IP unicast routing protocols. This includes:

RIP Versions 1 & 2: For basic routing in smaller networks.
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF): A robust link-state protocol for medium to large enterprise networks.
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP): Cisco's advanced, scalable distance-vector protocol offering fast convergence.
Border Gateway Protocol (BGPv4): For interconnection between different autonomous systems.

This capability allows the switch to perform inter-VLAN routing internally, eliminating the need for an external router-on-a-stick configuration and significantly improving performance for traffic moving between VLANs.

Advanced Security and Access Control

The Cisco WS-C3750G-48TS-E includes a robust suite of security features to protect the network edge. Key components include:

IEEE 802.1X Port-Based Authentication: Provides identity-based network access control using a RADIUS server.
Access Control Lists (ACLs) (Standard, Extended, and Named): For granular control of traffic based on IP addresses, protocols, and ports. This includes time-based ACLs for policy enforcement on a schedule.
Port Security: Limits MAC addresses allowed on a port, preventing unauthorized device access.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) & IP Source Guard: Protect against ARP poisoning and IP address spoofing attacks.
Private VLANs (PVLANs): Isolate traffic within a VLAN, adding an extra layer of security in shared environments.

Sophisticated Quality of Service (QoS)

To ensure voice, video, and critical data applications receive priority, the switch offers extensive QoS features based on the DiffServ model. It supports:

Classification & Marking: Trusts or reclassifies traffic based on Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), or Layer 4 parameters.
Policing and Shaping: Controls the rate of traffic flow to prevent congestion.
Congestion Management: Uses multiple egress queues per port with sophisticated scheduling like Weighted Round Robin (WRR) and Strict Priority Queuing to ensure low latency for real-time traffic.

This makes the switch an excellent platform for converged networks carrying VoIP and video streaming.

Reliability and High Availability Features

Network uptime is paramount. The Cisco 3750G-48TS-E is built with several features to maximize availability.

Hardware and Software Resilience

The switch supports Hot Swappable stacking modules and fans, allowing for replacement without powering down the stack. Its Dual Flash Images provide redundancy for the operating system. For power, it can be equipped with an optional redundant power supply (RPS) to protect against a single power supply failure.

Network Resilience Protocols

Beyond StackWise, it implements IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree (MSTP) for fast recovery from network topology changes. UplinkFast and Cross-Stack UplinkFast provide sub-second convergence for uplink failures within a stack.

Typical Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The versatility of the WS-C3750G-48TS-E makes it suitable for several key network roles.

Enterprise Wiring Closet / Access Layer

Its most common deployment is as a high-density access layer switch, connecting end-user devices (desktops, laptops, printers, IP phones) in an office or campus building. The 48 non-PoE ports connect standard devices, while the SFP uplinks provide high-speed fiber connections back to the distribution or core layer.

Small to Midsize Business (SMB) Core

For smaller organizations, a stack of WS-C3750G-48TS-E switches can serve as the network core, performing both access layer connectivity and inter-VLAN routing. The Enhanced Image's dynamic routing capability allows it to efficiently route traffic between different network segments and to the internet edge router.

Data Center Server Access (for Light Duty)

While not a modern data center switch, it has been used in smaller server rooms or for specific server racks, providing high-density Gigabit connectivity for servers and connecting via fiber uplinks to aggregation switches. Its QoS and security features are beneficial in this environment.

Considerations for Modern Networks

It is crucial to note that the Cisco 3750G Series, including the WS-C3750G-48TS-E, is a legacy product that has reached End-of-Life (EoL) and End-of-Support (EoS). While it remains a capable and widely deployed switch in many operational networks, potential users should consider several factors.

Performance in Contemporary Context

While Gigabit Ethernet is still standard for desktop access, modern networks are moving toward multi-gigabit (2.5G/5G/10G BASE-T) and 10/25/40/100 Gigabit uplinks. The 3750G's 1G ports and 4x1G SFP uplinks may be a bottleneck for high-bandwidth applications or aggregated server traffic compared to newer switches with 10GbE SFP+ or even 40GbE uplinks.

Hardware and Software

The switch does not support newer energy-efficient Ethernet standards (like IEEE 802.3az). Its switching capacity, while ample for its time, is surpassed by modern compact switches. Most importantly, as an EoS product, it no longer receives software updates, security patches, or vulnerability fixes from Cisco, which represents a potential security risk for networks exposed to modern threats.