CBS350-8FP-2G-NA Cisco 350 Ethernet Switch 8 Ports Manageable.

Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G-NA Managed Gigabit Switch Overview

The Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G-NA offers dependable Layer 3 capabilities, advanced administration options, and robust PoE+ performance. Designed for small to medium business networks, it ensures seamless connectivity with enhanced reliability, versatile deployment features, and strong security tools.

Key Product Details

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / SKU: CBS350-8FP-2G-NA
• Category: Gigabit Ethernet Switch
• Port Configuration: 8-Port Managed Switch

Connectivity & Port Structure

Engineered to optimise network flow, this switch delivers fast and stable data transfers suitable for growing infrastructures.

• Eight 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
• Two additional combo 1GbE/SFP uplink ports for flexible fibre or copper expansion
• Extensive SFP module compatibility, including MGBSX1, MGBLX1, MGBLH1, MGBT1, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD, GLC-BX-U/D, and GLC-TE

PoE+ Power Distribution

Ideal for connecting IP cameras, access points, and VoIP devices, the switch provides ample power capacity through its integrated PoE+ support.

• Eight PoE+ enabled ports
• Total power allocation of 120W for Powered Devices (PDs)

Performance & Switching Capabilities

Crafted to maintain high-speed traffic and reduce bottlenecks, this Cisco switch ensures reliable network throughput.

• Total switching capacity of 20 Gbps
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) for reduced power consumption
• Support for up to 16K MAC addresses
• Handles up to 990 static routes with 4094 VLAN entries

Network Management Features

The CBS350-8FP-2G-NA provides simplified yet powerful control features suitable for both beginner and advanced administrators.

• Layer 3 management with easy-to-navigate web-based dashboard
• Centralised administration via Cisco Business Dashboard
• Quality of Service (QoS) adjustments for smooth traffic prioritisation
• Built-in IPv6 support for modern network environments
• Advanced VLAN management for structured segmentation

Enhanced Automation

Streamlined provisioning helps reduce configuration time and ensures consistent performance across connected devices.

• Auto Smartports technology for rapid voice and device deployment
• Optimised for VoIP and unified communication systems

Security & Reliability Elements

• Basic network protection tools to safeguard data traffic
• Granular access control and port-level security settings
• Traffic prioritisation and secure segmentation for sensitive workflows

Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G-NA Ethernet Switch 8 Ports Manageable 

The Cisco CBS350-8FP-2G-NA 350 series represents a compact, enterprise-minded family of switches designed to bring advanced switching features, simplified management, and reliable performance to small offices, branch locations, retail environments, and dense device-edge deployments. This category centers on fixed-configuration managed switches that combine multi-gigabit switching, intelligent software features, and Power over Ethernet capability to support modern network demands. The devices in this group are purpose-built to deliver functional flexibility for IT teams who require robust Layer 2 switching with optional Layer 3-lite capabilities, granular security controls, intuitive management, and the power delivery needed for IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras. The following description expands on why this category is valuable to buyers, the technical and operational strengths of the platform, and practical deployment guidance for integrators and IT managers.

Design and Form Factor: Compact Power, Big Capabilities

Products in the CBS350-8FP-2G-NA category prioritize a space-efficient form factor that fits on a desktop, inside a compact rack, or near the device cluster they serve. The small footprint is paired with industrially robust chassis design and business-grade electronics intended for continuous operation. These switches marry a modest port count with enterprise-class feature sets, making them an ideal selection where rack space and budgets are constrained but performance expectations remain high. The aesthetic and mechanical choices emphasize practical placement, simplified cabling, and easy physical access for setup and service. Thermal management and quiet operation are considerations for office and retail placement, and models in this category typically balance those needs so loud cooling is not a tradeoff for performance.

Port Mix and Connectivity: Edge Flexibility

The category centers on edge connectivity tailored to contemporary device mixes. Units feature gigabit copper ports that handle a broad range of endpoint types and include dedicated uplink/converged ports to integrate with fiber trunks or aggregation switches. This hybrid mix supports both copper-based desktops, entry servers, and access devices, as well as fiber-fed uplinks to distribution or core layers. The combination provides the practical flexibility necessary for deployments that anticipate growth, device densification, or migration toward a fiber-dominant infrastructure. By providing a thoughtful port mix in a compact chassis, the category enables IT teams to right-size switching at each access point without overprovisioning or leaving critical services underprotected.

Power over Ethernet and Edge Device Support

A distinguishing trait of this category is its integrated Power over Ethernet capability. PoE empowers access switches to supply electrical power over standard Ethernet cabling, removing the need for separate power runs to endpoints. This simplifies installation of networked devices such as IP telephones, wireless access points, PoE-enabled security cameras, and building automation endpoints. The convenience of centralized power distribution coupled with intelligent power management enables administrators to sequence, monitor, and troubleshoot powered devices remotely. The presence of PoE in a compact 8-port switch opens straightforward deployment patterns for small offices, home office clusters, pop-up retail locations, and remote branches where adding power outlets or electricians would be inconvenient or costly.

Performance and Switching Architecture

The switching architecture inside these devices is optimized to deliver deterministic forwarding and low-latency packet handling appropriate for converged voice, video, and data traffic. Hardware-based switching ensures that throughput remains consistent even when the switch is handling a mix of high-bandwidth user traffic and latency-sensitive streams. Quality of Service features enable prioritization of real-time flows and critical business application traffic. Features that support link aggregation and traffic engineering give integrators the ability to tune link resiliency and bandwidth between access and aggregation layers. This combination of performance-oriented hardware and flexible traffic management makes the category a practical foundation for high-quality voice over IP deployments, wireless backhaul, and video surveillance systems.

Layer 2 Capabilities with Layer 3-lite Options

Although primarily classified as Layer 2 managed switches, devices in this family commonly expose Layer 3-lite functionality that simplifies routing between VLANs or supports static routing use-cases at the network edge. This layered approach allows organizations to maintain simpler architectures while still enabling segmentation, inter-VLAN communication, and traffic policy enforcement without necessarily deploying full routed hardware at every location. The result is a cost-effective compromise: core routing remains centralized when desired, yet the access layer still has the intelligence to handle localized routing decisions, route redundancy, and traffic isolation. These capabilities are especially beneficial for multi-tenant sites, segmented retail environments, and campus edge segments.

Management: From Local CLI to Cloud-Assisted Tools

Management is a core strength of the CBS350-8FP-2G-NA category, designed to accommodate a spectrum of administrator skill levels and operational models. For hands-on network engineers, traditional CLI and SNMP options provide scriptability, monitoring, and full configuration control. For teams who favor visual, policy-driven workflows, these switches typically integrate with graphical management portals that offer topology views, inventory tracking, and firmware lifecycle management. Many organizations also benefit from cloud-connected management that centralizes configuration and monitoring across multiple distributed sites. Simplified onboarding wizards, role-based administration, and templating help standardize rollouts so that repetitive tasks are minimized and consistency is maintained across branches. This blend of management choices empowers both small IT shops and managed service providers to operate efficiently while keeping operational overhead predictable.

Security and Policy Enforcement

Security is engineered into the fabric of switches in this category with features that support secure authentication, role-based access, and network segmentation. Network access control mechanisms allow the switch to tightly control which devices may join the network, and port-level security features reduce the attack surface by limiting MAC address tables or automatically isolating suspicious endpoints. Management-plane protections are included to secure administrative access and prevent unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, features such as dynamic VLAN assignment, private VLANs, and guest isolation provide granular policy enforcement for mixed-use environments such as offices with BYOD policies, public-facing hotspots, and visitor networks. These security primitives support compliance needs and reduce the operational risk of hosting critical services at the network edge.

Quality of Service and Application Awareness

Modern small-business and branch networks carry a mix of productivity, collaboration, and monitoring traffic that can be sensitive to packet loss and delay. Switches in the CBS350 category expose Quality of Service controls that allow administrators to classify, prioritize, and shape traffic flows. These controls enable consistent voice quality for IP telephony, smooth video streaming for conferencing and surveillance, and predictable application performance for business-critical services. Where available, application-aware features can integrate with higher-level orchestration systems to align network treatment with business priorities, ensuring that critical traffic receives the resources it needs even in congested conditions. The capacity to apply rate-limiting or per-port QoS policies assists in delivering a reliable user experience for both employees and customers.

Resilience and Availability

For locations where uptime translates directly to business continuity, the devices in this category provide features that improve availability without large cost outlays. Redundant uplink options, rapid spanning tree variants, and link aggregation help ensure that single-link failures do not result in prolonged outages. Administrative features such as scheduled reboots, out-of-band access, and remote logging simplify troubleshooting and maintenance across dispersed deployments. In environments where power stability may be a concern, centralized PoE management can be used to gracefully cycle power to individual endpoints, reducing the need for site visits. These resilience characteristics mitigate risk and help organizations maintain service levels even when physical access to equipment is limited.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

This family of switches is well suited for a variety of real-world scenarios. A small professional services office can leverage a compact switch to power IP phones and wireless access points while segmenting guest and corporate traffic to meet security and privacy requirements. Retail stores benefit from the ability to run PoE cameras, payment terminals, and digital signage from the same platform while integrating with back-office systems through fiber uplinks. Branch offices and healthcare clinics can maintain centralized policy enforcement without moving routing responsibilities away from the main site, supporting localized printer and endpoint services. Educational deployments, including small labs and administrative clusters, find value in the ability to isolate student networks from faculty and management networks while conserving rack space and power. In every case, the category's emphasis on manageability, security, and PoE capability helps reduce installation complexity and ongoing operational cost.