WS-C385012X48US Cisco Catalyst 48-Ports 10/100/1000Base-T Manageable Layer3 Rack-mountable Switch

Cisco WS-C385012X48US Catalyst Switch Overview

The Cisco WS-C385012X48US Catalyst is a high-performance, rack-mountable Layer 3 switch with 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Designed for enterprise networks, it provides robust connectivity, advanced security, and flexible management options.

General Information about this Cisco WS-C385012X48US

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model Number: WS-C385012X48US
• Ports: 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable
• Stacking Technology: StackWise-480
• PoE+ Support: Yes, provides power over Ethernet
• Switching Capacity: 480 Gbps
• MAC Address Table: 32,000 entries

Software and Operating System

This switch operates on the Cisco IOS platform, offering reliable and efficient network management and monitoring capabilities.

Supported Routing Protocols

• OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
• EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
• BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
• RIP (Routing Information Protocol)

Advanced Security Features

• MACsec encryption for secure data transmission
• 802.1X network access control for authenticated users
• Integrated firewall and access control lists (ACLs)

Management and Administration

• Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for easy configuration
• Command-line interface (CLI) for advanced management
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support for monitoring

Quality of Service (QoS)

Advanced traffic prioritization features ensure optimal performance for critical applications and smooth network operations.

Benefits of Cisco WS-C385012X48US

• High-speed connectivity with 48 Gigabit ports
• Reliable Layer 3 routing for large-scale networks
• PoE+ support for powering devices like IP phones and cameras
• Comprehensive security and encryption options
• Flexible management through GUI, CLI, and SNMP

Ideal Applications

• Enterprise branch offices
• Data centers and server farms
• High-performance campus networks
• VoIP and IP surveillance deployments

In-Depth Technical Specifications & Architecture

Understanding the hardware and software foundation of the WS-C385012X48US Catalyst 3850 switch is key to appreciating its capabilities within network infrastructure.

Hardware Architecture & Performance

The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is built on a future-proof architecture designed for speed and intelligence.

Switch Fabric & Forwarding Capacity

This model features a high-performance switching fabric that delivers 480 Gbps of backplane capacity. Its forwarding rate reaches up to 130 Mpps (million packets per second), ensuring line-rate throughput on all ports simultaneously, even under full-duplex operation. This eliminates bottlenecks in high-traffic environments like campuses, large offices, and data center edges.

UADP ASIC 2.0: The Intelligent Engine

At its core lies the Cisco UADP 2.0 ASIC. This custom-designed chip goes beyond simple packet forwarding. It provides:

Programmability: Supports model-driven programmability for automation with tools like Ansible, Puppet, or Python scripts.
Advanced Analytics: Embedded NetFlow-Lite and Flexible NetFlow enable detailed traffic monitoring and analysis directly in hardware.
Granular QoS: Provides sophisticated classification, marking, policing, and shaping for precise application performance management.

Software & Feature

The switch runs Cisco IOS XE Software, a modular operating system that offers enhanced stability, serviceability, and feature velocity.

Cisco IOS XE Capabilities

This OS provides a comprehensive suite of features including full Layer 3 routing (static, RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), advanced security policies, and network virtualization. Its modular nature allows for in-service software upgrades (ISSU), minimizing downtime during maintenance.

Unified Access & Converged Management

A defining feature of the WS-C385012X48US Catalyst 3850 series is its ability to function as both a wired switch and a wireless LAN controller. In a converged access network, it can directly manage and control Cisco Aironet access points, simplifying network design and reducing the need for separate wireless controllers.

Deployment Scenarios & Use Cases

The versatility of the WS-C385012X48US makes it suitable for a wide range of business-critical networking environments.

Enterprise Campus Access Layer

This is the primary deployment scenario. The switch provides high-density Gigabit Ethernet to desktop computers, IP phones, and wireless access points. Its PoE+ capability is crucial for powering devices like phones, video conferencing units, and most access points directly from the switch port, simplifying cabling and power management.

Power over Ethernet (PoE+) Details

The "U" in the model number signifies Universal PoE (UPOE) support on all 48 ports. It delivers up to 60W per port (802.3bt Class 6), capable of powering a vast array of devices beyond standard phones and APs, including:

Point-of-Sale (POS) systemsBuilding automation sensors
High-performance video surveillance cameras (PTZ cameras)
Thin clients and desktop computers

With a total power budget of 740W, it can fully support power-intensive deployments.

Medium to Large Business Core / Distribution

For smaller campus networks or as a distribution layer switch in larger ones, its robust Layer 3 routing capabilities allow it to route between VLANs and perform inter-VLAN routing at wire speed. It supports route summarization, policy-based routing, and multicast routing protocols like PIM.

Data Center Top-of-Rack (ToR)

At the edge of the data center, the 3850 can serve as a ToR switch for server racks, providing high-throughput, low-latency connectivity to servers and storage. Features like jumbo frame support enhance storage and virtualization traffic performance.

Advanced Features & Network Services

Beyond basic connectivity, this switch delivers a suite of advanced services essential for modern, secure, and manageable networks.

Enhanced Security Posture

The switch provides a multi-layered security approach to protect the network edge.

Access Control & Threat Mitigation

IEEE 802.1X & MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB): Provides robust network access control (NAC) for both user and device authentication.
Cisco TrustSec: Implements security group tagging (SGT) for segmentation and policy enforcement based on roles, not just IP addresses.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) & IP Source Guard: Protects against ARP spoofing and IP address theft attacks.
ACLs & Port Security: Offers standard and extended ACLs for granular traffic filtering and limits on learned MAC addresses per port.

High Availability & Resiliency

Network uptime is paramount. The 3850 is designed for maximum availability.

Stacking with StackWise-480

The "12X" in the model name indicates it includes the StackWise-480 technology module. Up to nine Catalyst 3850 switches can be stacked together using dedicated cables, forming a single, logical switching unit with a unified 480 Gbps stacking ring.

Stacking Benefits

Single Management Point: The entire stack is managed as one device, simplifying configuration and monitoring.
Increased Redundancy: If the stack master fails, another member automatically takes over with minimal disruption.
Simplified Cabling: Devices can connect to different stack members while being in the same VLAN or layer 3 domain without complex inter-switch links.

Hardware Redundancy

The switch supports dual, hot-swappable power supplies and fan trays, providing full power and cooling redundancy to eliminate single points of failure.

Quality of Service (QoS) & Application Optimization

The UADP ASIC enables advanced QoS at line rate. It supports 8 egress queues per port, strict priority queuing, weighted round robin (WRR), and traffic shaping. This allows network administrators to guarantee bandwidth for latency-sensitive applications like voice and video, ensuring a high-quality user experience.