IE-3505-8P3S-E Cisco IE3500 with 8 GE PoE+ and 3 GE SFP Adv Modular Ethernet Switch

Cisco IE-3505-8P3S-E IE3500 Ethernet Switch

The Cisco IE 3500 Series stands as a cornerstone of Cisco's industrial Ethernet switching portfolio, engineered to deliver robust, secure, and scalable connectivity in the most demanding environments. Designed for operational technology (OT) networks, these switches bridge the gap between the plant floor and the enterprise IT network, enabling convergence and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). At the heart of this series is the IE-3505-8P3S-E model, a fully-featured switch that encapsulates the series' commitment to reliability, advanced feature sets, and modular flexibility, all packaged in a hardened form factor suitable for harsh industrial settings.

Understanding the IE-3505-8P3S-E Model Designation

Decoding the product name provides immediate insight into its capabilities. IE signifies Industrial Ethernet. 3505 denotes the specific series and model variant. 8P3S is a key specification: 8x 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet ports with PoE+ capability, and 3x Gigabit Ethernet SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) uplink slots. The E suffix indicates the "Essential" license tier, which includes a comprehensive set of advanced features for security, quality of service (QoS), and device management right out of the box, providing long-term operational value.

Ruggedized Hardware for Harsh Environments

The physical design of the Cisco IE-3505-8P3S-E is its first line of defense, ensuring uninterrupted operation where commercial-grade equipment would fail.

Mounting and Form Factor

The switch supports versatile mounting options including DIN-rail, panel, and wall mounting, allowing for seamless integration into existing industrial infrastructure. Its compact dimensions are optimized for space-constrained installations common in factory automation and process control scenarios.

Power Resilience and Flexibility

Network uptime is paramount in industrial operations. The IE-3505-8P3S-E supports dual, redundant 24-60 VDC or 110-240 VAC power inputs. This redundancy ensures continuous operation even if one power source fails. Furthermore, the switch features a built-in power supply, simplifying deployment compared to models requiring external adapters.

Core Networking Capabilities and Performance

Beyond its rugged exterior, the IE-3505-8P3S-E delivers high-performance switching essential for modern industrial applications, from high-speed machine control to real-time video surveillance.

Port Configuration and PoE+ Budget

The switch's port layout is designed for both access and aggregation. The eight copper Gigabit Ethernet ports provide high-speed connectivity to IP cameras, wireless access points, VoIP phones, and PLCs. Critically, these ports support the IEEE 802.3at PoE+ standard, delivering up to 30 watts per port. With a total PoE budget of 195 watts, the switch can simultaneously power multiple high-demand devices, simplifying cabling and reducing the need for auxiliary power outlets in the field.

Uplink and Fiber Connectivity

The three Gigabit Ethernet SFP slots provide critical uplink flexibility. Network designers can use these slots to create fiber backbones for noise immunity and long-distance connections (multimode or single-mode), or use copper SFP modules for additional copper uplinks. This modularity allows the switch to serve as an aggregation point for multiple IE 3500 switches or to connect directly to the network core, adapting to various network topologies like star, ring, or linear.

Advanced Switching Features

The switch operates at wire-speed for all packet sizes, ensuring no latency is introduced at the switching layer. It supports a comprehensive set of IEEE standards, including 802.1Q VLAN for network segmentation, 802.1p QoS for traffic prioritization, and 802.3ad Link Aggregation (LACP) to bundle multiple ports for increased bandwidth and redundancy.

Advanced Features Included

The "-E" model designation signifies the inclusion of Cisco's Essential license. This software feature set transforms the switch from a simple connectivity device into an intelligent, secure, and manageable network element without requiring additional licensing fees.

Enhanced Security Suite

Industrial networks are increasingly targeted. The Essential license provides multi-layered security to protect critical infrastructure.

Network Access Control and Device Hardening

The switch supports IEEE 802.1X for port-based network access control, ensuring only authorized devices can connect. It can also function as a RADIUS client for centralized authentication. Features like DHCP snooping, IP Source Guard, and Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) work in concert to prevent man-in-the-middle and IP spoofing attacks.

Precision Timing with IEEE 1588 PTP

A critical feature for automation and power utility applications is support for IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP). This allows the switch to act as a boundary or transparent clock, synchronizing timestamps across the network with microsecond accuracy. This is essential for synchronized motion control, grid protection systems, and accurate event logging.

Resilient Network Topologies

Maximizing network availability is a core function. The Essential license unlocks advanced redundancy protocols beyond standard Spanning Tree.

Cisco REP and DLR Support

The switch supports the Cisco Resilient Ethernet Protocol (REP), which provides sub-50ms convergence for ring topologies, far faster than traditional STP. Additionally, it supports the Device Level Ring (DLR) protocol for industrial Ethernet networks, allowing for the creation of highly resilient rings for devices like PLCs and drives, with fault detection and recovery in milliseconds.

Network Visibility

Administrators can choose the management method that best fits their workflow. The switch is manageable via a familiar Cisco IOS Command-Line Interface (CLI) accessed through the console port, Telnet, or SSH. For a graphical interface, it supports a built-in web device manager. For centralized management of multiple devices, it is fully compatible with Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco DNA Center for full lifecycle management.

Protocol Integration for Operational Technology

Unlike commercial switches, the IE 3500 is designed with OT in mind. It offers deep integration with industrial control protocols to provide network-level visibility into operational data flows.

Cisco Field Network Director (FND) Compatibility

When managed with Cisco Field Network Director, the switch becomes part of a scalable management solution for geographically dispersed industrial networks. FND provides centralized configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, significantly reducing operational overhead for large-scale deployments like oil and gas pipelines or transportation systems.

Typical Deployment Scenarios and Applications

The versatility of the Cisco IE-3505-8P3S-E makes it suitable for a vast array of industries and use cases where reliability cannot be compromised.

Critical Infrastructure and Utilities

For electric substations, water/wastewater treatment facilities, and oil & gas operations, the switch's ruggedness and support for IEEE 1588 PTP are crucial. It enables synchrophasor measurements in smart grids and provides reliable connectivity for SCADA systems and RTUs across wide, harsh geographical areas, often using fiber uplinks for long-distance connectivity.

Transportation Systems

In intelligent transportation systems (ITS), railways, and airports, the switch provides network access for passenger information displays, security cameras, access control systems, and signaling equipment. Its wide temperature tolerance and vibration resistance ensure operation in trackside cabinets or onboard vehicles.

Building Automation and Smart Cities

Deployed in commercial buildings, campuses, or city-wide networks, the IE-3505-8P3S-E can manage and power a unified network for lighting control, HVAC systems, physical security (cameras, access doors), and public Wi-Fi, converging traditionally separate systems onto a single, secure IP infrastructure.