WS-C3750V2-24PS-E Cisco Catalyst 3750V2 24 PoE + 2 SFP

Product Outline

The Cisco WS-C3750V2-24PS-E Catalyst Ethernet Switch is a reliable and high-efficiency networking solution designed for modern business environments. Built to support converged networks, this managed switch seamlessly handles data, voice, and video traffic while delivering consistent performance and scalability.

General Product Details

Manufacturer Information

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750V2-24PS-E
• Device Type: Managed Ethernet Switch

Switch Port Configuration

• 24 x Fast Ethernet 10/100Base-TX ports with Power over Ethernet
• 2 x Gigabit SFP uplink ports for fiber connectivity
• Optimized for high-speed data transfer and flexible network expansion

High-Performance PoE Networking

Power over Ethernet Advantages

• Delivers up to 15.4W of PoE power per port
• Supports IP phones, wireless access points, and network cameras
• Eliminates the need for external power adapters

Energy Efficiency

• Integrated Cisco EnergyWise technology for intelligent power management
• Reduced energy usage compared to earlier Catalyst 3750 series switches
• Lower operational costs and eco-friendly performance

Advanced Layer 3 Features

Routing and Traffic Management

• Supports Layer 3 IP routing protocols including OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, BGP, and static routing
• MAC address table capacity of up to 12,000 entries
• Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) for efficient link aggregation

Quality of Service and Optimization

• Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization
• Ensures optimal performance for voice, video, and critical applications

Network Security and Compliance

Security Protocols

• Supports IGMP snooping, DHCP snooping, and Dynamic ARP Inspection
• MAC address filtering for enhanced access control
• Secure authentication using RADIUS and TACACS+

Standards and Authentication

• IEEE 802.3af for PoE compliance
• IEEE 802.1Q for VLAN tagging
• IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol
• IEEE 802.1x for port-based network access control

Management and Remote Administration

Management Interfaces

• User-friendly web-based management console
• Remote configuration via SNMP v1, v2, v3, and Telnet
• Secure remote access using SSH v2

Future-Ready Networking

• Full IPv6 support for next-generation networks
• Stackable architecture for simplified scalability and management

Reliability and Power Redundancy

Power and Availability

• Compatible with Cisco RPS 2300 Redundant Power System
• Ensures continuous operation and minimized downtime

Enterprise-Grade Reliability

• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 275,360 hours
• Designed for enterprise, retail, and branch office deployments

Ideal Use Cases

• Enterprise and corporate networks
• Retail and branch office infrastructure
• Unified communication environments supporting data, voice, and video

Architectural Overview and Core Positioning

The WS-C3750V2-24PS-E is engineered around Cisco's StackWise technology, a defining characteristic of this category. This isn't merely a standalone 24-port switch; it's a potential building block for a unified, logical switching unit. Its architecture is purpose-built for the network edge, where user devices, VoIP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras converge onto the corporate network.

Key Category Differentiators

Understanding this switch's category requires recognizing its key differentiators from earlier models and competitors:

Enhanced Performance (V2 Series): The "V2" designation signifies a hardware revision offering improved throughput and processing capacity over the original 3750, ensuring smoother handling of inter-VLAN routing and advanced services.
Integrated StackWise Backplane: The dedicated stacking port provides a 32 Gbps circular backplane when interconnected, creating a single, managed entity from up to 9 physical units.
Full PoE Budget on All Ports: The "24PS" model delivers IEEE 802.3af PoE on all 24 10/100 ports, a critical feature for powering modern endpoint ecosystems.

Detailed Hardware Specifications and Connectivity

This category is defined by a precise and practical hardware configuration designed for real-world deployment scenarios.

Copper Ethernet Ports: The Access Foundation

24 x 10/100Base-TX RJ-45 Ports

These ports form the core connectivity for the majority of access-layer devices. While 10/100 Mbps may seem legacy in a Gigabit world, it remains perfectly adequate for a vast range of business peripherals: IP phones, point-of-sale systems, desktop PCs, print servers, and many models of wireless access points and security cameras. The auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDIX features ensure plug-and-play operation, simplifying cabling and installation.

Uplink and Expansion Ports: Network Integration

2 x SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Slots

The two SFP slots are a pivotal feature, elevating the switch from a simple access box to a versatile network node. These slots support a wide array of Cisco SFP modules, allowing network architects to tailor uplink connectivity based on distance, bandwidth, and fiber type requirements.

Gigabit Ethernet Uplinks: By inserting GLC-SX-MM (multimode) or GLC-LH-SM (single-mode) modules, the switch can establish high-speed 1 Gbps fiber uplinks to core or distribution switches, overcoming the 100-meter limitation of copper cabling.
Copper Uplink Option: Use a GLC-T SFP for a 10/100/1000BASE-T connection over copper, providing a Gigabit copper uplink where fiber is not available.
Flexibility and Growth: This modularity future-proofs the investment, enabling bandwidth upgrades or media changes without replacing the entire switch.

Power over Ethernet Capabilities

IEEE 802.3af PoE on All 24 Ports

The integrated PoE capability is a cornerstone of this category's value proposition. With a total power budget of 370W, the switch can deliver up to 15.4W per port to attached devices. This facilitates the deployment of Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and dramatically reduces wiring complexity and electrical outlet requirements for:

Cisco IP Phones (7900 series, 8800 series, etc.)802.11n and 802.11ac Wireless Access Points
IP Surveillance Cameras
Various IoT and building automation devices

Intelligent power management features, such as Cisco's per-port power policing and priority settings, ensure critical devices remain powered during budget constraints.

Software and Feature Set: Intelligent Managed Switching

As a fully managed Layer 3 switch, the WS-C3750V2-24PS-E runs Cisco's robust IOS software, providing comprehensive control, security, and optimization tools. This places it far above unmanaged or smart switches in capability.

Layer 3 Routing Intelligence

This switch supports static routing and dynamic routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP), enabling it to perform inter-VLAN routing. This allows network designers to collapse the traditional access-and-distribution model, using the switch as a routing hop to improve performance and reduce latency between VLANs without traversing an upstream router.

Advanced Security and Access Control

Network security starts at the access edge. This category of switch provides a multi-layered security suite:

Port Security: Limits MAC addresses per port to prevent unauthorized device access.
802.1X Authentication: Provides NAC (Network Access Control) using RADIUS servers for user- and device-based authentication.
ACLs (Access Control Lists): Standard and extended IP ACLs for granular traffic filtering.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) & IP Source Guard: Protect against ARP spoofing and IP address theft.

Quality of Service (QoS) for Critical Applications

In a converged network carrying voice, video, and data, QoS is non-negotiable. The switch supports sophisticated classification, marking, policing, and queuing based on:

Layer 2 (CoS), Layer 3 (DSCP), and Layer 4 (TCP/UDP ports) parameters.Auto-QoS features to simplify deployment for VoIP networks.
Strict-priority queuing to ensure voice traffic receives minimal latency and jitter.

Manageability and Network Services

Operational efficiency is enhanced through multiple management avenues:

CLI (Command Line Interface): The full Cisco IOS CLI for precise control and scripting.
Web GUI (CMS): A web-based interface for simplified configuration and monitoring.
SNMP (v1, v2c, v3): For integration with network management systems like Cisco Prime, SolarWinds, or LibreNMS.
Additional Features: DHCP snooping, IGMP snooping for multicast optimization, and SPAN/RSPAN for traffic analysis.

StackWise Technology: The Force Multiplier

The StackWise feature is arguably the most significant aspect of this category, transforming a stack of individual switches into a single, logical unit.

How StackWise Operates

Using special stacking cables and dedicated rear-panel ports, up to nine switches are interconnected in a ring topology. This creates a unified 32 Gbps backplane for inter-switch communication.

Tangible Benefits of Stacking

Simplified Management

The entire stack is configured and managed as one device with one IP address. This reduces management overhead by an order of magnitude compared to managing each switch independently.

Increased Resiliency

The ring topology provides inherent redundancy. If one stacking cable fails or a unit is removed, the stack automatically reconverges within microseconds, maintaining data flow.

Scalable Bandwidth and Port Density

Networks can grow incrementally. Start with one 24-port switch and add more as needed, building to a logical switch with over 400 ports, all with a single management point.

Unified Layer 3 Routing

The entire stack shares a single IP routing table, simplifying network design and optimizing internal routing paths.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The Cisco WS-C3750V2-24PS-E excels in specific environments where its blend of PoE, stackability, and Layer 3 features delivers maximum value.

Mid-Size Enterprise Branch Office / Wiring Closet

As a standalone unit or small stack, it perfectly serves a branch office, providing PoE to phones and APs, segmenting traffic with VLANs, and routing between local networks while connecting back to headquarters via its fiber uplinks.

Education and Campus Environments

In classroom buildings or dormitories, stacks of these switches can handle dense user connectivity, powering VoIP phones in classrooms and wireless access points in common areas, with QoS ensuring educational video and testing applications perform well.

SMB (Small to Medium Business) Core

For a smaller business, a stack of two or three switches can form the entire network core, providing inter-VLAN routing, PoE, and sufficient port density for all employees and infrastructure devices.