WS-C3750X-48P-L Cisco Catalyst 3750X 48 Ports Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco WS-C3750X-48P-L Catalyst 3750X is a high-performance, fully manageable Ethernet switch designed for enterprise networks that demand reliability, scalability, and power efficiency. With advanced switching capabilities and Power over Ethernet support, this model is ideal for modern IT infrastructures.

Manufacturer & Identification Details

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Model / SKU: WS-C3750X-48P-L
• Device Category: Managed Ethernet Network Switch

Core Features & Performance Highlights

Port Configuration

• 48 high-speed Gigabit Ethernet ports
• RJ-45 10/100/1000Base-T LAN connectivity
• Dedicated RJ-45 network management interface

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

This Cisco Catalyst switch supports Power over Ethernet, allowing connected devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras to receive power directly through the Ethernet cable.

Expansion & Scalability

• 2 total network module expansion slots
• Stackable design for simplified network growth
• Optimized for enterprise and campus deployments

Electrical & Power Specifications

Input Voltage Support

• Standard input voltage: 110V AC / 220V AC
• Wide voltage range: 100V AC to 240V AC

Physical Design

Form Factor

• Rack-mountable design
• Compatible with 1U rack units
• Stackable chassis for space efficiency

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 1.75 inches
• Width: 17.50 inches
• Depth: 18 inches
• Approximate weight: 16.53 lbs

Core Architecture and Performance

At its heart, the Catalyst 3750X is built for deterministic performance. It leverages Cisco's StackWise-Plus technology, creating a unified, logical switching unit from up to nine individual switches.

StackWise-Plus Technology: Unified Management and High Availability

This proprietary stacking technology uses special cabling to create a 64 Gbps ring of stacking bandwidth. This allows all member switches in a stack to operate as a single device for management, configuration, and routing. Key benefits include:

Single IP Address Management

Administrators manage the entire stack through one IP address, drastically reducing configuration overhead and simplifying operations.

Cross-Stack EtherChannel

Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs) can span multiple physical switches in the stack, providing unparalleled resilience and load-balancing. A server can be connected via a multi-chassis EtherChannel to two different switches in the stack, ensuring continued connectivity even if one switch fails.

Hitless Failover and Upgrades

With redundant stack masters, control plane failover can occur without dropping user sessions. Certain software upgrades can be performed with minimal network disruption.

Forwarding Engine and Switching Capacity

The WS-C3750X-48P-L is equipped with a high-performance ASIC that provides wire-speed switching across all ports. With a forwarding rate of up to 160 Gbps and a packet throughput of over 119 Mpps, this switch handles traffic-intensive applications, multicast streams, and data-heavy environments with ease, preventing bottlenecks at the network edge.

Comprehensive Power over Ethernet (PoE+) Capabilities

The "48P" in the model number signifies its advanced Power over Ethernet capabilities. This switch supports the IEEE 802.3at PoE+ standard, delivering up to 30 watts per port.

Powering the Digital Workspace and IoT

This high-power budget allows the switch to support a vast array of devices beyond standard IP phones and basic access points, including:

High-performance Wireless Access Points (802.11ac Wave 2, 802.11ax/Wi-Fi 6)Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) security cameras with heaters and blowers
Video conferencing systems and room kits
Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals and digital signage
Thin clients and desktop VoIP phones with large displays

Intelligent Power Management

The switch features Cisco's Enhanced PoE (ePoE) technology. The "-L" variant includes a 1100-watt AC power supply, providing ample power for all 48 ports simultaneously. Its intelligent power management includes:

Per-Port Power Allocation

Admins can set power limits per port and monitor real-time consumption, enabling proactive capacity planning and preventing overloads.

Power Negotiation via CDP/LLDP

The switch uses Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) to communicate with powered devices, ensuring they receive only the power they require, optimizing overall power budget.

Dual Redundant Power Supplies (Field-Upgradable)

The switch chassis supports an optional field-installable redundant power supply (RPS). This provides true N+1 power redundancy for mission-critical deployments, ensuring network continuity even in the event of a power supply failure.

Advanced Layer 3 Features and Security

The WS-C3750X-48P-L operates as a full multilayer switch, providing advanced routing and security features that extend far beyond basic Layer 2 connectivity.

IP Routing and Multicast

It supports static routing and dynamic routing protocols including RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP, allowing it to act as a routing boundary within the access layer, improving network efficiency and segmentation. For media-rich environments, it offers comprehensive IP multicast features with Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) Sparse and Dense modes, along with IGMP snooping, ensuring efficient delivery of video and audio streams.

Robust Security Suite

Security is integrated at every level. Key features include:

Network Access Control with 802.1X

Provides identity-based authentication for users and devices connecting to the network. It can work in conjunction with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for dynamic policy enforcement, such as assigning VLANs or ACLs based on user role.

Port Security and Storm Control

Limits MAC addresses per port to prevent unauthorized access and controls broadcast, multicast, and unicast traffic storms that can degrade network performance.

Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Supports standard, extended, and VLAN-based ACLs for granular control over traffic flows. Time-Based ACLs allow security policies to be enforced according to a schedule.

DHCP Snooping, IP Source Guard, and Dynamic ARP Inspection

This trio of features works together to mitigate common layer 2 attacks like DHCP spoofing, IP address spoofing, and ARP poisoning, creating a fortified network edge.

Resilience, Redundancy, and High Availability

Engineered for business-critical operations, the 3750X incorporates multiple layers of redundancy to maximize uptime.

Hardware Resilience

Beyond stack and power redundancy, the switch supports hot-swappable fans (with front-to-back or back-to-front airflow options) and, as mentioned, field-replaceable power supplies. This modularity minimizes Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).

Protocol-Based Redundancy

Flexible Link Redundancy with Spanning Tree

Supports multiple Spanning Tree Protocol variants—PVST+, Rapid-PVST+, and MST—for robust loop prevention and fast convergence in Layer 2 networks.

Gateway Redundancy with HSRP/VRRP/GLBP

Supports Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP), ensuring default gateway availability for end hosts.

Management, Programmability, and Serviceability

The Catalyst 3750X offers a range of management options to suit diverse operational preferences and skill levels.

Diverse Management Interfaces

Cisco IOS Command-Line Interface (CLI): The industry-standard, powerful CLI for granular configuration and troubleshooting.
Cisco Prime Infrastructure Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Cisco's network management suite for centralized provisioning, monitoring, and compliance.
Embedded Web Management (HTTP/HTTPS): A graphical user interface for simpler day-to-day monitoring and basic configuration tasks.
SNMP (v1, v2c, v3): Full support for network monitoring systems like SolarWinds, LibreNMS, or Nagios.

Field-Replaceable Units and Longevity

The 3750X's design emphasizes serviceability. Key components like power supplies, fans, and even the stackable network modules (for 10 Gigabit uplinks) are field-replaceable, extending the operational life of the platform and protecting investment.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the Cisco WS-C3750X-48P-L makes it suitable for a wide range of environments.

Enterprise Campus Access Layer

Ideal for wiring closets, providing high-density PoE+ for IP telephony, wireless access points, and desktop connectivity. Stacking simplifies management across multiple floors or buildings.

Mid-Sized Business Core / Aggregation

For smaller organizations, a stack of 3750X switches can provide a resilient, layer 3 routing core with sufficient performance and redundancy features.

Data Center Edge or Server Aggregation

With its 10 Gigabit uplink options (via SFP+ modules) and high switching capacity, it can effectively aggregate servers or connect to a data center core. Cross-stack EtherChannel provides resilient server connectivity.

Secure and Intelligent IoT Edge

The combination of robust security (802.1X, ACLs), high PoE budget, and advanced traffic management makes it perfect for deploying and securing a wide array of Internet of Things devices in smart buildings, healthcare, and education.

Licensing and Software Feature Sets

The Catalyst 3750X operates on Cisco's venerable IOS software. It traditionally came with two main software feature sets, which are often pre-installed and determine the available functionality:

IP Base Feature Set

Provides essential Layer 2 features, static routing, and basic security. This is a common configuration for many deployed units.

IP Services Feature Set

Unlocks the full power of the platform, including advanced Layer 3 dynamic routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), full IP multicast routing (PIM), and enhanced security features. This feature set is essential for deployments where the switch is performing inter-VLAN routing or acting as a distribution layer device.

Prospective buyers and administrators should verify the installed software image to ensure it meets their specific routing protocol and feature requirements.