EX4100-F-48P Juniper Networks PoE+ 4x10GbE SFP+ 48 Ports Layer 3 Managed Ethernet Switch

Comprehensive Product Overview

The Juniper Networks EX4100-F-48P represents a critical evolution in enterprise access switching, engineered to meet the demands of high-density environments requiring both robust Power over Ethernet (PoE+) capabilities and high-speed uplinks. As a member of the EX4100 family, this 1U rack-mountable Gigabit Ethernet switch is purpose-built for modern networks that rely on IoT devices, unified communications, and secure, automated operations.

Main Specifications

• Manufacturer: Juniper Networks
• Model Number: EX4100-F-48P
• Product Type: 48 Ports Ethernet Switch

Technical Specifications

• Power over Ethernet (PoE/PoE+) functionality included
• Dedicated USB interface available
• Console port for streamlined management
• Total network ports: 48
• Integrated uplink capability
• Stacking interface supported

Expansion Options

• Number of expansion slots: 4
• Compatible with SFP and SFP+ modules

Power Allocation

• PoE budget capacity: 740W

Media & Performance

Ethernet Standards

• Supports Gigabit Ethernet
• 1000Base-T technology compliance

Transmission Medium

• Twisted Pair cabling supported

Network Layer Support

• Operates at Layer 3
• Fully manageable for enterprise environments

Additional Highlights

• Reliable scalability through stacking ports
• Flexible expansion with SFP/SFP+ slots
• High PoE budget ensures support for multiple powered devices

Usage Benefits

• Ideal for enterprise-grade deployments
• Enhanced manageability with console access
• Future-ready with modular expansion

Understanding of Juniper Networks 48 Ports Managed Switch

The EX4100-F-48P 48-port PoE+ Layer 3 managed switch is engineered for enterprise-grade access layer deployments requiring high port density, deterministic performance, advanced routing capabilities, and scalable uplink bandwidth. Designed within a compact 1U rack-mountable chassis, this platform integrates forty-eight 1000Base-T PoE+ interfaces, four 10GbE SFP/SFP+ uplink ports, and four dedicated 10GbE stacking or uplink interfaces. The architecture is purpose-built to support converged network environments that demand reliable data, voice, and video transport while maintaining strict service-level performance requirements.

Switch Fabric 

The internal switching fabric delivers wire-speed forwarding across all ports simultaneously, ensuring non-blocking throughput and consistent latency characteristics under full load. Hardware-based packet processing accelerates Layer 2 switching, Layer 3 routing, access control enforcement, and quality of service classification. ASIC-driven forwarding pipelines reduce CPU dependency, allowing control-plane resources to remain dedicated to management, routing protocol calculations, and monitoring tasks. The switching subsystem is optimized to sustain high packet-per-second rates, supporting real-time traffic patterns such as unified communications and streaming applications.

Forwarding Performance and Throughput Optimization

Forwarding efficiency is achieved through deep packet buffers, advanced queue scheduling, and congestion avoidance mechanisms. These features allow the switch to maintain throughput consistency during burst traffic scenarios. Deterministic latency is preserved through priority-based scheduling and strict queue isolation, which is essential for environments where microsecond-level delay variation can impact application responsiveness.

Hardware Acceleration Capabilities

Dedicated silicon accelerators enable line-rate packet inspection, classification, and policy enforcement. Hardware-assisted forwarding tables and routing engines ensure that traffic flows remain efficient even as the number of active sessions increases. This approach eliminates bottlenecks that can occur in software-centric switching platforms and provides predictable performance scaling.

Port Configuration and Interface Flexibility

The EX4100-F-48P model incorporates forty-eight copper Gigabit Ethernet ports capable of delivering IEEE-compliant PoE+ power. These interfaces support auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX detection, and flexible speed adaptation for compatibility with diverse endpoint devices. The four SFP/SFP+ uplink ports allow optical or direct-attach connections for high-bandwidth aggregation, while the additional four 10GbE stacking or uplink ports provide architectural versatility for horizontal expansion or upstream connectivity.

PoE+ Power Delivery Infrastructure

Each access port is designed to supply Power over Ethernet Plus, enabling the switch to power devices such as IP telephones, wireless access points, surveillance cameras, and IoT gateways directly through Ethernet cabling. Intelligent power allocation dynamically distributes available wattage based on device requirements. This power management mechanism prioritizes critical devices and prevents overload conditions while maximizing overall utilization of the internal power budget.

Power Budget Control 

Integrated monitoring sensors track consumption per port and across the entire system. Administrators can define thresholds and policies that regulate power distribution, ensuring essential devices remain operational during peak load conditions. The platform’s hardware safeguards protect both the switch and connected endpoints from electrical anomalies, enhancing long-term reliability.

Energy Efficiency Technologies

Adaptive power scaling reduces energy usage during periods of low network activity. Ports that detect inactivity automatically enter reduced-power states while maintaining link integrity. Efficient power supplies and thermal-aware circuitry minimize heat generation and support stable operation in dense rack deployments.

Layer 2 Switching Capabilities

Advanced Layer 2 functionality enables the EX4100-F-48P to operate as a high-performance access or aggregation switch. Support for VLAN segmentation allows logical separation of traffic across a shared physical infrastructure. Rapid spanning tree mechanisms prevent loops while maintaining rapid convergence times. Link aggregation protocols combine multiple physical links into a single logical channel to increase bandwidth and redundancy.

Traffic Segmentation and VLAN Architecture

The switch supports extensive VLAN configurations, enabling administrators to isolate broadcast domains, enforce policy boundaries, and optimize traffic flows. Tagging standards ensure compatibility with multi-vendor network environments, while dynamic VLAN assignment supports authentication-based network access models.

Redundancy and Loop Prevention

Spanning tree enhancements ensure stable network topologies even in complex redundant designs. Fast failover detection and topology recalculation reduce downtime in the event of link or device failure. Hardware-assisted processing ensures these protocols operate efficiently without degrading forwarding performance.

Link Aggregation Efficiency

Aggregated links distribute traffic across multiple physical interfaces, balancing load and improving resiliency. The switch dynamically monitors member links and redistributes flows if a link becomes unavailable, maintaining uninterrupted connectivity for critical services.

Layer 3 Routing Intelligence

Integrated Layer 3 capabilities transform the switch into a routing-enabled platform capable of inter-VLAN communication and network segmentation. Hardware-based routing engines handle IPv4 and IPv6 traffic at line rate, eliminating the need for separate routing devices in many deployments. Static routes, dynamic routing protocols, and policy-based forwarding can be configured to optimize traffic paths.

Routing Protocol Support

The system supports widely deployed routing standards that allow seamless integration into enterprise core and distribution infrastructures. These protocols enable automatic route discovery, path selection, and failover, ensuring optimal data delivery even in dynamically changing network environments.

Multicast Traffic Handling

Efficient multicast forwarding mechanisms ensure that bandwidth-intensive streams such as video distribution are transmitted only to interested receivers. Hardware filtering prevents unnecessary replication across non-participating ports, preserving network resources.

Policy-Driven Forwarding Control

Administrators can define granular policies that influence routing decisions based on criteria such as source address, destination, or application type. These controls allow precise traffic steering for compliance, performance, or security requirements.

Stacking and Scalability Framework

The four dedicated 10GbE stacking or uplink ports enable the creation of a unified switching fabric composed of multiple physical units operating as a single logical device. Stacked switches share a common control plane and configuration database, simplifying management while expanding port density. This architecture allows networks to scale horizontally without introducing operational complexity.

Virtual Chassis Technology

Stacking functionality supports synchronized configuration and state information across member units. All switches in the stack participate in forwarding decisions, and traffic can traverse any unit without requiring external routing. This design eliminates bottlenecks and ensures consistent performance regardless of which physical switch hosts a connected device.

High Availability Mechanisms

Redundant control links and state synchronization protect against single-point failures. If one unit becomes unavailable, another assumes control seamlessly, maintaining network operation without manual intervention. This resilience is essential for environments where downtime directly affects productivity or service delivery.

Expansion Without Reconfiguration

Additional switches can be integrated into an existing stack with minimal configuration changes. The system automatically recognizes new members, synchronizes firmware and settings, and incorporates them into the switching fabric, reducing deployment time.

Security and Access Control Features

Comprehensive security mechanisms safeguard network resources against unauthorized access and malicious activity. The switch supports authentication-based access control, port isolation, traffic filtering, and secure management channels. Hardware-assisted enforcement ensures that security policies operate without impacting throughput.

Authentication Integration

Support for identity-based access allows endpoints to be authenticated before gaining network connectivity. Integration with centralized authentication servers ensures consistent policy enforcement across the infrastructure. Devices that fail authentication can be automatically redirected to restricted network segments.

Secure Management Interfaces

Encrypted management protocols protect administrative sessions from interception. Secure command-line and web-based interfaces provide administrators with flexible configuration options while preserving confidentiality and integrity.

Use-Case Adaptability

The EX4100-F-48P platform is designed to serve diverse networking roles, including enterprise access, campus edge, branch aggregation, and high-density device connectivity. Its combination of PoE+ capability, Layer 3 routing intelligence, and 10GbE uplinks allows it to support modern digital infrastructures that rely on bandwidth-intensive and latency-sensitive applications.

High-Density Endpoint Connectivity

Forty-eight Gigabit Ethernet interfaces enable a single unit to connect large numbers of endpoints without requiring additional switches. This density simplifies wiring closets and reduces equipment overhead while maintaining performance consistency.

Aggregation and Distribution Functions

High-speed uplinks allow the switch to aggregate traffic from multiple access segments and forward it efficiently toward core infrastructure. The routing engine ensures optimal path selection and load balancing across available links.

Converged Network

The integration of power delivery, advanced switching, and routing features makes the platform suitable for converged deployments where voice, video, and data share the same infrastructure. Deterministic performance and policy enforcement ensure that each traffic type receives appropriate resources.