WS-C3850-48PW-SZ Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series 48-Ports Switch.

Cisco WS-C3850-48PW-SZ Catalyst 3850 Series Switch Overview

The Cisco WS-C3850-48PW-SZ is a highly capable member of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series family, offering 48-port PoE+ Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with advanced Layer 3 management features. Designed to deliver superior performance, scalability, and security, this enterprise-grade 1U rack-mountable switch is ideal for medium to large network environments. With support for IEEE 802.3at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), it can power IP phones, wireless access points, and other PoE devices directly from the switch, simplifying network infrastructure and reducing operational costs.

48-Port PoE+ 1000BASE-T Connectivity

The 48 10/100/1000BASE-T ports on the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ support Gigabit Ethernet speeds and are fully PoE+ compliant. This allows each port to deliver up to 30 watts of power to connected devices, making it ideal for powering a wide range of endpoint hardware, including VoIP phones, IP cameras, and wireless LAN access points.

PoE+ Support for Unified Communication and Wireless

With 740W of total available PoE power, the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ efficiently supports high-density deployments where unified communication and wireless access are critical. It provides seamless integration with Cisco wireless LAN controllers and IP telephony solutions, facilitating centralized management and reduced latency across voice and video traffic.

Intelligent Power Management

Cisco's intelligent power management algorithms dynamically allocate available power to connected PoE devices, optimizing energy usage without compromising performance. This capability makes the switch ideal for energy-conscious organizations looking to deploy smart building technologies.

Layer 3 Managed Switch Capabilities

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48PW-SZ supports advanced Layer 3 routing features, including RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, and static routing. With its integrated Cisco IOS XE software, the switch offers scalable, secure, and programmable network infrastructure, supporting enterprise-wide deployment and robust policy enforcement.

Dynamic Routing Protocols and High Availability

Network reliability is enhanced through dynamic routing protocols, enabling fast failover and path optimization. The switch also supports stacking with other 3850 series switches via StackWise-480 technology, allowing up to nine switches to operate as a single unit. This ensures redundancy, load balancing, and simplified configuration.

Advanced QoS for Prioritizing Traffic

The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ includes robust Quality of Service (QoS) features, allowing administrators to prioritize mission-critical traffic like voice and video. Through traffic classification, marking, and queuing techniques, the switch ensures smooth, uninterrupted communication experiences for business-critical applications.

Support for Multicast Routing

Advanced multicast routing features like PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast) and IGMP snooping improve the efficiency of multimedia and collaborative applications. These capabilities make the switch ideal for institutions deploying IPTV, telepresence, or large-scale video conferencing solutions.

Hardware and Performance Specifications

Engineered for high performance and reliability, the Cisco WS-C3850-48PW-SZ is powered by a multi-core CPU and features up to 4GB DRAM and 2GB Flash memory. It supports a 1U rack-mountable form factor, 130 Mpps forwarding rate, and 176 Gbps switching capacity. This makes it suitable for environments demanding rapid data throughput and consistent uptime.

Scalability Through StackWise-480

Cisco StackWise-480 technology allows the stacking of multiple 3850 Series switches to create a unified logical switch with up to 480 Gbps of stacking bandwidth. This facilitates centralized management, higher availability, and greater scalability in campus networks and distributed enterprise environments.

Redundant Power and Cooling

Designed for continuous operation, the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ supports redundant power supply units (PSUs) and hot-swappable fans, minimizing downtime due to hardware failures. Environmental monitoring and intelligent thermal control enhance system reliability, particularly in mission-critical deployments.

Security and Compliance Features

The switch offers comprehensive network security through support for 802.1X authentication, DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), and port security. These features prevent unauthorized access, protect against MAC spoofing, and ensure endpoint compliance with corporate policies.

TrustSec and Role-Based Access

Cisco TrustSec enables policy-based access control by assigning security group tags (SGTs) to users and devices. Combined with scalable group access control lists (SGACLs), the switch provides role-based segmentation of the network, ensuring users and devices only access authorized resources.

MACsec Encryption for Data Integrity

MACsec (802.1AE) link-layer encryption secures traffic between switch ports, protecting sensitive data from eavesdropping and tampering. This makes the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ a preferred choice for industries with high security compliance requirements such as healthcare, finance, and government.

Network Automation and Programmability

The Catalyst 3850 Series is Cisco's first stackable access-layer switch with integrated wireless controller functionality and full programmability through Cisco IOS XE. The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ supports REST APIs, NETCONF, and automated provisioning via Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), enabling modern network automation workflows.

Integration with Cisco DNA Center

Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center enables centralized management, analytics, and policy control. The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ supports Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) for automated end-to-end segmentation and policy enforcement based on user identity rather than IP address.

Network Insights and Telemetry

Real-time telemetry allows administrators to monitor traffic behavior and device health, reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR). With streaming analytics and machine learning integration via Cisco DNA, the switch provides predictive insights for proactive troubleshooting and maintenance.

Use Cases for WS-C3850-48PW-SZ

This switch is ideal for high-density enterprise LAN environments, university campuses, healthcare networks, retail chains, and data-intensive SMB deployments. The convergence of wired and wireless management, together with high performance and secure PoE+ capability, positions it as a backbone element for digital transformation.

Wireless Controller Integration

The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ doubles as a wireless LAN controller supporting up to 50 access points and 2,000 clients per switch or stack. This integrated solution reduces capital expenditure while streamlining wired and wireless network management under a unified platform.

IoT and Smart Building Enablement

Powering smart lighting, HVAC systems, security devices, and building automation controllers, this PoE+ switch offers both bandwidth and power to support intelligent IoT deployments across commercial buildings, campuses, and healthcare facilities.

Licensing and Software Options

The switch operates with a Cisco IOS XE software license, available in LAN Base, IP Base, and IP Services feature sets. The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ typically comes with the IP Base license, providing enhanced Layer 3 routing, multicast, and security functionality. Licensing upgrades enable greater scalability, VPN services, and advanced network programmability.

Smart Licensing and Feature Unlocks

Cisco Smart Licensing streamlines software management by automatically tracking feature usage and ensuring license compliance. IT teams can easily scale deployments, activate new services, and manage software lifecycle through Cisco’s intuitive licensing portal.

Environmental and Physical Specifications

The WS-C3850-48PW-SZ switch features a compact 1U rack-mount form factor with front-to-back airflow. It supports operating temperatures between 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) and can be deployed in a wide range of indoor environments. Designed for noise-sensitive areas, it uses variable-speed fans to minimize acoustic footprint.

Dimensions and Weight

Measuring approximately 44.5 cm x 44.8 cm x 4.45 cm (17.5 in x 17.6 in x 1.75 in) and weighing around 7.2 kg (15.87 lbs), the switch fits standard 19-inch racks and network cabinets. The sleek build and sturdy metal enclosure ensure long-term durability in enterprise deployments.

Compliance and Certification

The Cisco WS-C3850-48PW-SZ is certified under a wide range of global standards, including FCC, UL, CE, VCCI, and RoHS compliance. This makes it suitable for deployment across various regulatory environments with safety and environmental sustainability in mind.

Comparison with Other Cisco Catalyst 3850 Switches

Compared to other 3850 models, the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ stands out for its balanced PoE+ power budget, advanced Layer 3 feature set, and stacking capability. Unlike models with fewer ports or lower PoE budgets, it supports dense endpoint deployments without requiring additional midspan power injectors or switches.

WS-C3850-48PW-SZ vs WS-C3850-48P-L

While both switches offer 48-port PoE+ Gigabit Ethernet, the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ includes an IP Base license with more advanced routing and multicast features. The "-L" model is limited to the LAN Base feature set, offering fewer Layer 3 capabilities out of the box.

WS-C3850-48PW-SZ vs WS-C3850-24PW-S

The 24-port model provides a lower port density and is better suited for smaller deployments. In contrast, the 48-port SZ variant caters to growing networks that demand greater port availability and power for connected devices.

Deployment Scenarios and Best Practices

For optimal performance, the WS-C3850-48PW-SZ should be deployed in core, distribution, or access layers depending on the network architecture. Organizations should leverage StackWise-480 to increase redundancy and simplify network topology. Segmentation using TrustSec and integration with Cisco DNA Center should be standard practices to ensure security and ease of management.

Redundant Deployment in High Availability Networks

Pairing the switch with redundant power supplies (such as PWR-C1-1100WAC) and leveraging dual uplinks ensures zero-downtime environments. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) further enhance resilience and load balancing.

Maintenance and Software Updates

Regular software upgrades and security patching via Cisco's official portal help maintain optimal switch performance and protect against vulnerabilities. Network admins are encouraged to enable SNMP monitoring and syslog integration to capture real-time device events and system alerts.