Cisco Catalyst SWITCH WS-C3850-48F-S

Overview on the Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48F-S

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48F-S Switch is an enterprise-class Layer 3 stackable access switch. It provides full convergence between wired and wireless traffic on a single physical platform. Therefore, it is designed perfectly for high-density corporate branches, university campus buildings, and expanding enterprise networks. This heavy-duty 1U rackmount switch comes engineered with 48 autosensing 10/100/1000 RJ-45 PoE+ ports. Driven by Cisco’s advanced Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) ASIC architecture, this platform enforces uniform security rules, application visibility, and optimization profiles across physical cables and wireless endpoints alike.

This modular hardware prioritizes industry-leading high-density scaling alongside robust power distribution. It features an expandable uplink bay that accommodates interchangeable network modules. This design lets administrators customize their fiber distribution lines with options like 4x 1G SFP, 2x 10G SFP+, or 4x 10G SFP+ slots. At its interior, a premium multicore processor pairs with 4 GB of RAM and 2 GB of Flash memory. These resources handle dense multi-user processing loads effortlessly. Operating with a massive standalone switching capacity of 176 Gbps and a max throughput of 130.95 Mpps, it ensures lag-free database communication and media streaming.

Key Features & Performance

• Converged Wireless Controller Edge: Integrates native wireless capabilities to manage up to 100 access points and 2,000 wireless clients per switch or stack.

• Cisco StackWise-480 Infrastructure: Supports backplane stacking of up to 9 switches into a single logical entity with an unmatched 480 Gbps of stack throughput.

• Innovative StackPower Pooling: Interconnects power modules among stacked units, creating a shared power pool for robust N+1 power redundancy.

• Full Power over Ethernet Plus: Delivers up to 30W of Class 4 PoE power per port with an immediate 800W PoE power budget, backed by a hot-swappable 1100WAC power supply.

• Cisco IOS XE IP Base Feature Set: Offers comprehensive Layer 2 optimization tools alongside rich enterprise routing logic, including static routing, RIP, OSPF stub, and EIGRP stub.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Cisco Systems

• Series: Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series

• Model SKU: WS-C3850-48F-S

• Switch Type: Layer 3 Smart-Managed Stackable PoE+

• Software Image: Cisco IOS XE IP Base License (Upgradable to IP Services)

• Processor / Memory: Multicore CPU, 4 GB DRAM, 2 GB Flash Memory

• Port Configuration: 48x RJ-45 10/100/1000 PoE+ access ports + 1x Modular Uplink Slot

• PoE Budget Threshold: 800 Watts default

• Switching Capacity: 176 Gbps (Standalone)

• Throughput (Forwarding Rate): 130.95 Mpps

• MAC Address Table Size: 32,000 entries

• Flexible NetFlow Scale: 48,000 tracked flows on 48-port variants

• Power Supply Configuration: Dual hot-swappable modular slots (Ships default with 1x PWR-C1-1100WAC module)

• Fan Configuration: 3x field-replaceable redundant cooling fan modules

• Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.75 in x 17.5 in x 19.2 in (1U Rackmount layout)

• Weight: 17.6 lbs (8.00 kg)

Advanced Management & Smart Telemetry

This high-density enterprise switch simplifies complex campus data tracking tasks through advanced software automation tools:

• Flexible NetFlow (FNF) Visibility: Provides deep granular inspection into application-level traffic behavior, enabling IT managers to mitigate performance bottlenecks quickly.

• Robust TrustSec Security Integration: Enforces precise, role-based access control lists (ACLs), IEEE 802.1X authorization, and MACsec-128 link encryption to secure hardware connections.

• Perpetual PoE Power Delivery: Guarantees an uninterrupted electrical current to your attached IoT hardware, ensuring cameras and access points stay online even during software updates or switch reloads.

Conclusion

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48F-S Switch is the definitive choice for growing enterprises building a dense, highly resilient wired and wireless corporate infrastructure. It successfully bridges the gap between traditional edge access points and high-capacity wireless controller performance. Specifically, this PoE+ hardware pairs a massive 800W power pool with a versatile, modular uplink design. This architecture ensures your physical facilities expand effortlessly as multi-gig devices are introduced. Furthermore, the combination of StackWise-480 and StackPower provides industry-leading high-availability and physical scaling protections over time. Therefore, it stands out as an exceptional, highly durable investment for assembling a safe, future-proof enterprise backbone.