Description
Product Overview Cisco WS-C3850-12X48U-S Catalyst 3850 Series Switch
The Cisco WS-C3850-12X48U-S is a member of the Catalyst 3850 Series, a lineup of switches designed to meet the diverse needs of modern networking environments. This specific switch is notable for its 48 ports supporting 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 connectivity, Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE), and advanced management features.
The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is a model of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 series of Ethernet switches. It is a Layer 3 switch, which means it is capable of performing tasks typically associated with routers, such as routing between different IP subnets, in addition to traditional switching functions. The “12X48U-S” in the model number indicates that the switch has 12 SFP+ uplink ports and 48 Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports. The “U” in the model number indicates that the switch supports “UPOE”, which is Cisco’s term for a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability that can provide both data and power to connected devices over a single Ethernet cable, at up to 60 watts per port.
The 3850 series is designed for enterprise and campus environments and is particularly well-suited for deployment in converged access networks. These networks aim to bring together data, voice, and video onto a single network infrastructure, and the 3850 series offers advanced features such as voice and video quality of service (QoS) to ensure that these different types of traffic are treated appropriately.
The 3850 series also supports Cisco’s StackWise-160 technology, which allows multiple switches to be connected together and managed as a single logical device. This makes it easier to manage large numbers of switch ports and provides redundancy and failover capabilities.
Key Features of WS-C3850-12X48U-S
- Port Configuration: With 48 ports, the WS-C3850-12X48U-S offers ample connectivity options, supporting 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 connections. This versatility makes it suitable for various devices and applications in a network.
- Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE): UPoE is an advanced feature that allows the switch to deliver higher power levels over Ethernet cables. This is particularly useful for devices that require more power, such as advanced IP cameras, access points, and other powered devices.
- Manageability: The switch is fully manageable, providing administrators with the tools needed to monitor, configure, and optimize network performance. This is crucial for maintaining a secure and efficient network infrastructure.
- Layer 3 Functionality: The Layer 3 capability enables the switch to make routing decisions, enhancing its role in directing network traffic efficiently. This is especially valuable in larger and more complex network setups.
- Rack-mountable and Stackable: The 1U rack-mountable design allows for efficient use of space in server racks. Additionally, the stackable feature enables multiple switches to be connected and managed as a single unit, simplifying network management.
Understanding 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 Connectivity
The 10/100/1000Base-T refers to the data transfer speeds supported by the switch’s ports. In this case, the switch can accommodate devices with Ethernet interfaces supporting speeds of 10, 100, and 1000 megabits per second (Mbps). The RJ-45 designation indicates the type of connector used for these ports, commonly found in Ethernet cables.
Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE) Explained
UPoE is an extension of Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, allowing network devices to receive higher power levels over Ethernet cables. This is particularly advantageous for devices that demand more power, such as video conferencing equipment, high-end IP cameras, and certain types of access points.
Importance of Manageability in Networking
The manageability of a switch is crucial for network administrators. It involves the ability to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot network settings and devices. A fully manageable switch like the WS-C3850-12X48U-S provides administrators with the necessary tools to ensure optimal network performance and security.
Rack-mountable and Stackable Design
The 1U rack-mountable design is a standard measurement for height in server racks, allowing for efficient use of space. This is particularly important in data centers and networking closets where space optimization is crucial. Additionally, the stackable feature enables multiple switches to be interconnected and managed as a single logical unit. This simplifies network management and scalability.
Use Cases and Applications
- Enterprise Networks: The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is well-suited for enterprise-level networks where a large number of devices need to be connected securely and efficiently.
- Data Centers: In data center environments, the switch’s rack-mountable and stackable design, along with its high-speed connectivity options, make it an ideal choice for managing network traffic in a compact space.
- Power-Hungry Devices: The UPoE feature caters to devices that require higher power levels, such as pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, video conferencing equipment, and high-performance access points.
- Routing in Larger Networks: The Layer 3 functionality is valuable in scenarios where routing decisions are essential for directing traffic across different network segments.
Compatibility and Integration
Cisco designs its switches with compatibility in mind. The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is engineered to seamlessly integrate with other Cisco networking equipment, ensuring a cohesive and interoperable network infrastructure.
WS-C3850-12X48U-S in Networking
- High Performance: With 48 ports supporting high-speed connectivity and a 7200 RPM data transfer rate, the switch delivers optimal performance for data-intensive applications.
- Power Efficiency: The UPoE feature enables the efficient delivery of power to devices, reducing the need for additional power sources and simplifying cabling infrastructure.
- Scalability: The stackable design allows for easy scalability, accommodating the growing needs of a network without significant disruptions.
- Space Optimization: The 1U rack-mountable design optimizes space in server racks, making it suitable for environments where space is at a premium.
Benefits of Layer 3 Switch
A Layer 3 switch is a type of network switch that is able to perform routing functions in addition to traditional switching capabilities. The key benefit of using a Layer 3 switch is that it allows for segmenting a network into different subnets, or VLANs, while still maintaining high-speed communication between devices within the same subnet. This allows for greater flexibility and control over network traffic, which can lead to improved network performance and security.
Some of the specific benefits of using a Layer 3 switch include:
- Improved network performance: Because a Layer 3 switch can route traffic at the subnet level, it can reduce the amount of unnecessary network traffic, which can improve overall network performance.
- Increased security: By segmenting a network into different subnets, a Layer 3 switch can help limit the spread of malicious traffic and increase overall network security.
- Simplified network management: A Layer 3 switch can help simplify network management by reducing the number of devices that need to be configured and maintained. This can save time and resources for network administrators.
- Scalability: Layer 3 switch allows you to segment your network into smaller VLANs, by keeping traffic to only the specific VLANs that need to communicate with each other, this increases scalability for future growth.
- Support for advanced features: Layer 3 switches often include advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), link aggregation, and IPv6 support, which can be beneficial for certain types of networks.
General Information about this Cisco WS-C3850-12X48U-S
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# WS-C3850-12X48U-S
- Product Line: Catalyst
- Product Series: 3850
- Product Model: C3850-12X48U
- Product Name: Catalyst C3850-12X48U Switch
- Product Type: Ethernet Switch
Interfaces/Ports for Rack-mountable Switch
- Total Number of Network Ports: 48
- Modular No
- Stack Port Yes
- Port/Expansion Slot Details 48 x Gigabit Ethernet Network
Media & Performance of Ethernet Switch
- Media Type Supported Twisted Pair
- Ethernet Technology Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology 10/100/1000Base-T
Features for 48 Ports Switch
- Access Control List (ACL) support, ARP support
- Auto-negotiation, Auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X)
- Cisco StackPower technology
- Cisco StackWise-480 technology
- DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
- Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) support
- Energy Efficient Ethernet
- Flexible NetFlow (FNF), IGMP snooping
- IPv4 support, IPv6 support
- Layer 3 load balancing, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
- MLD snooping, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) support
- Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) support
- Quality of Service (QoS), RADIUS support
- Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+)
- Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) support
- Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN)
- Shaped Round Robin (SRR), STP Root Guard, Syslog support
- Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) support
- Trunking, Uni-Directional Link Detection (UDLD)
- Virtual Route Forwarding-Lite (VRF-Lite), VLAN support
Network & Communication
- Layer Supported 3
- Management & Protocols
- Manageable Yes
Compliant Standards
- IEEE 802.1D, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1Q
- IEEE 802.1s, IEEE 802.1w
- IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3
- IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3ad (LACP)
- IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at
- IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3z
Miscellaneous
- Compliant Standards: CISPR 22 Class A, CISPR 24, CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1 Second Edition, EN 60950-1 Second Edition, EN 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3, EN55022 Class A, EN55024, GOST, ICES-003 Class A, IEC 60950-1 Second Edition, KCC, KN22 Class A, KN24, NOM, RoHS, UL 60950-1 Second Edition, VCCI Class A
- Authentication Method: Kerberos, RADIUS, Secure Shell (SSH), TACACS+
- MTBF: 202,030 hours
- Height (Rack Units): 1
- Color Category: Gray
Power Device
- Frequency Required: 50/60 Hz
- Power Provided: 1100 Watt
- Installed Qty: 1
- Max Supported Qty: 2
- Nominal Voltage: AC 120/230 V
- Power Redundancy: Optional
- Power Redundancy Scheme: 1+1 (with optional power supply)
- Type: Internal power supply
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature: 23 °F
- Max Operating Temperature: 113 °F
- Humidity Range Operating: 10 – 95% (non-condensing)
- Min Storage Temperature: -40 °F
- Max Storage Temperature: 158 °F
In summary, the Cisco WS-C3850-12X48U-S Catalyst 3850 Series 48 Ports Switch is a versatile networking device designed to meet the demands of modern enterprise networks. Its features, including port capacity, various speeds, UPoE capability, manageability, Layer 3 functionality, rack-mountable design, and stackable capability, make it a valuable asset in building robust and scalable network infrastructures.
This switch offers flexibility, scalability, and enhanced management capabilities, making it a suitable choice for businesses and organizations seeking reliable and high-performance networking solutions.
