Description
Understanding the Cisco WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 Switch
The WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 is a powerful networking switch designed to meet the demands of modern businesses. In this detailed guide, we will delve into its features, specifications, and capabilities. From its physical attributes to its advanced networking functionalities, this comprehensive review aims to provide valuable insights for both networking professionals and those seeking a reliable switch module for their infrastructure.
Overview of Catalyst 3850 48 Ports Switch
The WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 boasts a robust physical design with key attributes that contribute to its versatility. Let’s explore the 48-port switch’s physical features.
Form Factor: Rack-mountable 1U and Desktop Stackable
One notable feature is its form factor, which allows for flexible deployment options. The switch is designed to be rack-mounted in a standard 19-inch rack, occupying 1U of space. Additionally, its desktop stackable design provides convenience for businesses with limited rack space, allowing for efficient use in various environments.
Port Configuration: 48 Ports 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45
With 48 ports supporting 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45, this switch offers high-speed connectivity for a multitude of devices. Whether you need to connect computers, printers, or other networking equipment, the WS-C3850-48F-L provides the necessary ports for seamless communication.
Power Over Ethernet Plus (PoE+)
One standout feature of the WS-C3850-48F-L is its Power Over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) capability. PoE+ enables the switch to deliver both data and electrical power over Ethernet cables, simplifying the deployment of devices such as IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points. This not only reduces cable clutter but also streamlines power management for connected devices.
Manageability and Layer 3 Functionality
The WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 is equipped with advanced manageability features and Layer 3 functionality, making it a versatile solution for complex networking environments.
Manageable Switching
This switch provides robust management capabilities, allowing network administrators to configure, monitor, and optimize the network effectively. With features such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) support, administrators can proactively manage the health and performance of the network.
Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet
The Layer 3 functionality of the WS-C3850-48F-L enables routing at the network layer. This capability is essential for facilitating communication between different subnets, optimizing traffic flow, and enhancing overall network efficiency. Whether you are designing a small office network or a large enterprise infrastructure, the Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet support contributes to a scalable and resilient network architecture.
Switching Module
The switching module of the WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 plays a crucial role in its performance and functionality. Let’s delve into the key aspects of the switching module.
Performance and Throughput
The switching module is designed to deliver high-performance switching with impressive throughput. This ensures that data is transferred efficiently across the network, meeting the demands of bandwidth-intensive applications and services.
Redundancy and Reliability
To enhance reliability, the WS-C3850-48F-L features a stackable design, allowing multiple switches to operate as a single logical unit. This not only increases port density but also provides redundancy, ensuring continuous operation even in the event of a switch failure. Redundancy is a critical aspect of network design, minimizing downtime and maximizing reliability.
Key Applications of the WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 Switch
Understanding the features of the WS-C3850-48F-L is vital, but knowing how these features translate into real-world applications is equally important. Let’s explore some key applications where this switch excels.
Enterprise Networking
In large enterprises with a multitude of devices requiring network connectivity, the WS-C3850-48F-L shines. Its ample port capacity, PoE+ support, and Layer 3 capabilities make it a suitable choice for creating a robust and scalable network infrastructure.
IP Surveillance Systems
The PoE+ capability of the switch makes it an ideal choice for IP surveillance systems. With the ability to deliver power to connected cameras, it simplifies the deployment of surveillance solutions by eliminating the need for separate power sources.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Implementations
For organizations utilizing VoIP systems for telecommunication, the WS-C3850-48F-L offers the necessary features to ensure seamless communication. Its PoE+ support enables the connection of VoIP phones without the hassle of managing additional power sources.
Data Center Environments
The rack-mountable design of the switch makes it well-suited for data center environments where space optimization is crucial. Its Gigabit Ethernet capabilities further enhance data transfer speeds, ensuring efficient communication between servers and other networked devices.
Network Expansion and Scalability
The stackable design of the WS-C3850-48F-L allows for easy expansion and scalability. As the network grows, additional switches can be stacked to accommodate the increasing demand for connectivity. This modular approach simplifies network management and expansion.
High Performance for Cisco 48-ports Switch
The WS-C3850-48F-L Cisco Catalyst 3850 switch is a high-performance, feature-rich switch that provides advanced capabilities for enterprise networks. It offers 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 4 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports, providing high-speed connectivity for a variety of devices.
One of the main features of the product is its ability to support Cisco StackWise-480, which allows for up to nine switches to be stacked together to create a single, logical switch. This allows for increased scalability and easy management of large networks.
The switch also supports Cisco’s FlexStack-Plus technology, which allows for a flexible and scalable stacking architecture. This allows for easy expansion and reconfiguration of the network as needed.
The product also supports Cisco’s EnergyWise technology, which helps to reduce energy consumption and costs. This is done by monitoring and controlling the power consumption of connected devices, and by providing energy-efficient power options.
In terms of performance, the product can handle up to 95 million packets per second (mpps) and has a forwarding rate of up to 128 Gbps. It also supports advanced security features such as Cisco TrustSec and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to help protect against cyber threats.
Reliability
The WS-C3850-48F-L Cisco Catalyst 3850 48 Ports Switch is considered a highly reliable switch. It is designed to provide enterprise-class access and distribution capabilities in a stackable form factor. The switch is built on the Cisco StackWise-480 technology, which allows for easy deployment and management of multiple switches as a single entity.
The switch also features Cisco’s StackPower technology, which enables power sharing between switches in the stack. This ensures that if one switch fails, the others in the stack will continue to operate, reducing downtime and increasing reliability.
The product also has a number of advanced features such as Cisco’s Flexible NetFlow, which provides detailed network visibility, and Cisco’s TrustSec, which enables secure access control. These features help to ensure that the switch is always running at optimal performance and that network security is not compromised.
General Information for the Cisco WS-C3850-48F-L 48 Ports Managed Switch
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part Number or SKU# WS-C3850-48F-L
- Product Line: Catalyst
- Product Series: 3850
- Product Type: Layer 3 Switch
Interfaces/Ports for L3 Ethernet Switch
- Total Number of Network Ports 48
- Management Port: Yes
- Token Ring Port: No
- LRE Port: No
- Bypass: No
- Modular: No
- Management Port: Yes
- USB: No
- Number of PoE+ (RJ-45) Ports: 48
- Stack Port: Yes
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 48 x Gigabit Ethernet Network
I/O Expansions of 48 Ports Switch
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 1
- Expansion Slot Type: Switching Module
Media & Performance
- Media Type Supported: Twisted Pair
- Twisted Pair Cable Standard: Category 5e
- Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T
Network & Communication
- Layer Supported: Layer 3
Management & Protocols
- Manageable: Yes
- Management:
- MIB (Management Information Base)
- RMON I and II (Remote Monitoring)
- SNMPv1, v2c, v3 (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- QOS (Quality of Service)
- VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
- DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
Memory
- Standard Memory: 4 GB
- Memory Technology: DRAM
- Flash Memory: 2 GB
Networking
- IPv4 routes: 24000
- NetFlow entries: 48000
- Switched virtual interfaces (SVIs): 1000
- MAC Address Table Size: 32000 entries
- Jumbo Frame Support: 9198 bytes
- Remote Management Protocol: SNMP 1, RMON 1, RMON 2, Telnet, SNMP 3, SNMP 2c, SSH, CLI
- Authentication Method: Kerberos, Secure Shell (SSH), RADIUS, TACACS+
Features
- Auto-negotiation, ARP support, trunking, VLAN support, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), IGMP snooping, Syslog support, IPv6 support, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) support, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) support, DHCP snooping, Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) support, Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) support, Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) support, Access Control List (ACL) support, Quality of Service (QoS), RADIUS support, Virtual Route Forwarding-Lite (VRF-Lite), MLD snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), PoE+, STP Root Guard, Uni-Directional Link Detection (UDLD), Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+), IPv4 support, Shaped Round Robin (SRR), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN), layer 3 load balancing, Energy Efficient Ethernet, Cisco StackWise-480 technology, Cisco StackPower technology, Flexible NetFlow (FNF)
Reliability
- MTBF: 241050 Hours
Power Description
- PoE (RJ-45) Port: No
- Power Source: Power Supply
- Redundant Power Supply Supported: Yes
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 short, the WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 is a feature-rich and reliable networking switch suitable for a wide range of applications. Its physical versatility, Power Over Ethernet Plus capability, advanced manageability, Layer 3 functionality, and robust switching module make it a valuable asset for businesses seeking a scalable and resilient network infrastructure.
Whether you are a network administrator planning to deploy a new network or an IT decision-maker evaluating networking solutions, the WS-C3850-48F-L Catalyst 3850 deserves careful consideration. Its combination of hardware capabilities and advanced features positions it as a key player in the realm of networking switches, contributing to the seamless operation of modern digital environments.
