Cisco C3850-24PCisco Catalyst 3850 24-Port GbE PoE+ 715W Managed Switch WS-C3850-24P

Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-24P-S — 24-Port GbE PoE+ Stackable Layer 3 Switch

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-24P-S is a 1U stackable enterprise switch featuring 24 × 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports (802.3at, 435 W total PoE budget), 4 × hot-swappable network module slots (1G or 10G uplinks), and StackWise-480 stacking (up to 9 switches at 480 Gbps). Runs Cisco IOS XE IP Base — full Layer 3 routing included. Backed by a full 12-month Reboot IT warranty.

Key Benefits

• 24 PoE+ access ports: Powers 802.3at devices at up to 30 W per port — IP phones, wireless access points, IP cameras, and PoE-powered workstations without separate power injectors
• IP Base IOS XE included: Full Layer 3 routing — OSPF, EIGRP, RIPv2, and inter-VLAN routing — is available without a licence upgrade, unlike the LAN Base “L” variant
• Hot-swappable network modules: Four module slots accept C3850-NM-4-1G (4 × 1G SFP) or C3850-NM-2-10G (2 × 10G SFP+) — flexible uplink design with live module swaps during operation
• StackWise-480 stacking: Up to 9 switches form a single logical unit with 480 Gbps stack bandwidth — highly scalable access layer without management proliferation
• IOS XE platform: Modular operating system with in-service software upgrades (ISSU) and sub-second failover — higher availability than classic IOS switching platforms
• Integrated wireless controller: Embedded Cisco WLC supports lightweight APs — converged wired/wireless management without a separate controller appliance for medium-density wireless deployments

Performance in Use

The WS-C3850-24P-S operates as a Layer 3 access switch — routing between VLANs at the access layer itself rather than relying on a distribution switch for all inter-VLAN traffic. This reduces latency and north-south load on the distribution layer in medium-density deployments where each floor or zone has its own 3850 switch.

StackWise-480 allows multiple 3850 switches to function as a single logical device. The 480 Gbps ring ensures that stacked traffic crosses switch boundaries with minimal latency, and the stack behaves as a single management entity for VLAN, QoS, and security policy application — essential for wiring closets that span multiple racks.

For CCNP and CCIE Enterprise lab environments, the 3850-24P-S running IOS XE IP Base provides a realistic access layer platform. Labs can cover IOS XE-specific features — including ISSU concepts, StackWise behaviour, QoS DSCP remarking, and 802.1X with RADIUS — that are increasingly prominent in modern enterprise curriculum.

Technical Specifications

Is It Right for You?

Condition Grades

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the “S” and “L” models?

The “S” suffix denotes IP Base (or IP Services) IOS XE — full Layer 3 routing is included. The “L” suffix denotes LAN Base — Layer 2 only, with routing requiring a paid licence upgrade. This WS-C3850-24P-S includes Layer 3 routing at no extra licence cost.

What network modules are compatible with this switch?

The four hot-swappable network module slots accept C3850-NM-4-1G (4 × 1G SFP) and C3850-NM-2-10G (2 × 10G SFP+) modules. This unit may ship without uplink modules — confirm module inclusion before ordering if uplink ports are required.

How many switches can be stacked together?

Up to 9 Catalyst 3850 switches can be combined in a StackWise-480 stack. Both 24-port and 48-port 3850 models can be mixed in the same stack, allowing flexible access layer scaling.

Does this support UPOE (60W per port)?

No — the 3850-24P supports standard PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at, 30 W per port). For UPOE (60 W) capability, the Cisco Catalyst WS-C3650-24PWS-S is the appropriate model.

What warranty is included?

A 12-month Reboot IT warranty covers all hardware components from the date of purchase.

How does shipping work?

Shipping costs apply based on size and destination — rates are calculated at checkout.