Cisco C3850-48P-LCisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48P-L 48-Port PoE Gigabit Managed Switch

Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48P-L — 48-Port GbE PoE+ Stackable Switch

The Cisco Catalyst WS-C3850-48P-L is a 1U stackable enterprise switch featuring 48 × 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports (802.3at, 715 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 LAN Base, upgradeable to IP Base or IP Services. Backed by a full 12-month Reboot IT warranty.

Key Benefits

• 48 PoE+ access ports: Powers 802.3at devices at up to 30 W per port across all 48 ports — IP phones, wireless APs, IP cameras, and PoE-powered workstations from a single switch
• 715 W PoE budget: High-capacity power supply supports fully loaded deployments without PoE allocation compromises — enough for 48 IP phones or a mix of phones and high-power APs
• Hot-swappable network modules: Four network module slots accept C3850-NM-4-1G (4 × 1G SFP) or C3850-NM-2-10G (2 × 10G SFP+) modules — selectable per-stack without downtime
• StackWise-480 stacking: Up to 9 switches form a single logical unit with 480 Gbps stack bandwidth — more than double the capacity of the 3650 StackWise-160
• IOS XE platform: Modular IOS XE provides in-service software upgrades (ISSU), sub-second failover, and the ability to upgrade from LAN Base to IP Base/IP Services via licence key
• Integrated wireless controller: Embedded Cisco WLC supports Cisco lightweight APs — converged wired/wireless management without a separate controller appliance

Performance in Use

The WS-C3850-48P-L handles high-density access layer deployments where every port needs PoE for an IP phone, wireless AP, or IP camera. With 715 W available and 48 ports, the switch comfortably powers a fully loaded floor plate of phones and 802.11n/ac APs without power budget trade-offs.

StackWise-480 allows up to 9 switches to operate as one logical device — useful for large open-plan floors or multi-floor wiring closets where hundreds of PoE access ports are required under unified management. The 480 Gbps stack ring provides non-blocking performance for traffic that traverses the stack boundary, critical in active-active uplink configurations.

For certification lab use (CCNP, CCIE Enterprise), the 3850 is a key platform for IOS XE switching labs. Its LAN Base to IP Base upgrade path, StackWise stacking, integrated WLC, and QoS/security feature set cover a wide range of enterprise access layer exam scenarios in a single switch family.

Technical Specifications

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Frequently Asked Questions

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. Modules can be mixed across a stack. Note: this unit may ship without network modules installed — confirm module inclusion before ordering.

Can I upgrade from LAN Base to IP Base or IP Services?

Yes — IOS XE licence keys can be applied to upgrade from LAN Base to IP Base (adding routing protocols) or IP Services (adding MPLS, advanced routing). Cisco software licences are purchased separately from the hardware.

How many switches can be stacked together?

Up to 9 Catalyst 3850 switches can be combined in a StackWise-480 stack presenting as a single logical unit. Both 24-port and 48-port 3850 models can be combined in the same stack.

Is this suitable for CCNP Enterprise lab use?

Yes — the 3850 is a well-supported CCNP and CCIE Enterprise lab platform. IOS XE switching, StackWise, QoS, 802.1X, and integrated wireless controller topics are all covered by this hardware.

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.