WS-C3850-48F-L: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to network switches, Cisco has always been a top contender. The WS-C3850-48F-L is no exception. This switch is packed with features and capabilities that make it ideal for any organization. As networks become more complex, it’s important to have the right equipment to handle the demands of modern businesses.

The WS-C3850-48F-L is a powerful switch that offers advanced features and performance for businesses of all sizes. We will dive into its key features, benefits, and how it can help you take your network to the next level.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Overview of the WS-C3850-48F-L
3. Key Features of the WS-C3850-48F-L
   • High-Density Access Layer
   • Intelligent Power Management
   • Advanced Security Features
   • High Availability and Redundancy
   • Flexible NetFlow
4. Benefits of the WS-C3850-48F-L
   • Simplified Network Management
   • Enhanced Network Security
   • Improved Network Performance
   • Increased Network Resiliency
5. How the WS-C3850-48F-L Can Help You
6. Comparison of WS-C3850-48F-L with other switches
   • WS-C3850-12X48U-S
   • WS-C3850-12S-E
   • WS-C3850-48F-E
   • WS-C3850-48F-S
7. Technical Specifications of WS-C3850-48F-L
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs

1. Introduction

The WS-C3850-48F-L is a Cisco Catalyst switch that’s designed to provide a high-density access layer for your network. It’s part of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 series, which is known for its superior performance, advanced features, and flexible deployment options.

If you’re looking for a switch that can handle the demands of your growing network, the WS-C3850-48F-L is a great option. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the features and benefits of this switch, and how it can help you take your network to the next level.

2. Overview of the WS-C3850-48F-L

The WS-C3850-48F-L is a 48-port, full PoE+ (Power over Ethernet Plus) switch. It has a fixed configuration, which means that all 48 ports are enabled by default. This switch is designed for use in medium to large-sized organizations, and it’s ideal for deployment at the access layer of your network.

The WS-C3850-48F-L is built on the Cisco Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) 2.0 architecture, which provides superior performance and scalability. It also features Cisco StackWise-480 technology, which allows you to stack up to nine switches and manage them as a single entity.

3. Key Features of the WS-C3850-48F-L

High-Density Access Layer

The WS-C3850-48F-L is designed to provide a high-density access layer for your network. It has 48 ports, all of which are PoE+ enabled. This means that you can connect a large number of devices to your network, such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras.

Intelligent Power Management

The WS-C3850-48F-L features intelligent power management capabilities, which allows you to allocate power to your devices more efficiently. You can prioritize power to critical devices, such as IP phones, and limit power to non-essential devices, such as printers. This helps to reduce your overall power consumption and save you money on your energy bills.

Advanced Security Features

The WS-C3850-48F-L features advanced security features, such as TrustSec, MACsec, and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) integration. TrustSec provides secure segmentation and policy enforcement across your network, while MACsec provides hardware-based encryption for your network traffic. Cisco ISE integration allows you to manage network access and enforce security policies across your network.

High Availability and Redundancy

The WS-C3850-48F-L is designed for high availability and redundancy. It supports Cisco StackWise-480 technology, which allows you to stack up to nine switches and manage them as a single entity. This provides a high degree of redundancy, as if one switch fails, the other switches in the stack will take over seamlessly. It also supports Hot Standby Redundancy Protocol (HSRP), which provides redundancy at the network layer.

Flexible NetFlow

The WS-C3850-48F-L features Flexible NetFlow, which allows you to monitor and analyze network traffic. This helps you to identify network issues and optimize your network performance.

4. Benefits of the WS-C3850-48F-L

Simplified Network Management

The WS-C3850-48F-L provides simplified network management through its Cisco Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) 2.0 architecture. This allows you to manage your network from a single point of control, making it easier to configure and troubleshoot.

Enhanced Network Security

The WS-C3850-48F-L provides enhanced network security through its advanced security features, such as TrustSec, MACsec, and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) integration. These features help to protect your network from unauthorized access and ensure that your network traffic is secure.

Improved Network Performance

The WS-C3850-48F-L provides improved network performance through its high-density access layer and intelligent power management capabilities. It allows you to connect a large number of devices to your network and allocate power to them more efficiently. This helps to ensure that your network is running at optimal performance.

Increased Network Resiliency

The WS-C3850-48F-L provides increased network resiliency through its high availability and redundancy features. It allows you to stack up to nine switches and manage them as a single entity, providing a high degree of redundancy. This helps to ensure that your network is always up and running.

5. How the WS-C3850-48F-L Can Help You

The WS-C3850-48F-L can help you by providing a reliable, high-performance, and secure network infrastructure. It’s ideal for medium to large-sized organizations that require a high-density access layer for their network. With its advanced features and capabilities, the WS-C3850-48F-L can help you to simplify network management, enhance network security, improve network performance, and increase network resiliency.

6. Comparison of WS-C3850-48F-L with other switches:

When it comes to networking, choosing the right switch can make all the difference. The Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series switches are known for their advanced features, high performance, and reliability. In this article, we will compare the WS-C3850-48F-L switch with four other Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series switches: WS-C3850-12X48U-S, WS-C3850-12S-E, WS-C3850-48F-E, and WS-C3850-48F-S.

WS-C3850-12X48U-S vs WS-C3850-48F-L

The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is a 48-port switch with 12 10G SFP+ ports and 36 1G RJ-45 ports. It also supports up to 40G of wireless capacity and has a 640 Gbps switching capacity. Compared to the WS-C3850-48F-L, the WS-C3850-12X48U-S has more 10G SFP+ ports and a higher switching capacity.

WS-C3850-12S-E vs WS-C3850-48F-L

The WS-C3850-12S-E is a 12-port switch with 10G SFP+ ports. It supports up to 40G of wireless capacity and has a 320 Gbps switching capacity. The WS-C3850-12S-E is designed for high-density deployments where space is at a premium. Compared to the WS-C3850-48F-L, the WS-C3850-12S-E has fewer ports but higher port speeds.

WS-C3850-48F-E vs WS-C3850-48F-L

The WS-C3850-48F-E is a 48-port switch with 1100W AC power supply. It also supports up to 40G of wireless capacity and has a 176 Gbps switching capacity. The WS-C3850-48F-E is designed for customers who need a full-powered, stackable switching solution. Compared to the WS-C3850-48F-L, the WS-C3850-48F-E has a lower switching capacity but higher power supply.

WS-C3850-48F-S vs WS-C3850-48F-L

The WS-C3850-48F-S is a 48-port switch with 1100W AC power supply. It also supports up to 40G of wireless capacity and has a 176 Gbps switching capacity. The WS-C3850-48F-S is designed for customers who need a full-powered, stackable switching solution. Compared to the WS-C3850-48F-L, the WS-C3850-48F-S has a lower switching capacity but higher power supply.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the right switch, it is important to consider your specific needs and requirements. The WS-C3850-48F-L is a powerful and reliable switch that can meet the needs of a variety of customers. The WS-C3850-12X48U-S is ideal for customers who need more 10G SFP+ ports and a higher switching capacity. The WS-C3850-12S-E is designed for high-density deployments where space is at a premium. The WS-C3850-48F-E and WS-C3850-48F-S are ideal for customers who need a full-powered, stackable switching solution.

7. Technical Specifications

Hardware Specifications:

• Total Number of Available Ports: 48
• Uplink Interfaces: 4 x 1G SFP and 2 x 10G SFP+
• Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capacity: 1100W
• Switching Capacity: 176 Gbps
• Forwarding Performance: 130.95 Mpps
• RAM: 4GB
• Flash Memory: 2GB

Software Specifications:

• Operating System: Cisco IOS XE
• Layer 2 Features: VLAN, Spanning Tree, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), Quality of Service (QoS), Access Control Lists (ACLs), etc.
• Layer 3 Features: Routing, OSPF, EIGRP, PIM, HSRP, VRRP, etc.
• Multicast Routing: Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM)
• Security Features: 802.1x, Port Security, DHCP Snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, etc.
• Management Features: SNMP, RMON, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Network Assistant, etc.

These are the technical specifications of the WS-C3850-48F-L switch. It is a high-performance switch with 48 available ports and support for both 1G and 10G uplink interfaces. Additionally, it has a PoE capacity of 1100W, which can power multiple devices such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, and IP cameras. With its advanced software features, it is suitable for a variety of networking applications, including enterprise and campus networks.

8. Conclusion

The WS-C3850-48F-L is an excellent choice for organizations that require a high-density access layer for their network. It provides advanced features and capabilities that can help you to simplify network management, enhance network security, improve network performance, and increase network resiliency. With its reliable and secure infrastructure, the WS-C3850-48F-L is a valuable asset to any organization.

9. FAQs

1. What is the maximum power consumption of the WS-C3850-48F-L?
   • The maximum power consumption of the WS-C3850-48F-L is 1100W.
2. Does the WS-C3850-48F-L support PoE+?
   • Yes, all 48 ports on the WS-C3850-48F-L are PoE+ enabled.
3. Can I stack the WS-C3850-48F-L with other switches?
   • Yes, it supports Cisco StackWise-480 technology, which allows you to stack up to nine switches and manage them as a single entity.
4. What is the warranty for the WS-C3850-48F-L?
   • The WS-C3850-48F-L comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
5. Is the WS-C3850-48F-L easy to configure?
   • Yes, it features Cisco Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) 2.0 architecture, which allows for simplified network management and easier configuration.
6. What is the switching capacity of the WS-C3850-48F-L?
   • The switching capacity of the WS-C3850-48F-L is 176 Gbps.
7. What are some of the key features of the WS-C3850-48F-L?
   • Some of the key features of the WS-C3850-48F-L include Cisco StackWise-480 technology, Cisco UADP 2.0 ASIC, advanced QoS features, and Cisco TrustSec technology.
8. Can the WS-C3850-48F-L be powered by a stack of switches?
   • Yes, it supports Cisco StackPower technology, which allows it to be powered by a stack of switches.

What transceivers work with WS-C3850-48F-L? (click on part number to go their product page)

Catalyst 3850 Configuration Guide

There are a few steps you can follow to configure a Cisco Catalyst 3850 switch:

1. Connect to the switch through the console or via a network management interface, such as Telnet or SSH.
2. Enter privileged mode by typing “enable” and entering the enable password.
3. Configure basic settings, such as the hostname, IP address, and default gateway, by using the “configure terminal” command and the appropriate subcommands.
4. Configure VLANs and ports as necessary by using the “interface” command and the appropriate subcommands.
5. Configure advanced features, such as Quality of Service (QoS), Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), by using the appropriate commands.
6. Save the configuration by typing “write memory” or “copy running-config startup-config”.

Note that these are general steps and the specific commands and configuration options may vary depending on the software version running on the switch and the specific requirements of your network.

Catalyst 3850 Port Numbering

The port numbering starts from the first port on the far left, top. So, the first port is 1/1 and the port below it will be 1/2, the next port on the top will be 1/3 and the one below is 1/4 and so on….. This is if the blade is inserted in slot 1 but if the blade is inserted in slot 2 than the first number starts with 2 e.g 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4 and so on.

Many switch models have the order of the ports indicated, as you can see in this image. This order is the same on the other switches.

Important Sources:

Catalyst 3850 Data SheetHow to Configure Catalyst 3850CISCO Catalyst 3850 Prices