Cisco WS-C3650-12X48UQ-S | Catalyst 3650 48-Port Switch, 36x 1G + 12x mGig, 4x 10G SFP+

Q: What is the difference between the standard Gigabit ports and the multigigabit ports on this switch?
A: The WS-C3650-12X48UQ-S features 36 standard 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and 12 multigigabit ports that support 100Mbps, 1G, 2.5G, 5G, and 10G speeds. The multigigabit ports use IEEE 802.3bz technology to deliver higher speeds over existing Cat5e/Cat6 cabling, making them ideal for connecting high-performance 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless access points without requiring expensive cable upgrades.

Q: Does this switch support Power over Ethernet, and if so, what is the maximum power budget?
A: Yes, this switch supports Cisco Universal Power over Ethernet (UPOE) on all 48 ports, capable of delivering up to 60W per port for high-power devices. The included 1100W power supply provides 660W of PoE power budget. For full UPOE capability on all ports, a second 1100W power supply can be added (sold separately) to maximize available PoE power.

Q: Can this switch function as a wireless LAN controller?
A: Yes, the Catalyst 3650 Series includes integrated wireless controller capability. Each switch can manage up to 25 access points and 1,000 wireless clients, enabling converged wired and wireless network management from a single platform. This eliminates the need for a separate wireless controller in small to medium deployments.

Q: What license level is included with the -S model, and can it be upgraded?
A: The WS-C3650-12X48UQ-S comes with Cisco IOS IP Base feature set, which includes Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, static routing, RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP. The license can be upgraded to IP Services for advanced features like VRF-Lite, policy-based routing, and additional security capabilities by purchasing the appropriate software license upgrade.

Q: How many switches can be stacked together using StackWise-160 technology?
A: The Catalyst 3650 Series supports stacking of up to 9 switches in a single stack using StackWise-160 technology, which provides 160 Gbps of stack bandwidth. Stacking cables are sold separately. The stack operates as a single logical switch with unified management, providing high availability and scalability for growing network deployments.