Cisco WS-C3850-24PW-S | Catalyst 3850 24-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch, 435W, IP Base

Q: Does the WS-C3850-24PW-S include uplink ports out of the box?
A: No, this model ships with modular uplink slots but no network module installed. You can add optional modules such as the C3850-NM-4-1G (4 x 1G SFP) or C3850-NM-2-10G (2 x 10G SFP+ and 4 x 1G SFP) to provide uplink connectivity based on your requirements.

Q: What is the W designation in the model number?
A: The W indicates this model includes an integrated wireless controller with a base license to manage up to 5 Cisco Aironet wireless access points. This provides converged wired and wireless management from a single switch platform, reducing infrastructure complexity.

Q: Can I upgrade the IP Base license to IP Services?
A: Yes, the Catalyst 3850 series supports in-service software upgrades. You can purchase an IP Services license upgrade to unlock advanced Layer 3 routing features including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and features like HSRP and VRF-lite.

Q: What is the maximum PoE budget and can it be increased?
A: With the standard 715W power supply, the switch provides 435W of PoE budget. You can upgrade to the 1100W power supply (PWR-C1-1100WAC) to increase available PoE power, or deploy a second redundant power supply for additional capacity and redundancy.

Q: Is this switch compatible with existing Catalyst 3750 or 3650 stacks?
A: No, the Catalyst 3850 uses proprietary StackWise-480 technology and can only stack with other Catalyst 3850 series switches. It is not compatible with 3750 StackWise or 3650 StackWise-160 stacks. A stack can include up to 9 Catalyst 3850 switches with 480 Gbps total stack bandwidth.