Cisco WS-C3850-48F-E | Catalyst 3850 48-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch, 800W, IP Services

Q: What network modules are compatible with the WS-C3850-48F-E?
A: The WS-C3850-48F-E supports three modular uplink options: C3850-NM-4-1G (4x 1G SFP), C3850-NM-2-10G (2x 10G SFP+ or 4x 1G SFP), and C3850-NM-4-10G (4x 10G SFP+). Network modules are sold separately and are hot-swappable, allowing flexible uplink configuration without downtime.

Q: How does the WS-C3850-48F-E support wireless integration?
A: The Catalyst 3850 Series features an integrated wireless controller capability, supporting up to 100 access points and 2,000 wireless clients per switch or stack. This converged wired and wireless architecture eliminates the need for separate wireless controllers in many deployments and is 802.11ac ready with up to 40 Gbps wireless throughput per 48-port switch.

Q: What is the difference between IP Base and IP Services feature sets?
A: The WS-C3850-48F-E ships with the IP Services feature set, which provides the most comprehensive Layer 3 functionality including advanced routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, IS-IS), policy-based routing, VRF-lite, and multicast routing (PIM). IP Base offers entry-level routing, while IP Services is designed for full enterprise-class routing and network segmentation requirements.

Q: Can I stack switches with different feature sets?
A: No, Catalyst 3850 switches can only be stacked with other 3850 switches running the same IOS feature set (LAN Base, IP Base, or IP Services). You cannot mix feature sets within a single stack. Up to 9 switches of the same series and feature set can be stacked using StackWise-480 technology.

Q: What PoE power budget is available with dual power supplies?
A: The WS-C3850-48F-E ships with a single 1100W AC power supply providing 800W of PoE budget. When a second 1100W power supply is installed, the combined PoE budget increases to 1900W, supporting IEEE 802.3at PoE+ devices at up to 30W per port with full redundancy.