Cisco WS-C3850-48F-S | Catalyst 3850 48-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch, 800W, Modular Uplinks

Q: What uplink modules are compatible with the WS-C3850-48F-S?
A: The WS-C3850-48F-S supports three optional network modules: C3850-NM-4-1G (4x 1G SFP), C3850-NM-2-10G (2x 10G SFP+), and C3850-NM-4-10G (4x 10G SFP+). The switch ships without an uplink module by default, giving you flexibility to choose the module that best fits your network requirements. The uplink modules are hot-swappable and field-replaceable.

Q: How many switches can I stack with the WS-C3850-48F-S?
A: You can stack up to 9 Catalyst 3850 switches using StackWise-480 technology, which provides 480 Gbps of stack throughput. All switches in the stack must run the same IOS feature set (IP Base or IP Services). StackWise cables are sold separately and required for stacking.

Q: What is the difference between IP Base and IP Services on this model?
A: The WS-C3850-48F-S includes IP Base software, which provides Layer 3 static routing, OSPF, EIGRP, basic multicast (IGMP, PIM), and policy-based routing. For advanced features like VRF-Lite, full multicast routing (PIM-SM/DM), and BGP, you would need to upgrade to IP Services. Note that IP Base and IP Services switches cannot be stacked together.

Q: Can this switch power high-wattage PoE devices?
A: Yes, the WS-C3850-48F-S supports full IEEE 802.3at PoE+ delivering up to 30W per port with an 800W total PoE budget (using the included 1100W power supply). This is sufficient for most IP phones, wireless access points, and IP cameras. If you need 60W per port for devices like PTZ cameras or VDI clients, consider the UPOE models (WS-C3850-48U series).

Q: Does the integrated wireless controller require additional licensing?
A: The switch includes an integrated wireless controller capable of managing up to 100 access points and 2000 clients. Wireless controller functionality is included with the base license. However, if you need to manage more than the built-in AP capacity or require advanced wireless features, additional access point licenses (LIC-CTIOS-1A) can be purchased separately.