Cisco WS-C3850-48P-S | Catalyst 3850 48-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch, 435W, IP Base

Q: What uplink modules are compatible with the WS-C3850-48P-S?
A: The switch supports three optional network modules: C3850-NM-4-1G (4x 1G SFP), C3850-NM-2-10G (2x 1G/10G SFP+), and C3850-NM-4-10G (4x 10G SFP+). Modules are sold separately and are field-replaceable. The switch can operate with a blank module cover if no uplink module is required.

Q: What is the difference between IP Base and IP Services feature sets?
A: The IP Base feature set (included with WS-C3850-48P-S) provides Layer 2 switching, basic Layer 3 static routing, RIP, and essential QoS. IP Services adds advanced Layer 3 routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), policy-based routing, and IP SLAs. You can upgrade from IP Base to IP Services via a software license.

Q: How many switches can be stacked together?
A: Up to 9 Catalyst 3850 switches can be stacked using StackWise-480 technology, creating a single logical unit with 480 Gbps of stack throughput. Stacking cables are sold separately. The stack operates as one switch with unified management and high availability via stateful switchover.

Q: Can I use this switch for wireless access point deployment?
A: Yes, the Catalyst 3850 Series includes an integrated wireless LAN controller that supports up to 100 access points and 2,000 wireless clients per switch or stack. This provides full convergence of wired and wireless management on a single platform with unified policy enforcement.

Q: What is the actual PoE budget available for connected devices?
A: With the included 715W AC power supply, the switch provides approximately 435W of available PoE power for connected devices. Each of the 48 PoE+ ports can deliver up to 30W per port. For higher PoE budgets, you can add a second 715W or 1100W power supply to increase total available PoE capacity.