United States$5,000,000+
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B
Blake Carrington
5
PoE with AP licenses simplified wireless expansion significantly.
WS-C3850-48W-S
CATALYST 3850 48PORT POE WITH 5 AP LICS IP BASE
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Name:
WS-C3850-48W-S
- Description:
- CATALYST 3850 48PORT POE WITH 5 AP LICS IP BASE
- Rating:
Added to cart 28 times recently
- Availability:
In stock - Ready to Ship
- Brand:
- Cisco
- GTIN:
- 882658802522
- Condition:
- Warranty:
- 3
- List Price:
$15,840.00
- Price:
$3,718.0076.5% off
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1
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WS-C3850-48W-S Overview
WS-C3850-48W-S is a high-performance enterprise switch that leverages the robust Cisco IOS XE software to deliver both Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities. Built for reliability and scalability, it features integrated power options including PoE+ support, and is engineered to streamline network operations with advanced stacking and simplified management functions.
WS-C3850-48W-S offers 48 fixed 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports alongside 4 dedicated SFP uplink ports to meet demanding connectivity requirements. Its design maximizes performance with low latency switching and extensive stacking capacity, making it ideal for campus networks, branch offices, and other high-demand applications.
WS-C3850-48W-S price is $3,718.00, a 76.5% saving from the Cisco list price of $15,840.00. WS-C3850-48W-S is in stock and available for next-day dispatch. (terms applied)
Request bulk order quote for WS-C3850-48W-S for additional pricing. Browse the full Catalyst 3850 Switches series or explore all Cisco products.
WS-C3850-48W-S Specifications
- Product Type
- Switch
- Power Source
- AC Power Supply
- Layer Supported
- Layer 2 / Layer 3
- Form Factor
- Rack-mount
- Power Consumption
- 370W
- Number of Ethernet Ports
- 24–48 Ports
- Number of Downlink Ports
- 48 Ports
- Manageable
- Managed
- Ethernet Technology
- 10/100/1000
- Media Type Supported
- Combo
- Redundant Power Supply Supported
- No
- Manufacturer Part Number
- WS-C3850-48W-S
- Uplink Configuration
- 1G
- IOS
- LAN Base
- POE Support
- POE+
- SFP Ports
- 4 SFP Ports
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Rack Units
- 1 RU
- Interface Ports
- 10/100/1000
- Port/Expansion Slot Details
- 48 fixed 10/100/1000 ports with 4 dedicated SFP uplink ports
- Flash Memory
- 256 MB
- Switching Capacity
- 176 Gbps
- Switching Capacity with Stacking
- 480 Gbps
- Product Name
- Cisco Catalyst 3850 48 Port PoE+ Switch
- Height
- 1.73 inches
- Width
- 17.5 inches
- Depth
- 13.2 inches
- Weight
- 34 lbs
WS-C3850-48W-S Use Case
Unified Campus Access for VoIP and Wireless on WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE with 5 AP Licenses IP Base
Scenario: A global enterprise deploys the WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE with 5 AP Licenses IP Base to power 48 IP phones, security cameras and five high-density 802.11ac wireless APs per switch. Outcome: Centralized QoS, seamless wired-to-wireless roaming and advanced access-control policies reduce device count by 25%, cut provisioning time in half and deliver enterprise-grade uptime.
Branch Retail Digital Experience with WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE and 5 AP Licenses IP Base
Scenario: A national retail chain standardizes on the WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE with 5 AP Licenses IP Base in every store to power PoS terminals, digital signage, surveillance cameras and guest Wi-Fi APs. Outcome: Zero-touch provisioning, unified management and robust PoE+ power budgets drive 20% uplift in in-store engagement while simplifying firmware updates and real-time analytics.
Secure Medical IoT and Wireless Infrastructure with WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE and 5 AP Licenses IP Base
Scenario: A 500-bed hospital leverages the WS-C3850-48W-S Catalyst 3850 48-Port PoE with 5 AP Licenses IP Base to power bedside patient monitors, mobile workstations and five wireless APs per rack in critical-care zones. Outcome: HIPAA-compliant network segmentation, sub-5 ms latency telemetry and 99.99% availability ensure uninterrupted patient care and secure IoT device integration.
Quality Certifications
To get the detailed certification, please go to the Compliance Center.
Product Comparison Table 
 WS-C3850-48W-S |  WS-C3850-32XS-E |  WS-C3850-12X48U-S |  WS-C3850-48U-E |  WS-C3850-12XS-S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 13.2 inches | 18.28 inches | 14.5 inches | 17.5 inches | 14.1 inches |
| Ethernet Technology | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10G |
| Flash Memory | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Form Factor | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount |
| Height | 1.73 inches | 1.73 inches | 1.75 inches | 1.75 inches | 1.73 inches |
| IOS | LAN Base | IP Services | IP Services | IP Services | LAN Base |
| Interface Ports | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | N/A |
| Layer Supported | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 |
| Manageable | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed |
| Manufacturer Part Number | WS-C3850-48W-S | WS-C3850-32XS-E | WS-C3850-12X48U-S | WS-C3850-48U-E | WS-C3850-12XS-S |
| Media Type Supported | Combo | Fiber | Combo | Twisted Pair | Fiber |
| Memory | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Number of Downlink Ports | 48 Ports | 32 Ports | 12 Ports | 48 Ports | 12 Ports |
| Number of Ethernet Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 12–24 Ports |
| POE Support | POE+ | Non POE | Non POE | Non POE | Non POE |
| Port/Expansion Slot Details | 48 fixed 10/100/1000 ports with 4 dedicated SFP uplink ports | 32 fixed 10G SFP+ ports | 12 x 10G SFP+ uplink ports, 48 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports | 48 fixed 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and 4 dual-purpose uplink SFP ports | 12 x 10-Gigabit SFP+ ports |
| Power Consumption | 370W | 370 W | 350 W | 370 W | 370W |
| Power Source | AC Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply / AC Power Supply | AC Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply | AC Power Supply |
| Product Name | Cisco Catalyst 3850 48 Port PoE+ Switch | Cisco Catalyst 3850-32XS-E | Cisco Catalyst 3850-12X48U Series Switch | Cisco Catalyst 3850-48U-E | Cisco Catalyst 3850-12XS-S |
| Product Type | Switch | Switch | Switch | Switch | Switch |
| Rack Units | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU |
| Redundant Power Supply Supported | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports | 32 SFP+ Ports | 12 SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports | 12 SFP Ports |
| Switching Capacity | 176 Gbps | 480 Gbps | 176 Gbps | 176 Gbps | 160 Gbps |
| Switching Capacity with Stacking | 480 Gbps | 480 Gbps | 480 Gbps | 480 Gbps | 480 Gbps |
| Uplink Configuration | 1G | 10G | 10G | 1G | 10G |
| Weight | 34 lbs | 25 lbs | 29 lbs | 34 lbs | 18 lbs |
| Width | 17.5 inches | 17.28 inches | 17.5 inches | 19 inches | 17.5 inches |
Reviews & Ratings
C
Colin Prescott
5
Reliable IP Base switch for wireless-heavy environments.
D
Dominic Fraser
5
Powered access points consistently with no outages.
E
Evan Lockwood
4
Strong option for scalable enterprise Wi-Fi deployments.
F
Felix Turner
4
Cisco stability with bundled wireless support.
Questions & Answers
What is the Cisco Catalyst 3850 48-port PoE switch with 5 AP licenses (WS-C3850-48W-S)?
The WS-C3850-48W-S is a stackable enterprise switch featuring 48 PoE+ ports, five embedded wireless AP licenses, and the Cisco IP Base feature set for scalable campus LAN and converged wired-wireless deployments.
How many Ethernet ports does the WS-C3850-48W-S provide?
It provides 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports with PoE+ support, enabling direct power delivery to IP phones, wireless access points, cameras, and other network devices.
Does the Catalyst 3850 48W switch support Power over Ethernet?
Yes. The WS-C3850-48W-S delivers up to 30W per port with a total PoE power budget of 740W, eliminating the need for external power injectors.
What performance and throughput does the WS-C3850-48W-S deliver?
Each switch offers 176 Gbps of switching capacity and 160 Gbps of forwarding throughput, while Cisco StackWise-480 stacking delivers up to 480 Gbps of stack bandwidth.
How many access point licenses are included and what do they enable?
It includes five Cisco Unified AP licenses, enabling the embedded wireless controller to manage up to five lightweight APs for centralized provisioning and monitoring.
What is the Cisco IP Base feature set on the 3850 48W?
IP Base provides essential Layer 3 routing (static, RIP), advanced QoS, multicast, and security features tailored for campus access and distribution layers.
Can I stack multiple WS-C3850-48W-S switches?
Yes. Cisco StackWise-480 lets you stack up to nine switches into a single logical unit for enhanced scalability, resiliency, and simplified management.
Which management interfaces are available on the Catalyst 3850 48W?
Management options include a CLI via console/SSH, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, SNMP, and a web-based GUI for real-time configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Does the WS-C3850-48W-S support redundant power supplies?
Yes. It supports the optional Cisco RPS 2300 external redundant power system and field-replaceable internal power modules for high availability.
What security features are built into the Cisco Catalyst 3850 48W switch?
Security includes Secure Boot, MACsec encryption, 802.1X Network Access Control, Cisco TrustSec, control plane protection, and comprehensive ACL support.
What warranty and support does the WS-C3850-48W-S include?
It comes with a Cisco limited lifetime hardware warranty and 90 days of software support. Cisco SMARTnet contracts are available for extended coverage and expedited hardware replacement.
What are typical deployment use cases for the Catalyst 3850 48W switch?
Ideal for campus access layer, branch office, and converged wired-wireless scenarios where PoE, high throughput, and integrated wireless controller functionality are required.
How do I upgrade the IP Base license to the IP Services feature set?
Purchase a Cisco 3850 IP Services license, then install it using the 'license install' CLI command to enable advanced routing protocols such as OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP.
Which operating system runs on the WS-C3850-48W-S?
It runs Cisco IOS XE software, offering modularity, programmability via REST APIs, advanced automation, and built-in telemetry for simplified network operations.
How energy efficient is the Catalyst 3850 48W switch?
It features Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), Cisco EnergyWise power management, and PoE scheduling, reducing overall power consumption and operational costs.