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WS-C4948E
Cisco WS-C4948E Catalyst 4948E 48-Port Gigabit Switch, 4x10G...
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WS-C4948E provides front-to-back airflow for top-of-rack data center access, with 48 Gigabit Ethernet copper ports and four fixed 10G SFP+ uplinks. This managed Layer 3 switch belongs to the Catalyst 4948E family and uses IP Base as its default software image, serving server connections that need data connectivity rather than endpoint power. The uplink cages also accept Gigabit SFP optics, allowing upstream link speed to follow the selected transceiver rather than a removable network card. The discontinued WS-C4948E-F reverses the cooling direction for rear-intake cabinet layouts. A single rack unit houses the Ethernet interfaces and cooling assembly. The Cisco Catalyst 4900 series positions this configuration at the server access edge rather than as a modular aggregation chassis.
WS-C4948E price for new stock is $5,456.85, a 64.9% saving from the Cisco list price of $15,525.00. WS-C4948E refurb price is $913.48. WS-C4948E is in stock and available for free next-day delivery. (terms applied)
Request bulk order quote for WS-C4948E for additional pricing. Browse the full Cisco 4900 Catalyst Switches series or explore all Cisco products.
176 Gbps switching capacity provides fabric throughput for server and uplink traffic. 131 Mpps IPv4 forwarding and 110 Mpps IPv6 forwarding describe separate packet-processing limits for dual-stack networks. OSPF Routed Access supports 1000 routes under IP Base on Cisco IOS 15.2(1)E or later; BGP and full EIGRP are excluded from that image. Static routes, RIPv1, RIPv2 and EIGRP Stub cover the remaining limited-routing choices. WS-C4948E carries 1 GB of DRAM for system operation, while the hardware supports 55000 MAC entries and 57000 routes; the route total does not remove software-tier restrictions. STP, Rapid-PVST+ and LACP provide loop control and link aggregation, and DHCP snooping supports access security policy. Serial-console access, Telnet, SSH Version 2 and web access provide administration paths. The dedicated Ethernet management interface separates management connectivity from server-facing interfaces. Operating temperatures from 0°C to 40°C define the supported equipment environment.
ORM Systems supplies WS-C4948E new sealed or certified refurbished, with up to a 3-year extended warranty on new units, up to 1 year on certified refurbished units, and 30-day returns in either condition; terms apply. Certified refurbished units are inspected and bench-tested for power-on and POST, rated-speed links on every port, optics bay recognition and clean boot, with firmware verified and configurations wiped to factory default. Specify condition, software entitlement, power hardware and link optics on the purchase order for this switch. For enterprise and volume orders, PO acceptance, Net-30 for government and RMA with advance replacement are available across UK, EU, US and MEA stock/RMA regions.
| Key Specs | Key Spec Values |
|---|---|
Operating System | Cisco IOS |
License Tier | IP Base |
Port Configuration | 48 x 1G / 4 x 10G SFP+ |
Max Power Draw | 275W |
Ships Without | Power supply |
Lifecycle Status | Cisco support ended October 31, 2022. |
Deploy WS-C4948E-Catalyst 4948E as the central distribution switch in a multi-building campus network supporting 1,200+ end-users. Its 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports and four 10 GbE uplinks deliver non-blocking, low-latency L2/L3 switching with Hot-Standby Routing, ensuring seamless application delivery, predictable performance and simplified operations across enterprise segments.
Use WS-C4948E as a Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch for virtualization-heavy small-to-medium data centers, aggregating up to 48 server NICs with four 10 GbE uplinks to the spine. This configuration optimizes east-west traffic, accelerates virtual machine mobility and boosts throughput by up to 480 Gbps, while delivering advanced QoS and VXLAN routing for scalable, secure multi-tenant workloads.
Implement WS-C4948E to aggregate 48 IP cameras in a corporate or education campus, forwarding high-definition video streams to a centralized NVR farm. With wire-speed QoS, IGMP snooping and hardware-based ACLs, the switch enforces video-stream prioritization and secure segment isolation, reducing jitter and packet loss for reliable, continuous surveillance monitoring.
When replacing an installed WS-C4948 or WS-C4948-10GE, match the existing rack’s cabling and licensed features before choosing the replacement configuration. WS-C4948E is the migration model for both older base PIDs, but the installation still needs an explicit software and power bill of materials. Specify retained and supplied components before the PO.
When consolidating copper-connected servers behind one rack switch, short traffic bursts need evaluation separately from sustained bandwidth. The 17.5 MB shared packet buffer provides centralized queue storage, but traffic policy and burst size still determine workload fit. Include representative burst testing and the required uplink media in the purchase specification.
Before a maintenance-window replacement, queue behavior may need validation against the existing server traffic policy rather than only basic link tests. Eight queues per port support distinct scheduling classes, while classification and prioritization remain configuration tasks. Specify the intended software image and policy validation requirements before releasing the PO.
PoE-powered phones or access points
WS-C4948E provides data-only copper connectivity and cannot power attached endpoints. PoE-powered phones or access points need independent power sources rather than drawing power from these Ethernet ports.
10G copper server access
WS-C4948E copper downlinks stop at 1GbE; 10G connectivity uses its fixed SFP+ uplinks. A requirement for 10GBASE-T server-facing ports is outside this configuration.
Advanced routing under IP Base
IP Base excludes BGP, IS-IS and full EIGRP. WS-C4948E cannot satisfy these requirements under its default image; advanced routing depends on Enterprise Services entitlement.
Active Cisco hardware support
Cisco hardware service and warranty support ended October 31, 2022. WS-C4948E cannot meet a purchasing requirement for active Cisco hardware support or new Cisco hardware coverage.
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| WS-C4948E |  WS-X4993 |  WS-C4928-10GE |  WS-C4948E-F-E |  WS-X4993-F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 493 mm | 18 inches | 406 mm | 493 mm | 18 inches |
| Ethernet Technology | Gigabit Ethernet | 10/100/1000 | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | 10/100/1000 |
| Form Factor | Rack-Mount 1U | Rack-mount | Rack-Mount 1U | Rack-Mount 1U | Rack-mount |
| Height | 44 mm | 1 inches | 45 mm | 44 mm | 1.75 inches |
| Manufacturer Part Number | WS-C4948E | WS-X4993 | WS-C4928-10GE | WS-C4948E-F-E | WS-X4993-F |
| Memory | 1 GB | 512 MB | 256 MB | 1 GB | 512 MB |
| Power Consumption | 275W | 350 W | 150W | 275W | 350 W |
| Switching Capacity | 176 Gbps | 640 Gbps | 96 Gbps | 176 Gbps | 480 Gbps |
| Weight | 8.62 kg | 20 lbs | 7.9 kg | 8.62 kg | 25 lbs |
| Width | 439 mm | 17 inches | 445 mm | 439 mm | 19 inches |
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New products are backed by up to 3 years of extended warranty, and certified refurbished units by up to 90 days, for dependable protection on every order. The exact term is confirmed on your quote, order confirmation and invoice.
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Every device is inspected, bench-tested, and firmware-verified, with configurations wiped before dispatch. Additional testing can be arranged to confirm full working condition on request.
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Reviewed on the 31 March 2022
Upgraded performance compared to older models.
Reviewed on the 21 October 2019
Consistent switching.
Reviewed on the 15 July 2024
Good experience.
Reviewed on the 26 January 2022
Reliable for aggregation use.
Reviewed on the 24 December 2025
Solid Cisco quality.
WS-C4948E identifies the Catalyst 4948E base configuration, not an Enterprise Services bundle. WS-C is the product-number prefix; 4948E is the model designation. The complete PID selects 48 Gigabit copper ports, four SFP+ uplinks and no power supply. Its E belongs to the model name, unlike the separate -E bundle suffix.
Catalyst 4948E supports Cisco IOS CLI access through serial console, Telnet and SSH Version 2, together with web access and CiscoView Autonomous Device Manager. SNMP and SNMPv3 support network monitoring, while a dedicated Ethernet management port provides out-of-band connectivity. Specify a cryptographic image when SSH access is required.
WS-C4948E does not provide PoE on its 48 Gigabit Ethernet copper ports. Servers or other attached devices need their own power sources; the Ethernet connection supplies data only. Power supply redundancy inside the chassis powers the switch itself and does not create a PoE budget for connected endpoints.
WS-C4948E has four fixed SFP+ uplink cages supporting 10G SFP+ and 1G SFP connectivity. The copper server ports remain Gigabit Ethernet regardless of the chosen uplink optics. Specify transceivers for the required link speed, optical reach and peer interface; the chassis has no removable uplink network-module bay.
WS-C4948E ships without a power supply and supports optional internal AC or DC supplies with 1+1 redundancy. PWR-C49E-300AC-R= supplies AC power, while PWR-C49-300DC= provides the DC option. Specify power hardware and feed requirements; a second compatible supply is required to populate a redundant configuration.
Yes, WS-C4948E supports OSPF Routed Access with IP Base, limited to 1000 routes on Cisco IOS 15.2(1)E or later. The hardware’s 57000-route total does not remove that software limit. Full OSPF, BGP, IS-IS and full EIGRP require Enterprise Services rather than the default IP Base image.
WS-C4948E supports LAN Base, IP Base and Enterprise Services software images, with IP Base as the default. LAN Base provides Layer 2 switching, IP Base adds limited routing, and Enterprise Services enables advanced routing such as BGP. Confirm the installed image and its software entitlement separately from the hardware condition.
WS-C4948E replaced WS-C4948 and WS-C4948-10GE, providing a migration route to the Catalyst 4948E generation. WS-C4948 reached end of sale on August 1, 2013. The replacement itself is now discontinued, so compatibility with an existing installation does not provide renewed Cisco service eligibility.
WS-C4948E reached end of sale on October 31, 2017, and Cisco hardware support ended October 31, 2022. Security support ended October 30, 2020. The retired Catalyst 4948E has no active Cisco hardware service path, regardless of whether a reseller supplies unused stock or a refurbished unit.
WS-C4948E-S includes an AC power supply, whereas WS-C4948E excludes a power supply and requires separate power selection. Both are discontinued Catalyst 4948E configurations. The base PID suits replacement orders retaining compatible power hardware; the -S bundle suits orders that specifically need the included AC configuration.
WS-C4948E-E is the Enterprise Services bundle, whereas WS-C4948E defaults to IP Base. Enterprise Services enables BGP, IS-IS and full EIGRP beyond IP Base’s limited routing. Both configurations are discontinued; the base model suits limited-routing replacements, while the -E bundle suits existing installations requiring the advanced image.
WS-C4948E uses front-to-back airflow, while WS-C4948E-F uses back-to-front airflow. Both models are discontinued and retain the same Ethernet configuration. Cooling direction must match the cabinet’s intake and exhaust arrangement; WS-C4948E suits front-intake layouts, whereas WS-C4948E-F suits installations requiring intake from the rear.
ORM Systems offers WS-C4948E new sealed or certified refurbished, with up to a 3-year extended warranty for new units and up to 1 year for refurbished units. Returns are accepted for 30 days in either condition; terms apply. Cisco warranty and hardware service ended October 31, 2022.
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