A Comparison of Cisco Catalyst Switches: C1000-48T-4X-L and WS-C3560-24TS-E

 Cisco Catalyst switches are a line of enterprise-class switches that provide high performance, security, and scalability for various network scenarios. In this article, we will compare two models of Cisco Catalyst switches: C1000-48T-4X-L and WS-C3560-24TS-E, and highlight their features, benefits, and differences.

C1000-48T-4X-L Overview

The C1000-48T-4X-L is a member of the Cisco Catalyst 1000 Series switches, which are fixed managed Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switches designed for small businesses and branch offices. The C1000-48T-4X-L has 48 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and four 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ module uplink slots. It supports PoE+ with a power budget of up to 740W, and offers simple device management and network management via a CLI or a web UI. The C1000-48T-4X-L also supports advanced features such as sFlow, 802.1X, SPAN, BPDU Guard, and IP routing.

Some of the benefits of the C1000-48T-4X-L are:

It provides high-speed connectivity for wired and wireless devices, with up to 10 Gbps per port.

It enables uniform wired-wireless policy enforcement, application visibility, flexibility, and optimization.

It reduces power consumption and enhances energy efficiency with EEE and Cisco EnergyWise.

It offers modular and field-replaceable redundant fans and power supplies for high availability.

It supports IEEE 802.3bz (2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T) to go beyond 1 Gbps with existing Category 5e and Category 6 cabling.

It supports IEEE 802.1ba AVB to provide a better AV experience, including improved time synchronization and QoS.

WS-C3560-24TS-E Overview

The WS-C3560-24TS-E is a member of the Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series switches, which are standalone and stackable access-layer switches that provide the foundation for full convergence between wired and wireless on a single platform. The WS-C3560-24TS-E has 24 Ethernet 10/100 ports and two SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet ports. It supports PoE+ with a power budget of up to 370W, and offers integrated wireless controller capability with up to 40G of wireless capacity per switch. The WS-C3560-24TS-E also supports advanced features such as Cisco StackWise-160, Cisco UADP ASIC, Cisco Unified Access Data Plane, and IP routing.

Some of the benefits of the WS-C3560-24TS-E are:

It provides seamless integration of wired and wireless networks, with unified management and security.

It delivers superior performance and scalability with up to 160 Gbps of stack throughput and up to 50 access points and 1000 wireless clients per switch.

It enables rich services such as advanced QoS, rate limiting, access control lists, multicast management, and high-performance IP routing.

It supports Cisco UPOE with up to 60W power per port for powering devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, video surveillance cameras, and building management systems.

It supports Cisco CMS Software for easy configuration and troubleshooting of multiple switches using a web browser.

Comparison Table

The following table summarizes some of the key differences between the C1000-48T-4X-L and the WS-C3560-24TS-E switches.

Feature C1000-48T-4X-L WS-C3560-24TS-E

Ethernet ports 48 10/100/1000 24 10/100

Uplink ports 4 SFP+ 2 SFP

PoE+ power budget 740W 370W

Wireless controller capability No Yes

Stackable No Yes

Software image SMI or EMI SMI or EMI

IP routing Basic or Advanced Basic or Advanced

IEEE 802.3bz support Yes No

IEEE 802.1ba AVB support Yes No

Conclusion

Both the C1000-48T-4X-L and the WS-C3560-24TS-E are reliable and versatile switches that can meet different network needs. The C1000-48T-4X-L is more suitable for small businesses and branch offices that need high-speed connectivity, energy efficiency, and simple management. The WS-C3560-24TS-E is more suitable for enterprise-class environments that need full convergence, wireless integration, and rich services. Depending on your network requirements, you can choose the switch that best fits your scenario.