Description
Cisco WS-C4948E-F Layer 3 switch with 48 Gigabit ports & 4 SFP uplinks. High-performance, low-latency switching for enterprise & data centers.
Product Features
-
48x Gigabit Ethernet ports for flexible connectivity
-
4x SFP uplink ports for fiber expansion and scalability
-
Layer 3 routing support with advanced features
-
Front-to-back airflow (E-F model) for data center cooling efficiency
-
High switching capacity up to 176 Gbps
-
Low latency performance under 3 microseconds
-
Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and fans for maximum uptime
-
Rack-mountable 1RU form factor for easy deployment
General Product Information
The Cisco WS-C4948E-F Layer 3 Switch is a powerful, enterprise-grade networking solution designed for low-latency, high-performance environments. With 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 4 SFP uplinks, this switch is ideal for supporting high-density server racks, data center connectivity, or enterprise campus cores.
Engineered for reliability, the 4948E-F includes redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans, ensuring continuous operation with minimal downtime. The front-to-back airflow design (unique to the “-F” model) makes it especially well-suited for modern data centers where cooling efficiency is critical.
With Layer 3 advanced routing, high switching capacity, and ultra-low latency, the Cisco 4948E-F is a robust solution for businesses looking to upgrade network performance, reliability, and scalability. Whether supporting mission-critical enterprise applications, virtualization clusters, or growing cloud workloads, this switch delivers consistent performance at scale.
Technical Specifications Table
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cisco |
| Model | WS-C4948E-F |
| Ports | 48 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Uplinks | 4 x SFP (1G/10G support based on module) |
| Switching Capacity | Up to 176 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | Up to 130 Mpps |
| Latency | < 3 microseconds |
| Form Factor | 1U Rack-mountable |
| Airflow | Front-to-back (optimized for data centers) |
| Power Supply | Dual redundant, hot-swappable |
| Cooling | Hot-swappable fans |
| Layer Support | Layer 2 + Layer 3 routing |
Compatible Products
-
Cisco SFP transceivers (1G SX, LX, ZX modules)
-
Fiber patch cables (LC-LC multimode or single-mode)
-
Enterprise-grade servers (Dell, HPE, Supermicro, IBM)
-
Cisco Nexus and Catalyst series switches (aggregation)
-
Rack enclosures and PDUs for data center integration
Ideal Use Cases
-
Enterprise core or distribution switch
-
High-performance data center rack connectivity
-
Virtualization and cloud infrastructure networks
-
Campus networks requiring Layer 3 routing
-
Low-latency environments (finance, research, HPC)
-
Scalable backbone switch for medium-to-large businesses
Comparison Angle
The WS-C4948E-F improves on previous Cisco 4948 models with:
-
Front-to-back airflow optimized for modern data centers
-
Higher capacity with 176 Gbps switching performance
-
Improved reliability via dual redundant power supplies
-
Advanced Layer 3 features for enterprise-class routing
-
Lower latency compared to earlier generations
Cross-Sell / Upsell Suggestions
-
Cisco SFP transceivers (SX, LX, ZX modules)
-
Cisco rackmount PDUs and redundant power supplies
-
Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches for data center core
-
Cisco ASA or Firepower firewalls for security integration
-
High-capacity enterprise servers (HPE, Dell, Lenovo)