The Latest Model Comparison for the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches
The Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches may be the most popular Cisco campus switches now.
Why?
The Catalyst 3850 Series supports full IEEE 802.3 at Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), Cisco Universal Power over Ethernet (Cisco UPOE), modular and field-replaceable network modules, RJ45 and fiber-based downlink interfaces, and redundant fans and power supplies. With speeds that reach 10Gbps, the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Multigigabit Ethernet Switches support current and next-generation wireless speeds and standards (including 802.11ac Wave 2) on existing cabling infrastructure.
The following table provides high-level comparisons of the different models available in the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switch family.
Customers need to purchase the IP Base software model or the IP Services software model in order to use a Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switch as a wireless controller. LAN Base models require the purchase of a StackPower cable separately to enable StackPower functionality.
Compare Models: The Latest Cisco 3850 Models
With LAN Base Software
| Models | Total GE Ethernet Ports | Total Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Ports | Default AC Power Supply/ Available PoE Power | Optional Network Module | Stack Power |
| WS-C3850-24T-L | 24 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-48T-L | 48 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-24P-L | 24 PoE+ | – | 715 W, 435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-48P-L | 48 PoE+ | – | 715 W, 435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-48F-L | 48 PoE+ | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-24U-L | 24 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-48U-L | 48 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-24XU-L | 24 UPOE | 24 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE | Yes* |
| WS-C3850-12X48U-L | 36 UPOE | 12 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE | Yes* |
* LAN Base models require purchase of a separate StackPower cable.
With IP Base Software
| Models | Total Gigabit Ethernet (GE) Ports | Total Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Ports | Default AC Power Supply/ Available Power over Ethernet (PoE) Power | Optional Network Module | Stack Power |
| WS-C3850-24T-S | 24 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48T-S | 48 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24P-S | 24 PoE+ | – | 715 W, 435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48P-S | 48 PoE+ | – | 715 W ,435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48F-S | 48 PoE+ | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-12S-S | 12 Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24S-S | 24 SFP | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24U-S | 24 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48U-S | 48 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24XU-S | 24 UPOE | 24 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-12X48U-S | 36 UPOE | 12 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE | Yes |
With IP Services Software
| Models | Total GE Ethernet Ports | Total Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Ports | Default AC Power Supply/ Available PoE Power | Optional Network Module | Stack Power |
| WS-C3850-24T-E | 24 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48T-E | 48 | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24P-E | 24 PoE+ | – | 715 W, 435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48P-E | 48 PoE+ | – | 715 W, 435 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48F-E | 48 PoE+ | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-12S-E | 12 SFP | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24S-E | 24 SFP | – | 350 W, no PoE | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24U-E | 24 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-48U-E | 48 UPOE | – | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-24XU-E | 24 UPOE | 24 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE | Yes |
| WS-C3850-12X48U-E | 36 UPOE | 12 UPOE | 1100 W, 800 W | 4 x 1 GE 2 x 10 GE 4 x 10 GE 8 x 10 GE 2 x 40 GE |
More Cisco 3850 Topics
Cisco Catalyst 3850 Models Comparison
Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series-“Auto-Upgrade” Feature
Cisco 3560X, Cisco 3750X to Cisco Catalyst 3850 & 3650 Switches
Cisco Catalyst 3850 Password Recovery
Cisco Catalyst 3850: Understanding Interface Configuration on NM Modules
Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series- the Industry’s first Fixed, Stackable GE Switch
