Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S 24-Port Managed PoE+ Gigabit Switch

The Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S is a high-performance, rack-mountable Layer 3 managed switch designed for business networks that require reliable Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), advanced network management, routing capabilities, and scalable switching performance. As part of the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series, this switch combines enterprise-grade switching with PoE+ capabilities, making it suitable for offices, schools, hotels, data centres, CCTV installations, IP telephony deployments, wireless networks, and other demanding IT infrastructure environments.

With 24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet PoE+ ports and a 435 W PoE budget, the WS-C3850-24P-S can provide both network connectivity and power to compatible devices over Ethernet cabling. Cisco specifies support for IEEE 802.3at PoE+, providing up to 30 W per copper port where the available power budget allows.

Key Features of Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S

• 24 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet PoE+ ports
• Layer 3 managed switch
• 435 W PoE budget
• 1U rack-mountable form factor
• Cisco StackWise-480 technology
• 480 Gbps stacking bandwidth
• 88 Gbps switching capacity
• 32,000 MAC address table entries
• Up to 24,000 IPv4 routes
• Up to 1,000 Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs)
• 24,000 Flexible NetFlow entries
• 9198-byte jumbo frame support
• RIPv1, RIPv2, RIPng and EIGRP support
• SNMP, RMON, SSH, Telnet and CLI management
• Enterprise-grade Cisco IOS software
• Designed for scalable business and campus networks

Reliable 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

The Cisco Catalyst 3850-24P-S provides 24 Gigabit Ethernet copper ports, supporting 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps Ethernet connections. This gives organisations the flexibility to connect computers, servers, wireless access points, IP phones, surveillance cameras, printers, network storage systems and other Ethernet-enabled equipment.

Gigabit connectivity helps provide fast data transfer between connected devices while reducing network bottlenecks. For businesses with multiple users and network-intensive applications, the switch provides a strong foundation for building a structured and manageable wired network.

Powerful PoE+ for Network Devices

One of the main advantages of the Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S PoE+ switch is its integrated Power over Ethernet capability. The switch has a 435 W PoE budget, allowing compatible devices to receive power and data through the same Ethernet cable. Cisco identifies the 24-port PoE model as supporting IEEE 802.3at PoE+ with up to 30 W per copper port.

This makes the switch particularly useful for installations involving:

• IP phones
• Wireless access points
• IP security cameras
• Network intercom systems
• IoT devices
• Other IEEE 802.3af/802.3at-compatible equipment

PoE can simplify installations by reducing the need for separate power adapters and electrical cabling at every endpoint.

Layer 3 Managed Switching

The WS-C3850-24P-S is more than a basic plug-and-play Ethernet switch. Its Layer 3 capabilities allow network administrators to implement routing and segmentation functions within the network.

Cisco lists support for IPv4 and IPv6 routing, multicast routing, Quality of Service (QoS), Flexible NetFlow and enhanced security features across the Catalyst 3850 platform.

With support for up to 24,000 IPv4 routes and 1,000 SVIs, the switch can support sophisticated network designs involving multiple VLANs, departments and routed network segments.

High Switching and Stacking Performance

The Cisco Catalyst 3850 platform is engineered for demanding enterprise environments. The WS-C3850-24P-S provides substantial switching performance, while Cisco’s StackWise-480 technology offers 480 Gbps of stacking bandwidth. Cisco documentation lists 24-port Gigabit Ethernet models with switching capacity figures in the high-performance range, with Cisco documentation varying by measurement/version; the commonly specified WS-C3850-24P-S configuration is rated at 88 Gbps in the supplied specification.

Stacking allows compatible Catalyst 3850 switches to operate as a unified logical system, helping organisations expand their network while simplifying management and improving resilience.

Advanced Network Management

For professional IT environments, centralised network management is essential. The Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S supports a range of management and monitoring technologies, including SNMP, RMON, SSH, Telnet and command-line interface (CLI) management.

These capabilities allow administrators to monitor network performance, configure ports, troubleshoot connectivity issues, manage VLANs and apply network policies.

SSH provides secure remote management, while SNMP and RMON can assist with network monitoring and visibility.

Large MAC Address and Jumbo Frame Capacity

The switch supports a 32,000-entry MAC address table, making it suitable for networks with a significant number of connected endpoints. This is useful in offices, educational institutions, hospitality environments and larger commercial deployments.

The WS-C3850-24P-S also supports jumbo frames up to 9198 bytes, which can be beneficial for certain high-throughput applications and specialised network environments. Cisco lists 32,000 MAC addresses and 9198-byte jumbo frame support among the Catalyst 3850 performance specifications.

Flexible Routing Protocol Support

The switch supports several routing technologies, including RIP Version 1, RIP Version 2, RIPng and EIGRP stub, depending on the software feature set and configuration. Cisco describes the Catalyst 3850 as supporting IPv4 and IPv6 routing and identifies RIPv1, RIPv2, RIPng and EIGRP stub support for applicable configurations.

This makes the switch suitable for organisations that require more control over how traffic moves between VLANs and network segments.

Ideal for Business and Enterprise Networks

The Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S is well suited to environments where reliability, scalability and centralised management are important. Its 24 PoE+ Gigabit ports make it especially useful where multiple powered network devices need to be deployed without installing individual power supplies at every endpoint.

Typical applications include:

Office Networks

Connect desktop computers, IP phones, printers, servers and wireless access points while maintaining centralised network management.

CCTV and Security Installations

The PoE+ ports can provide network connectivity and power to compatible IP cameras, helping simplify surveillance infrastructure.

Wireless Network Deployments

PoE support makes it convenient to connect compatible wireless access points to the network without requiring separate local power at each installation point.

Schools and Institutions

The switch can support computers, access points, IP phones, printers and other connected devices across multiple departments or network segments.

Hospitality and Commercial Premises

Hotels, offices and commercial facilities can use its combination of Gigabit connectivity, PoE+, VLANs and Layer 3 capabilities to build structured networks for staff, guests, security and business applications.

Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S Specifications

*Performance figures can depend on the exact hardware/software configuration and Cisco documentation revision.

Why Choose the Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S?

The Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S 24-port PoE+ managed switch is a practical choice for organisations that need more than basic Ethernet connectivity. It combines Gigabit networking, PoE+, Layer 3 capabilities, advanced management, network monitoring and Cisco stacking technology in a compact 1U chassis.

Its 435 W PoE budget can help simplify deployments involving IP phones, access points and other powered network devices, while its routing and management features provide administrators with greater control over the network.

For businesses planning a scalable and professionally managed infrastructure, the WS-C3850-24P-S offers a strong enterprise switching platform with the flexibility to support both conventional wired devices and modern PoE-powered equipment.

Buy Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S in Kenya

Looking for a Cisco WS-C3850-24P-S 24-port PoE+ managed switch in Kenya? Neriahtech Computers Ltd supplies networking equipment and IT infrastructure for businesses, institutions and professional network installations.

For availability, pricing and technical assistance, contact Neriahtech Computers Ltd on +254 113 81 81 82 or email neriahtechcomputers@gmail.com.

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