Cisco WS-C3850-12XS-S Catalyst

Cisco WS-C3850-12XS-S – 12-Port 10G SFP+ Fiber Switch with IP Base & Wireless Controller

The Cisco WS-C3850-12XS-S is a high-performance 12-port 10G SFP+ fiber switch designed for advanced fiber access and aggregation in enterprise and campus networks. As part of Cisco’s Catalyst 3850 Series, this switch combines stackable architecture, unified wired-wireless control, and Layer 3 IP Base functionality in a single compact device. It is ideal for organizations looking to build EMI-resilient, high-bandwidth networks using reliable 10Gbps fiber connectivity.

12 SFP+ Ports for Long-Range Fiber Connectivity

At the core of the WS-C3850-12XS-S are its twelve 10G SFP+ fiber ports, which provide lightning-fast uplinks with superior signal stability over long distances. Fiber-optic interfaces are critical in high-rise buildings, sprawling campuses, and interference-sensitive environments such as hospitals and industrial control facilities. These ports support various Cisco SFP+ transceivers, giving administrators flexibility in choosing between short-range (SR), long-range (LR), or bidirectional optics depending on deployment needs.

IP Base Feature Set for Essential Layer 3 Routing

Powered by the IP Base license, this model supports Layer 2 switching and basic Layer 3 features such as static routing, DHCP relay, VLAN segmentation, and inter-VLAN routing. It also offers robust Quality of Service (QoS) and policy controls to manage traffic prioritization in real time. While it doesn’t include advanced routing protocols like BGP or EIGRP (which are part of IP Services), it provides everything needed for core access and distribution layer roles in campus networks or enterprise buildings.

Built-in Wireless Controller for Converged Infrastructure

What makes this switch a standout is its integrated wireless controller functionality. The WS-C3850-12XS-S supports up to 100 Cisco lightweight access points and 2,000 wireless clients per switch or stack, delivering seamless wired + wireless convergence. This dramatically simplifies the network architecture by eliminating the need for a separate physical WLAN controller. It supports up to 20 Gbps of wireless throughput, with real-time policy enforcement and dynamic traffic visibility through Cisco’s Unified Access framework.

StackWise-480 Scalability & StackPower Redundancy

This StackWise-480 switch supports stacking of up to nine units with a total of 480 Gbps stack bandwidth. This enables distributed access while maintaining centralized control, streamlined upgrades, and high availability. With StackPower support, even though this model doesn’t deliver PoE itself, it can share power resources across the stack, contributing to redundancy and improved fault tolerance for connected PoE switches.

Switching Capacity and Performance Metrics

The Cisco WS-C3850-12XS-S delivers a switching capacity of 68 Gbps and a forwarding rate of 68.4 Mpps, ensuring wire-speed performance for all connected devices. Whether handling backhaul aggregation or inter-floor fiber uplinks, this capacity allows it to manage large traffic volumes without congestion or performance loss—particularly important in VoIP-heavy or video conferencing networks.

Flexible NetFlow for Intelligent Visibility and Analytics

Integrated Flexible NetFlow enables granular network telemetry across both wired and wireless traffic. This includes detailed flow analysis, application identification, and real-time bandwidth usage metrics. Network operators benefit from deep insights into user behavior, potential threats, and application performance—helping them make data-driven decisions for scaling or securing the network.

Hardware Design, Cooling & Environmental Specs

• Chassis Form Factor: 1RU rack-mountable
• Dimensions: Approx. 4.45 × 45 × 44.5 cm
• Weight: ~5.8 kg (≈12.9 lb)
• Memory: 4 GB DRAM and 2 GB Flash
• Redundant fans and modular power supplies for high reliability
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C
• Humidity: 10–95% non-condensing

All of these contribute to ensuring consistent performance and long operational life, especially in enterprise core or aggregation layer roles where uptime and thermal efficiency are critical.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The Cisco WS-C3850-12XS-S 12-port fiber switch is ideal for organizations looking to implement a “fiber-first” network design. It’s especially useful in:

• Enterprise campuses with distributed access floors requiring stable fiber uplinks
• Educational institutions where high-density wireless coverage is needed without additional controller hardware
• Healthcare networks that need EMI-resistant, long-distance connectivity between departments or buildings
• Industrial and high-security buildings requiring stackable, resilient infrastructure with centralized control

By providing a unified wired/wireless fabric, rich telemetry, and strong foundational routing, this switch empowers network teams to build resilient and scalable infrastructures across diverse use cases.

Stacking Benefits and Investment Protection

StackWise-480 allows for distributed uplinks across multiple buildings or floors while retaining centralized management. This modular scalability means organizations can begin with a single switch and grow as needed, avoiding over-investment in early stages. StackPower compatibility also provides added power redundancy, lowering risk