Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 Catalyst

Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 Catalyst Switch – Product Overview

The Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 is a high-performance, enterprise-grade switch from the Cisco Catalyst Express 520 Series, engineered to deliver a reliable, secure, and energy-efficient network foundation for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Specifically designed for organizations with limited IT staff and up to 250 users, this model simplifies network deployment while maintaining enterprise-level functionality. With its compact rack-mountable design, it fits seamlessly into branch offices, retail environments, and satellite locations where space and scalability are crucial.

This switch provides 8 Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports with integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities, allowing simultaneous transmission of data and electrical power over standard Ethernet cables. This makes it an ideal choice for powering network-connected devices such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, video surveillance cameras, and other PoE-enabled peripherals—eliminating the need for separate power adapters and reducing cable clutter.

Moreover, the Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 features a dual-purpose uplink port, supporting either a 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) connection or a Gigabit SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) module, offering flexibility in uplink options based on network design and bandwidth requirements. This enables scalable connectivity to core switches, routers, or fiber-based backbone networks, ensuring smooth integration into existing or future infrastructure.

With its built-in support for voice and data convergence, this switch is optimized for IP telephony, unified communications, and wireless LAN access, making it a core component of Cisco’s Smart Business Communications System (SBCS). It provides advanced Quality of Service (QoS), traffic segmentation, and secure access control to ensure high-priority applications like voice and video receive consistent bandwidth and low latency—critical for real-time communication environments.

Whether deployed in a growing startup, a remote branch office, or a retail point of presence, the Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 delivers a powerful combination of affordability, plug-and-play deployment, and Cisco reliability, helping businesses build a robust, intelligent LAN with minimal complexity.

Technical and Performance Features of the Switch

The Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 offers solid technical performance with a 3.6 Gbps switching capacity and wire-speed forwarding. It includes 8 Fast Ethernet PoE ports and a dual-purpose Gigabit uplink (RJ-45 or SFP), providing flexible connectivity options. The switch is equipped with 64 MB DRAM and 16 MB Flash memory for stable operation. Advanced features like VLAN tagging (802.1Q), QoS (802.1p), and port security (802.1x) ensure efficient and secure traffic handling. Designed for reliability, it supports both voice and data services in demanding SMB networks.

  1. High-Performance and Reliable Network Connectivity

The Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 offers 8× 10/100 Mbps PoE ports that deliver both data and power to connected devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras. It also includes a single dual-purpose uplink port (10/100/1000BASE-T or SFP) to ensure flexible connectivity to aggregation switches or routers.

With a switching capacity of 3.6 Gbps and wire-speed performance, the switch guarantees low-latency packet forwarding, making it suitable for real-time business applications. The inclusion of 64 MB DRAM and 16 MB Flash memory ensures stable operation and reliable software management.

  2. Built-In PoE and Simplified Deployment

The integrated 204W power supply supports PoE across all 8 ports, with a power budget designed for small office environments. Power requirements range from 100 to 240VAC at 50–60 Hz, providing installation flexibility worldwide.

The switch is rack-mountable and operates reliably across a temperature range of 0°C to 45°C, making it ideal for wiring closets and small server rooms.

  3. Robust Management and Security

Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 includes simplified web-based device management tailored for non-IT personnel, as well as support for SNMP v3 for secure, remote monitoring. It also includes RMON 1, 2, 3, and 9 for granular network performance monitoring.

Security is enforced via IEEE 802.1X port-based network access control and VLAN support (IEEE 802.1Q), allowing administrators to segment network traffic efficiently. These features align with Cisco’s Smart Business Communications System to provide integrated voice, wireless, and security support.

Standards and Compatibility

This switch adheres to key networking protocols including:

• IEEE 802.1D (Spanning Tree)

• IEEE 802.1p (QoS/CoS)

• IEEE 802.1Q (VLAN tagging)

• IEEE 802.1w (Rapid STP)

• IEEE 802.1x (Port-based access control)

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab (Ethernet standards)

Ideal Use Cases

Perfect for businesses with up to 250 users, the Cisco WS-CE520-8PC-K9 offers the reliability and performance of an enterprise-class switch, while remaining affordable and easy to manage. It is particularly well-suited for:

• VoIP phone networks

• Small office wireless deployments

• Security camera networks

• Network edge access for growing environments

You can also visit the manufacturer’s website link for more information.

You can also visit the Cisco WS-C2950C-24 Catalyst , Cisco WS-C4948E Catalyst , Catalyst Switches pages if you wish.