48 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switches

Pricing varies widely by brand, port speed, and features. New enterprise-grade 48 port switches can range from a few thousand dollars to over $20,000 for high-throughput models with 10G/100G uplinks. Refurbished units from resellers like Terabit Systems typically cost significantly less than new OEM pricing while still passing rigorous quality testing.

The fastest Ethernet switches on the market support 400GbE or higher uplink speeds, typically used in hyperscale data centers. For most enterprise and service provider deployments, switches offering 10GbE access ports with 40GbE or 100GbE uplinks—like many Arista and Juniper models—represent the practical high-speed standard.

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 48-port is a fixed-configuration access-layer switch offering 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports with optional PoE+, stackable architecture, and support for advanced security and automation features. It's widely used in enterprise campus networks requiring scalable, high-performance switching.

Configuration typically involves connecting via console cable, accessing the CLI or web interface, assigning a management IP address, setting up VLANs, configuring port speeds and trunking, and applying security policies such as port security or access control lists. Cisco IOS commands vary by switch model and software version, so consult the specific configuration guide for your unit.

Power consumption depends on the PoE standard and connected devices. A 48 port PoE+ switch can supply up to 30W per port, with total switch power budgets often ranging from 370W to over 800W depending on the model. Actual draw depends on how many ports are active and the power needs of connected devices.

Managed switches allow configuration of VLANs, QoS, port monitoring, and security policies through a CLI or web interface, making them suitable for enterprise and data center environments. Unmanaged switches offer plug-and-play connectivity without configuration options, typically used in smaller or less complex network setups.