Cisco Catalyst WS-C3560CX-12PC-S: Compact 12-Port Gigabit PoE+ Layer 3 Switch

1. Hardware and Performance

1.1 Gigabit Ethernet Ports & Uplinks

• 12 Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) ports for high-speed device connectivity

• 8 PoE+ (Power over Ethernet Plus) ports, delivering up to 30W per port, allowing the connection of IP phones, wireless access points, security cameras, and other powered devices

• Total PoE budget: 240W, ensuring multiple PoE+ devices can operate simultaneously

• 4 dedicated uplink ports for network expansion:

  • 2 x 1G SFP fiber ports for long-distance connectivity

  • 2 x 1G RJ-45 copper ports for direct Ethernet uplinks

1.2 Performance & Capacity

• Switching capacity: 32 Gbps

• Forwarding rate: 23.8 Mpps (million packets per second)

• Packet buffer memory: 1.5 MB

• MAC address table size: 16,000 entries

• Jumbo frame support: Up to 9,198 bytes

• DRAM: 512 MB

• Flash memory: 128 MB

1.3 Silent and Energy-Efficient Design

• Fanless operation for silent performance in noise-sensitive environments

• Energy-efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az) helps reduce power consumption without compromising performance

• Intelligent power management, with automatic power-down of unused ports

2. Software and Layer 3 Features

2.1 Network and Security Features

The Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PC-S runs on Cisco IOS Software with an IP Base feature set, providing Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities suitable for various networking applications.

• Layer 2 Features:

  • VLAN support: Up to 1,023 VLANs with 4,000 VLAN IDs

  • Spanning Tree Protocol (STP, RSTP, MSTP) to prevent network loops

  • EtherChannel (LACP, PAgP) for link aggregation and redundancy

• Layer 3 Features:

  • Static Routing and RIP (Routing Information Protocol) v1 & v2

  • OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) for advanced routing

  • EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) support

  • BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for enterprise networks

  • VRF-Lite for secure multi-tenant networks

2.2 Security Features

• 802.1X Authentication for secure access control

• DHCP Snooping to prevent rogue DHCP attacks

• Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to mitigate ARP spoofing

• Port Security for limiting MAC addresses per port

• Access Control Lists (ACLs) for traffic filtering and security enforcement

• IPv6 First Hop Security to prevent IPv6-based attacks

2.3 QoS (Quality of Service)

• Traffic prioritization ensures smooth performance for voice, video, and critical data applications

• 4 egress queues per port with Weighted Round Robin (WRR) and strict priority queuing

• Auto QoS simplifies voice and video traffic optimization

3. Physical and Environmental Specifications

3.1 Dimensions and Weight

• Height: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)

• Width: 10.6 inches (26.9 cm)

• Depth: 9.4 inches (23.9 cm)

• Weight: 4.63 lbs (2.1 kg)

3.2 Power and Cooling

• Power Supply: Internal, AC power (100-240V, 3.25-1.5A, 50/60Hz)

• Maximum Power Consumption: Approximately 250W (with full PoE load)

• Cooling: Fanless design for silent operation

3.3 Environmental Conditions

• Operating temperature: -5°C to 45°C (23°F to 113°F)

• Storage temperature: -25°C to 70°C (-13°F to 158°F)

• Humidity: 10% to 95% (non-condensing)

4. Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PC-S is ideal for the following use cases:

• Small and branch offices: Offers high-performance, silent, and secure networking

• Retail stores: Powers point-of-sale systems, surveillance cameras, and wireless access points

• Healthcare facilities: Supports medical devices and ensures secure patient data communication

• Education institutions: Provides reliable connectivity for classrooms, labs, and administrative networks

• Industrial environments: Suitable for IoT deployments, automation, and monitoring applications

5. Licensing & Support

The switch comes with Cisco’s Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty, which includes:

• Hardware replacement with next-business-day delivery

• 90-day software support for bug fixes and updates

• Lifetime access to Cisco’s online support resources

For advanced features, organizations may opt for additional Cisco SmartNet support contracts.

6. Summary

The Cisco Catalyst 3560CX-12PC-S is a powerful, compact, and feature-rich networking solution designed for high-performance, secure, and flexible network deployments. With Gigabit connectivity, PoE+ support, advanced Layer 3 features, and silent operation, it is ideal for offices, retail, healthcare, education, and industrial environments.

Why Choose This Switch?

✔ Compact fanless design – perfect for noise-sensitive environments
✔ PoE+ with 240W budget – powers multiple devices
✔ Layer 3 routing – supports OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP
✔ Enhanced security – 802.1X, DHCP Snooping, ACLs
✔ Energy-efficient – IEEE 802.3az compliant

This switch is a reliable, high-performance, and future-ready networking solution for businesses that need flexibility, security, and scalability in a compact form factor.