Cisco Catalyst 3560-CX Series: WS-C3560CX-12PC-S – Compact PoE+ Edge Switch

Jun 13 , 2025 5

Cisco Catalyst 3560-CX Series: WS-C3560CX-12PC-S – Compact PoE+ Edge Switch

Product Overview
The WS-C3560CX-12PC-S is a compact, fanless switch designed for space-constrained environments requiring Power over Ethernet capabilities. This ruggedized switch delivers enterprise-grade features in a small form factor, making it ideal for distributed edge deployments.

Technical Specifications & Features

• Port Configuration:

• 8x 10/100/1000BASE-T PoE+ ports (30W per port)

• 4x 1G SFP fiber uplink ports

• Compact 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.4 inch chassis

• Power Specifications:

• 195W total PoE budget

• 100-240V AC power input

• Fanless passive cooling

• Performance Metrics:

• 24Gbps switching capacity

• 17.8Mpps forwarding rate

• <5μs latency

• Advanced Capabilities:

• Cisco IOS with LAN Base feature set

• EnergyWise power management

• Advanced QoS (8 queues per port)

• DHCP snooping and IP Source Guard

• Environmental Specifications:

• Operating temperature: 0° to 45°C

• Shock and vibration resistant

• Wall/ceiling mountable

Optimized Deployment Scenarios
✔ Retail point-of-sale environments
✔ Classroom and education technology
✔ Digital signage installations
✔ Industrial IoT edge locations
✔ Healthcare bedside connectivity

Next-Generation Successor: C3700-16PC-M (Projected 2025 Release)

Technology Evolution Comparison

Breakthrough Innovations

1. Multi-Gigabit Ready: 2.5GBASE-T support for Wi-Fi 6/6E

2. Ultra PoE: 60W per port (802.3bt) capability

3. Edge Intelligence: Local processing for IoT analytics

4. Enhanced Security: Zero Trust edge enforcement

5. Sustainable Design: 50% lower power consumption per port

Migration Pathway

1. Current Environment Assessment:

• Document existing WS-C3560CX-12PC-S deployments

• Identify high-power device requirements

2. Infrastructure Preparation:

• Verify cable plant for 2.5GBASE-T support

• Assess power circuit capacity

3. Phased Implementation:

• Stage 1: High-priority location upgrades

• Stage 2: Cloud management adoption

• Stage 3: Advanced security deployment

4. Financial Considerations:

• 35% higher unit cost

• 60% lower operational expenses

• 3-year ROI through energy savings

Strategic Conclusion
The WS-C3560CX-12PC-S continues to serve basic edge connectivity needs, while the C3700-16PC-M redefines compact switching with:

• 3x greater power delivery capacity

• Multi-gigabit ready ports

• Cloud-native management

• Integrated edge compute

• Industry-leading 94% energy efficiency

Distinctive Title Options

1. "From Compact to Cognitive: The Evolution of Edge Switching"

2. "The Intelligent Edge: Where PoE++ Meets Cloud Management"

3. "Next-Gen Compact Switching: 2.5G and Ultra PoE"

4. "Sustainable Edge Networking: The Multi-Gig Revolution"