Cisco Catalyst 6800-48P-SFP: High-Density PoE+ Line Card for the Catalyst 6800 Series

Jun 20 , 2025 3

Cisco Catalyst 6800-48P-SFP: High-Density PoE+ Line Card for the Catalyst 6800 Series

Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst 6800-48P-SFP is a high-performance, Power over Ethernet (PoE+)-enabled line card designed for the Catalyst 6800 Series modular switches. It provides 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T PoE+ ports alongside 4x 1G/10G SFP+ uplink slots, making it ideal for enterprise access, wireless LAN (WLAN), and IP telephony deployments requiring high-density power delivery.

Key Specifications

✔ Port Configuration:

• 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 ports (IEEE 802.3af/at PoE+ support)

• 4x 1G/10G SFP+ uplink ports (for high-speed aggregation)
  ✔ PoE Budget: Up to 740W total power (30W per port max, 15.4W standard PoE)
  ✔ Forwarding Rate: Line-rate switching at 136 Gbps
  ✔ Switching Capacity: Non-blocking architecture for full throughput
  ✔ Power Efficiency: Optimized for energy savings with Cisco UPOE (Optional)
  ✔ Compatibility: Works with all Catalyst 6800 chassis (6800, 6807-XL, 6807R-XL)

Advanced Features

Cisco IOS XE Software – Supports automation, SD-Access, and DNA Center integration
PoE Monitoring & Management – Real-time power tracking per port
Advanced QoS – Prioritizes voice, video, and critical traffic
Security – MACsec encryption, ACLs, and DHCP snooping
High Availability – Supports ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade) for minimal downtime
Flexible Uplinks – 10G SFP+ ports for high-bandwidth aggregation

Deployment Use Cases

• Enterprise Campus Access Layer – Connects IP phones, wireless APs, and PoE cameras

• High-Density Wi-Fi 6/6E Deployments – Powers Cisco Catalyst 9100/9120 APs

• Unified Communications – Supports Cisco IP Phones and video conferencing systems

• Converged Networks – Combines data, voice, and IoT traffic on a single platform

Next-Generation Evolution: Cisco Catalyst 6800-48P-SFP2 (Expected 2026)

Key Upgrades & Innovations

Higher Power & Efficiency:

• Cisco UPOE+ (Universal Power over Ethernet Plus) – Up to 90W per port (IEEE 802.3bt)

• Total PoE Budget: 1.2kW (Supports next-gen Wi-Fi 7, PTZ cameras, and IoT devices)

Enhanced Connectivity:

• 48x Multigigabit (2.5G/5G/10G) PoE++ ports (Future-proof for high-speed access)

• 8x 10G/25G SFP28 uplinks (Doubled uplink capacity for 5G and cloud traffic)

AI & Automation:

• AI-Powered PoE Management – Predictive power allocation & fault prevention

• Self-Healing Networks – Automatic failover and energy optimization

Security & Compliance:

• Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Ready – Protects against future threats

• Enhanced MACsec (256-bit AES-GCM) – Secures all uplinks

Sustainability:

• 40% Lower Power Consumption – Energy-efficient ASICs & dynamic power scaling

Why Upgrade to 48P-SFP2?

✔ Supports next-gen Wi-Fi 7, IoT, and smart buildings
✔ Higher power budget for advanced endpoints
✔ Faster uplinks for 5G and cloud-driven networks
✔ AI-driven automation reduces operational overhead
✔ Extended hardware lifecycle with Cisco’s Long-Term Support (LTS)

Conclusion

The Catalyst 6800-48P-SFP is a reliable, high-density PoE+ line card for modern enterprise networks, while the next-gen 48P-SFP2 introduces multigigabit PoE++, AI automation, and quantum-safe security for future-ready deployments.