Cisco Nexus 3000 Series: N3K-C3548P-10GX – High-Density 10G PoE+ Data Center Switch

Jun 13 , 2025 7

Cisco Nexus 3000 Series: N3K-C3548P-10GX – High-Density 10G PoE+ Data Center Switch

Product Overview
The Cisco N3K-C3548P-10GX is a 1RU fixed-configuration switch designed for high-density Power over Ethernet deployments in data center and enterprise environments. This unique Nexus switch combines the performance of Cisco's data center switching with PoE+ capabilities, making it ideal for converged IP and power delivery applications.

Key Features & Specifications

• Port Configuration:

• 48x 10GBASE-T PoE+ ports (30W per port, IEEE 802.3at)

• 4x 40G QSFP+ uplink ports

• 1x RJ-45 console port, 1x USB management port

• Power Specifications:

• Total PoE budget: 1200W (with 1600W power supply)

• N+1 power redundancy support

• 90-264V AC input range

• Performance Metrics:

• 1.28Tbps switching capacity

• 950Mpps forwarding rate

• <2μs latency (store-and-forward)

• Advanced Capabilities:

• NX-OS operating system with unified management

• FCoE and DCB support

• VXLAN gateway functionality

• Precision Time Protocol (PTP) support

• Smart Call Home feature

Use Cases
✔ Unified Communications: High-density VoIP deployments
✔ Surveillance Networks: IP camera backbones
✔ Wireless LAN: 802.11ac/ax access point connectivity
✔ Digital Workspaces: PoE-powered digital signage
✔ Industrial IoT: Connected sensor networks

Next-Generation Successor: N4K-C3648P-25GX (Projected 2025 Release)

Evolutionary Improvements

Strategic Advantages of Next-Gen Model

1. Multi-Gigabit PoE++: 60W per port (802.3bt Type 3)

2. Terabit-Ready: 100G uplink capability

3. AI-Powered Management: Predictive power budgeting

4. Enhanced Security: Hardware-based encryption

5. Sustainable Design: 40% lower power per connected device

Migration Recommendations

1. Current Deployments: N3K-C3548P-10GX remains viable for existing 10G PoE needs

2. Future Planning: N4K-C3648P-25GX for Wi-Fi 6E/7 and IoT expansion

3. Power Infrastructure: Requires 30A circuits for full PoE utilization

4. Feature Adoption: Phased implementation of AI power management

5. Budget Considerations: Higher upfront cost offset by operational savings

Conclusion
The N3K-C3548P-10GX delivers unique value for powered data center deployments, while the N4K-C3648P-25GX represents the future of intelligent power-over-data switching with:

• 2.5x faster access ports

• 2x greater PoE capacity

• AI-optimized power delivery

• 100G uplink capability

• 93% power efficiency

Alternative Title Options

1. "From PoE+ to PoE++: Cisco's Powered Data Center Evolution"

2. "The AI-Powered Switch: Cisco's 2400W PoE Vision"

3. "Next-Gen Powered Switching: 25G and Intelligent Power"

4. "Sustainable Data Center Power: The 100G PoE Era"