Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches: Features, Models, Controllers and StackWise-160

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches are the next generation of enterprise-class standalone and stackable access-layer switches, supporting 24 and 48 10/100/1000 data and PoE+ models with energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) supported ports. These switches also save space with only 12-inch lower depth form factor. Furthermore, the Catalyst 3650 Series can deliver up to 88 Gbps on 24-port models and 176 Gbps on 48-port models.

Cisco Catalyst 3650 series switches are more powerful than the elder switches.

This table, which comes from Cisco Website, shows us the benefits of 3650 series.

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Switches Features

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches are access layer switches and support Cisco StackWise-160 Technology which allowed them stack with up to 9 switches and support 160 Gpbs stackable bandwidth.

As an integrated wireless controller, Cisco Catalyst 3650 series switch also supports for up to 50 access points and 1000 wireless clients on each switching entity (switch or stack).

Cisco 3650 switches offer 60 Watts of UPOE per ports and POE+ for applications. Besides, they support dual redundant, modular power supplies and three modular fans providing redundancy.

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Models

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series support more than 10 models for customers’ various demands. We can scan those models by next tables.

4 x Gigabit Ethernet with Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Uplinks

2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet with SFP+ (or 4 x Gigabit Ethernet with SFP) Uplinks

4 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet with SFP+ (or 4 x Gigabit Ethernet with SFP) Uplinks

8 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet with SFP+ (or 8 x Gigabit Ethernet with SFP) Uplinks

2 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet with QSFP+ Uplinks

Integrated Wireless Controllers

Cisco Catalyst 3650 and 3850 series switches are integrated wireless controllers, which are deisgned to manage Access Points more expediently.

As integrated wireless controllers, Cisco Catalyst 3650 series switches can directly connect 1-50 APs per switch/stack and 1000 clients per stack, delivering 40 Gbps per switch.

Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches can directly connect 1-100 APs per switch/stack and 2000 clients per stack, delivering 40 Gbps per switch.

If the APs are used in small campus or branch, they are suitable to make Catalyst 3650 and 3850 be wireless controllers. These switches also can support POE for those Access Points.

Cisco StackWise-160 Technology

The Cisco Catalyst 3650 supports an optional stacking module that is based on the Cisco StackWise-160 technology.

Cisco StackWise-160 technology is built on the highly successful industry-leading StackWise technology, which is a premium stacking architecture. StackWise-160 has a stack bandwidth of 160 Gbps.

StackWise‑160 uses Cisco IOS Software SSO for providing resiliency within the stack. The stack behaves as a single switching unit that is managed by an “active” switch elected by the member switches. The active switch automatically elects a standby switch within the stack. The active switch creates and updates all the switching/routing/wireless information and constantly synchronizes that information with the standby switch.

If the active switch fails, the standby switch assumes the role of the active switch and continues to the keep the stack operational. Access points continue to remain connected during an active-to-standby switchover. A working stack can accept new members or delete old ones without service interruption.

StackWise-160 creates a highly resilient single unified system of up to 9 witches, providing simplified management using a single IP address, single Telnet session, single CLI, auto-version checking, auto-upgrading, auto-configuration, and more.

Summary

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches are going to replace their predecessor. You may consider to change your old switches now.

Reference

Cisco Switch Catalyst 3650 Series Datasheet