Cisco Catalyst 3560X-24P-S

Cisco Catalyst 3560X-24P-S – 24-Port PoE+ Access Switch with 4 SFP Uplinks (2×10G + 2×1G)

The Cisco Catalyst 3560X-24P-S is a robust and highly reliable enterprise-class access switch engineered to provide exceptional performance, high availability, and scalable power solutions for medium to large network deployments. Designed as part of Cisco’s Catalyst 3560-X Series, this switch delivers 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports with PoE+ capabilities and a versatile uplink configuration featuring 4 SFP ports (2×10G and 2×1G), ensuring optimal connectivity for a wide range of enterprise applications.

With growing demands for high-speed connectivity, VoIP deployment, high-density wireless environments, and security-driven networking, the Catalyst 3560X-24P-S provides the perfect combination of performance, management, and power efficiency. It is ideal for organizations looking to unify wired access, power high-end devices, and maintain a secure and flexible network infrastructure.

This description provides a comprehensive overview of the Cisco Catalyst 3560X-24P-S, including its hardware architecture, PoE+ capabilities, Layer 2/3 features, stacking technology, security functions, and enterprise use cases, ensuring a complete understanding for IT professionals, decision-makers, and technical buyers.

Overview and Product Positioning

The Catalyst 3560X-24P-S is a fixed-configuration access switch positioned for enterprise campus deployments, providing high-performance access layer switching and enhanced Power over Ethernet support. It supports critical enterprise applications such as:

• Unified communications (IP telephony and video conferencing)

• Wireless access point deployment

• High-density surveillance systems

• Network segmentation and security enforcement

As part of Cisco’s 3560-X family, this switch provides reliable Layer 3 routing, stacking capabilities, and efficient PoE management, making it a versatile solution for both traditional and modern enterprise networks.

Hardware Architecture and Performance

The Catalyst 3560X-24P-S features a compact 1RU design with 24 RJ-45 Gigabit ports and four flexible uplinks (2×10G + 2×1G SFP), delivering both high-speed access and aggregation capabilities. Its switching capacity and forwarding rate are engineered to handle enterprise workloads effectively:

• Switching Capacity: 176 Gbps (full-duplex)

• Forwarding Rate: 95.2 Mpps

• Stacking Bandwidth: 64 Gbps via Cisco StackWise-Plus technology

The switch runs on Cisco IOS Software, providing a modular and robust operating environment for advanced features such as:

• Layer 3 routing (OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, PBR)

• Multicast routing (PIM-SM)

• VLAN segmentation

• Access control policies

This architecture ensures high-performance packet forwarding, low latency, and network stability for enterprise-grade deployments.

Ports and Connectivity

The 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports offer flexible connectivity for end-user devices such as:

• Workstations and laptops

• IP phones and video conferencing devices

• Wireless access points

• Surveillance cameras

Each port supports PoE+ up to 30W, enabling the switch to power a wide range of devices without additional power adapters. The 4 SFP uplink ports include 2×10G and 2×1G, providing seamless connectivity to distribution or core layer switches for high-bandwidth data transfer and future-proofing the network.

Power over Ethernet (PoE+) Capabilities

The PoE+ feature allows each port to deliver up to 30 watts, sufficient for:

• IP phones with video capabilities

• Wireless APs (Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6)

• PTZ surveillance cameras

• Thin clients

PoE management is enhanced with features such as power allocation, scheduling, and priority, ensuring that critical devices maintain connectivity even in constrained power scenarios. This reduces deployment complexity and cable clutter while supporting a more organized network infrastructure.

StackWise-Plus Technology and Scalability

The Catalyst 3560X-24P-S supports Cisco StackWise-Plus, enabling up to 9 switches to operate as a single logical switch with:

• Unified management and configuration

• Redundant control plane

• High-availability switching

• Efficient bandwidth aggregation (64 Gbps stack bandwidth)

This allows enterprises to scale access layer networks without increasing complexity while providing redundancy and high availability for mission-critical applications.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features

The switch supports full Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality, allowing:

• VLAN creation and segmentation

• STP, RSTP, MSTP

• EtherChannel link aggregation

• Advanced Layer 3 routing (OSPF, EIGRP, RIP)

• Policy-Based Routing and VRF-Lite

• Multicast routing support

These capabilities make the 3560X-24P-S a versatile platform for deploying scalable enterprise networks while supporting network segmentation, traffic optimization, and security.

Security and Compliance

Security is fully integrated, providing:

• 802.1X port-based authentication

• Dynamic ARP inspection

• IP Source Guard

• DHCP Snooping

• Access control lists (ACLs)

• Cisco TrustSec support

These features ensure end-to-end protection, enforce device-level authentication, and mitigate unauthorized access or network threats.

Enterprise Use Cases

The Catalyst 3560X-24P-S is ideal for:

1. Unified Communications: Reliable power and connectivity for IP phones and video conferencing endpoints.

2. Wireless Deployments: Powering multiple APs with PoE+ while supporting multigigabit data rates.

3. Surveillance Systems: PTZ and high-resolution cameras powered via PoE+.

4. Medium to Large Enterprises: Scalable, managed access layer switching with Layer 3 routing.

5. IoT and Smart Building Integration: Simplifies deployment for IoT gateways and sensors.

Power Efficiency

The Catalyst 3560X-24P-S includes features such as:

• Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE)

• PoE power scheduling and prioritization

• StackPower technology for pooled power redundancy

These features ensure optimized energy use while maintaining high performance and device uptime.

Operating System and Programmability

Powered by Cisco IOS Software, the 3560X-24P-S supports:

• CLI and Web GUI management

• SNMP monitoring

• Automation and programmability via NETCONF/YANG APIs

• Software-defined access readiness

• Robust QoS and traffic shaping

This allows enterprises to integrate the switch into modern, automated, and secure network infrastructures.

“For more official technical information and detailed specifications, visit the Cisco Catalyst 3560X Series product page.