In-Depth Technical Analysis and Pricing of Cisco Catalyst C1000-24P-4G-L Switch

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst C1000-24P-4G-L is a robust, fixed-configuration Layer 2 switch designed to meet the demands of small to medium-sized enterprise networks and branch office deployments. As part of Cisco’s Catalyst 1000 series, this model emphasizes simplicity, security, and scalability, providing a cost-effective solution for organizations requiring reliable Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities combined with advanced switching features.

Engineered for ease of deployment and management, the C1000-24P-4G-L integrates 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports with PoE+ support and 4 Gigabit SFP uplink ports, enabling seamless connectivity for IP phones, wireless access points, and other PoE-enabled devices. The switch operates on Cisco’s IOS Software, delivering a familiar CLI and web-based management interface, which simplifies configuration and monitoring.

This switch is optimized for environments that require secure, high-performance connectivity with minimal operational overhead. It supports essential Layer 2 features such as VLAN segmentation, QoS, and security protocols, making it an ideal choice for enterprise edge deployments, retail locations, and educational institutions.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst C1000-24P-4G-L is built on a fixed hardware architecture featuring 24 RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps ports with PoE+ (802.3at) support, delivering up to 30W per port. The switch includes 4 dedicated Gigabit SFP uplink ports, allowing flexible fiber or copper connectivity for aggregation or uplink to core switches.

The device is powered by a high-efficiency internal power supply unit (PSU) designed to support full PoE load across all ports simultaneously, with a total PoE power budget of approximately 195W. The switch’s compact form factor fits standard 19-inch racks with a 1RU height, optimized for space-constrained environments.

2.2 Performance and Switching Capacity

The C1000-24P-4G-L switch delivers a switching capacity of 56 Gbps and a forwarding rate of up to 41.67 Mpps (million packets per second), ensuring wire-speed performance across all ports. The device supports a MAC address table size of 8,000 entries and a maximum of 4,000 VLANs, enabling extensive network segmentation and scalability.

Latency is minimized through hardware-based forwarding and cut-through switching capabilities, which are critical for latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP and video conferencing.

2.3 Software and Protocol Support

Running on Cisco IOS Software, the C1000-24P-4G-L supports a comprehensive suite of Layer 2 features including:

• 802.1Q VLAN tagging and VLAN trunking
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Rapid STP (RSTP), and Multiple STP (MSTP)
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for port channeling
• Quality of Service (QoS) with classification, marking, and queuing
• IGMP Snooping for multicast traffic optimization
• Security features such as 802.1X port-based authentication, DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), and IP Source Guard

The switch also supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) v1/v2c/v3, enabling integration with enterprise network management systems for monitoring and alerting.

2.4 Power over Ethernet (PoE) Capabilities

The C1000-24P-4G-L supports PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) delivering up to 30W per port, which is essential for powering devices such as IP cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP phones without requiring separate power supplies. The switch intelligently manages power allocation to ensure optimal distribution and prevent overload.

2.5 Physical and Environmental Specifications

The switch measures approximately 44.5 cm (width) x 25.5 cm (depth) x 4.4 cm (height) and weighs around 3.5 kg. It operates within a temperature range of 0°C to 45°C and supports relative humidity levels from 10% to 90% non-condensing. The device complies with industry standards for electromagnetic emissions and safety certifications.

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 Enterprise-Grade Security

Security is paramount in modern networks, and the Cisco Catalyst C1000-24P-4G-L incorporates multiple layers of protection. 802.1X port-based authentication ensures that only authorized devices can access the network, while DHCP snooping and Dynamic ARP Inspection prevent common network attacks such as IP spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Additionally, the switch supports Access Control Lists (ACLs) to filter traffic and enforce security policies at the port level, providing granular control over network access.

3.2 Simplified Management and Deployment

The switch offers multiple management interfaces including a web-based GUI, command-line interface (CLI), and support for Cisco Network Assistant. This flexibility allows network administrators to configure and monitor the device according to their preferred workflows.

Zero-touch provisioning capabilities enable rapid deployment in distributed environments, reducing the need for on-site technical expertise. The device also supports Cisco DNA Center integration for advanced network automation and assurance.

3.3 High Availability and Resiliency

With support for Spanning Tree