NETGEAR M4300-48X (XSM4348CS) - 48-port 10GBASE-T L3 Managed Stackable Switch
The NETGEAR M4300-48X (XSM4348CS) is a mission-critical infrastructure solution designed for businesses and organizations that require massive bandwidth and unwavering reliability. This managed switch from the acclaimed Intelligent Edge M4300 series offers exceptional port density with 48 copper 10GBASE-T ports , enabling cost-effective and easy 10 Gigabit connectivity using standard RJ45 (Cat6a) cabling, ideal for server aggregation, high-performance NAS storage, and virtualization.
Designed for versatility, the device incorporates four shared 10G SFP+ ports , providing flexibility for long-distance fiber optic uplinks without sacrificing centralized management capabilities. Its advanced architecture not only supports current data traffic demands but is also future-proof with innovative mixed stacking capabilities. This allows combining 1G and 10G models from the M4300 series in a single logical stack, facilitating unprecedented "spine and leaf" scalability.
Beyond its raw power, the M4300-48X excels in professional multimedia environments. It's a key component for AV over IP (SDVoE) solutions, offering zero-touch multicast setup thanks to NETGEAR's IGMP Plus technology. With enterprise-class features like full Layer 3 routing (no additional licenses required), modular power supplies for redundancy, and unified management, this device eliminates bottlenecks at the core of small and medium-sized business networks or at the edge of large corporations.
Main features
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High-Density 10G Connectivity: 48 RJ45 ports supporting speeds of 100M/1G/10G, allowing a gradual transition to higher speeds.
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Flexible Fiber Uplinks: Includes 4 10G SFP+ slots (shared with the last 4 copper ports) for high-performance fiber connections to the network core.
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Mixed Virtual Stacking: Unique ability to stack with other M4300 series switches (including 1G models), managing them as a single entity with a single IP address.
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Full L3 Routing: Includes advanced features such as static routing, RIP, OSPF, VRRP, PIM and PBR as standard without the need for expensive software licenses.
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High Availability (HA): Virtual chassis architecture with uninterrupted forwarding (NSF) and hitless failover to ensure business continuity.
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Optimized for AV-over-IP: Preconfigured for professional Audio and Video deployments, eliminating the complexity of the PIM protocol in L2 installations.
Benefits for the business environment
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Cost and Complexity Reduction: By using 10GBASE-T ports, you can leverage existing copper cabling (Cat6a) to achieve speeds of 10 Gbps up to 100 meters, drastically reducing the cost per port compared to fiber.
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Business Continuity Assured: Thanks to its support for dual modular power supplies (second optional power supply for 1+1 redundancy), the switch protects against power failures, ensuring that your critical servers and applications remain online.
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Simplified Management: Offers an intuitive and functional web interface (GUI) for administrators, plus an industry-standard command-line interface (CLI), SNMP, and sFlow for seamless integration into existing management systems.
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Long-Term Investment: Prepared for software-defined networking (SDN) and OpenFlow 1.3 support, ensuring that your infrastructure can adapt to future network technologies.
Use cases
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Virtualization and Servers: Ideal for connecting server farms and iSCSI storage that require a constant 10G bandwidth with no latency.
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Network Core for SMEs: Acts as a powerful and redundant core for small and medium-sized enterprises, efficiently managing all network traffic.
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Professional AV Distribution: Perfect for 4K video over IP installations in stadiums, conference centers and hospitals, thanks to its optimized multicast management.
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Spine and Leaf Architecture: Allows the creation of modern and scalable network topologies by connecting access switches (Leaf) to this aggregation switch (Spine) at line speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are the SFP+ ports dedicated or shared?
The four SFP+ ports are shared (combo) with the last four 10GBASE-T ports. This means you can use a maximum of 48 ports simultaneously; if you connect a fiber module, the corresponding copper port is disabled.
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Do I need to purchase a license to use Layer 3 features?
No, the NETGEAR M4300-48X includes all Layer 3 (L3) functionalities in its base firmware, with no hidden costs or subscriptions.
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Is it compatible with other M4300 models for stacking?
Yes, one of the great advantages of the M4300 series is that it allows you to stack 10 Gigabit models with 1 Gigabit models on the same logical stack.
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Does the switch include redundant power supplies?
The system comes with a modular power supply pre-installed. It has a second bay for installing an additional power supply (sold separately) to achieve full redundancy (RPS).
Project description
Full-width, 1U stackable managed Layer 3 switch equipped with 48 10GBASE-T (RJ45) ports supporting 100M/1G/10G speeds and 4 shared SFP+ (10GBASE-X) ports. 960 Gbps non-blocking fabric switching capacity. Supports mixed stacking with other M4300 series models with Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF) and Hitless Failover technologies. Includes a full suite of Layer 3 features (Static Routing, RIP, OSPF, VRRP, PIM, PBR) without additional licenses. Features an internal modular power supply with an optional redundant second power supply bay (1+1). Compatible with SDN and OpenFlow 1.3. Management via console (mini-USB/RJ45), Web GUI, CLI, and SNMP.
