Cisco Catalyst 3560 WS-C3560-8PC-S Cisco Catalyst switch

Brand: Cisco | Category: Network Switches

SKU: CSC-WS-C3560-8PC-S | Part #: WS-C3560-8PC-S | MPN: WS-C3560-8PC-S

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The Cisco Catalyst 3560 WS-C3560-8PC-S is a compact managed switch purpose-built for small to mid-sized branch offices, retail locations, and edge deployments where port density must balance against footprint constraints. This unit delivers 8 Fast Ethernet ports (10/100 Mbps) with integrated Power over Ethernet on all access ports, plus a single dual-purpose uplink capable of operating as either a 1 Gigabit copper connection or a modular SFP slot for fibre connectivity. That uplink flexibility—switching between twisted pair and optical without hardware replacement—addresses the real-world problem network engineers face when upgrading infrastructure without full redesign.

Built on the Catalyst 3560 platform, the WS-C3560-8PC-S runs Cisco IOS with Layer 2 and Layer 3 intelligence, enabling routing, VLANs, and quality-of-service controls typically reserved for larger chassis-based systems. The switch sustains a 16 Gbps switching fabric and forwards 6.5 million packets per second, sufficient for aggregating access-layer traffic from dozens of IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras in distributed locations. Its 65-watt PoE budget allocated across all 8 ports means you can power multiple devices simultaneously—five IP phones at 15 watts each, for instance, leaving headroom for a high-draw access point. The MAC address table holds 8,000 entries, enabling the switch to learn and forward frames across moderate-scale deployments without performance degradation. Network engineers deploying this Cisco unit in retail or branch environments appreciate that it handles both device discovery and traffic prioritization without requiring a separate controller or license tier.

Security and resilience come standard. The WS-C3

The switch runs Cisco IOS in IP Base feature set, supporting up to 255 VLANs using IEEE 802.1Q tagging. This lets you segment branch office traffic—separating guest networks from corporate data, isolating video surveillance from user workstations—all within a single physical box. Port security locks down MAC addresses, preventing rogue device attachment. Dynamic ARP Inspection and IP Source Guard stop address-spoofing attacks at the access layer. DHCP Snooping validates DHCP server responses, protecting against man-in-the-middle injection. Rapid PVST+ convergence means that if a network loop occurs—accidental cable redundancy, for example—the switch detects and breaks the loop in seconds rather than minutes, keeping user disruption minimal. For administrators managing multiple branch locations, SNMP v3 with encryption allows you to poll switch counters and configuration state securely, while console and SSH access give you both emergency hand-console recovery and encrypted remote login.

Quality of Service tuning is present and practical. The switch offers four egress queues per port with Selective Rate Limiting, allowing you to prioritize voice traffic over file transfer or guest browsing. DSCP and IEEE 802.1p marking let you honor QoS decisions made by upstream routers or endpoint devices, ensuring that latency-sensitive applications like VoIP maintain smooth performance even when bandwidth is shared. This matters in branch deployments where a single ISP uplink must serve diverse traffic types. The device itself operates reliably across standard commercial temperature ranges (0 to 45°C), making it suitable for IT closets in temperature-controlled facilities, though not for outdoor or extreme-temperature environments. Its small physical footprint—approximately 44 millimeters tall, 230 by 230 millimeters in depth and width—means it slides easily onto a shelf or mounts in a 1U rack position with an optional bracket kit, adapting to both desktop and rack-mounted deployment patterns.

Power consumption is modest thanks to its single internal supply drawing from standard AC mains (100 to 240 volts, 50 or 60 hertz). No redundant PSU option exists on this model, so organizations requiring zero-downtime switch operation should plan for uninterruptible power supply protection at the circuit level. Management interfaces include a console RJ-45 port for out-of-band administration, Telnet and SSHv2 for encrypted remote login, and full SNMP with RMON support for integration with network monitoring platforms. The 8,000-entry MAC address table is sufficient for branch or small campus scenarios; larger deployments with thousands of endpoints would require a higher-tier Catalyst model. The WS-C3560-8PC-S remains relevant in many GCC enterprises because it represents a low-cost, proven entry point into managed switching without the operational overhead of software licensing or cloud dependencies.

Interface & PoE Configuration

• 8 × 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet ports, all with IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet; 65-watt total PoE budget supports 4–5 concurrent high-draw devices
• 1 dual-purpose uplink port: 10/100/1000BASE-T (copper) or SFP (optical) without hardware reconfiguration
• 16 Gbps switching fabric and 6.5 Mpps forwarding rate adequate for branch-office aggregation and small campus edge deployments
• Cisco IOS IP Base feature set with Layer 2/3 routing, up to 255 VLANs, and VLAN trunking (IEEE 802.1Q)
• DHCP Snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, and port-level MAC locking provide multi-layer access control
• Four egress queues with Selective Rate Limiting (SRR) and DSCP/802.1p marking for voice, video, and data prioritization
• Console, SSH v2, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, and Telnet management; Rapid PVST+ for fast loop prevention
• 1U rack-mountable form factor (with optional bracket) or desktop deployment; compact 44 × 230 × 230 mm footprint

Omnixon Global stocks the Cisco Catalyst 3560 WS-C3560-8PC-S and maintains local inventory across our Dubai and regional distribution network. Whether you are standardizing switches across multiple branch locations in the UAE, setting up a new data-centre edge cabinet, or replacing end-of-life equipment in an existing deployment, our team can advise on licensing, compatibility, and logistics. We serve enterprises, system integrators, and managed service providers throughout the GCC, Asia, and Europe. Contact us with your part number, quantity, and delivery timeline to receive a detailed quotation and lead-time confirmation.