Cisco switches C1200, C1300 vs CBS250 and CBS350

Cisco offers a range of switches catering to various business needs, from small to medium-sized enterprises to larger branch offices. This article compares the features and configurations of the Cisco Catalyst 1200 and 1300 series with the CBS250 and CBS350 series switches. Additionally, we provide the SKUs available for the Catalyst 1200 and 1300 series.

Cisco Catalyst 1200 and 1300 Series Switches

The Cisco Catalyst 1200 and 1300 series are fixed managed gigabit Ethernet, Enterprise Light layer two switches designed for small to medium-sized businesses and branch offices. They are simple, flexible, and secure, operating on Linux-based software, and support straightforward device management, network reliability, and operational efficiency. These switches also feature better CPU and onboard storage compared to other models, ensuring improved performance and faster processing.

Features:

• Managed Switches: Both series offer comprehensive management capabilities through a user-friendly web interface.

• VLAN Support: Advanced VLAN setup and management, including trunk interfaces and port assignments.

• PoE: Power over Ethernet support, adhering to industry standards, with efficient power allocation.

• Energy Efficiency: Support for energy-efficient Ethernet standards.

• Security: Web-based authentication and enhanced security features.

• Management: On-device management features and Bluetooth for over-the-air access.

• Support and Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty and one year of phone support.

SKUs for Catalyst 1200 and 1300 Series:

• Catalyst 1200 Series:

  • 8 Ports: C1200-8T-D, C1200-8T-E-2G, C1200-8P-E-2G, C1200-8FP-2G

  • 16 Ports: C1200-16T-2G, C1200-16P-2G

  • 24 Ports: C1200-24T-4G, C1200-24P-4G, C1200-24FP-4G, C1200-24T-4X, C1200-24P-4X, C1200-24FP-4X

  • 48 Ports: C1200-48T-4G, C1200-48P-4G, C1200-48T-4X, C1200-48P-4X
    
    

• Catalyst 1300 Series:

  • 8 Ports: C1300-8FP-2G, C1300-8T-E-2G, C1300-8P-E-2G, C1300-8MGP-2X

  • 12 Ports: C1300-12XT-2X, C1300-12XS

  • 16 Ports: C1300-16T-2G, C1300-16P-2G, C1300-16FP-2G, C1300-16P-4X, C1300-16XTS

  • 24 Ports: C1300-24T-4G, C1300-24P-4G, C1300-24FP-4G, C1300-24T-4X, C1300-24P-4X, C1300-24FP-4X, C1300-24MGP-4X, C1300-24XS, C1300-24XT, C1300-24XTS

  • 48 Ports: C1300-48T-4G, C1300-48P-4G, C1300-48FP-4G, C1300-48T-4X, C1300-48P-4X, C1300-48FP-4X, C1300-48MGP-4X

Cisco CBS250 and CBS350 Series Switches (EOL - Nov '24)

The CBS250 and CBS350 series are designed for small to medium-sized businesses, offering advanced features that cater to growing network demands. These switches are ideal for providing reliable and secure network connections.

Common Features:

• Managed Switches: Easy-to-use web interface for management, with the CBS350 offering additional CLI options.

• VLAN Support: Comprehensive VLAN capabilities for network segmentation.

• PoE: Support for Power over Ethernet with efficient power management, with CBS350 offering higher power budgets.

• Energy Efficiency: Energy-efficient Ethernet support across both series.

• Security: Strong security features, including access control lists (ACLs) and web-based authentication.

• Performance: The CBS250 offers basic to moderate performance, while the CBS350 provides higher performance suitable for more demanding network environments.

SKUs for CBS250 and CBS350 Series:

• CBS250 Series:

  • 8 Ports: CBS250-8T-E-2G, CBS250-8P-E-2G

  • 16 Ports: CBS250-16T-E-2G, CBS250-16P-E-2G

  • 24 Ports: CBS250-24T-E-4G, CBS250-24P-E-4G

  • 48 Ports: CBS250-48T-E-4G, CBS250-48P-E-4G

• CBS350 Series:

  • 8 Ports: CBS350-8T-E-2G, CBS350-8P-E-2G

  • 16 Ports: CBS350-16T-E-2G, CBS350-16P-E-2G

  • 24 Ports: CBS350-24T-E-4G, CBS350-24P-E-4G

  • 48 Ports: CBS350-48T-E-4G, CBS350-48P-E-4G

Comparison Summary

• Management Interface:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: User-friendly web UI with initial configuration wizard.

  • CBS250/350: Basic web UI for the CBS250 and advanced web UI and CLI for the CBS350.

• VLAN Capabilities:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: Advanced VLAN setup and management.

  • CBS250/350: Comprehensive VLAN support, with CBS350 offering more extensive capabilities.

• PoE Support:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: Standard PoE support with efficient power allocation.

  • CBS250/350: Standard PoE support, with CBS350 offering higher power budgets.

• Energy Efficiency:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: Support for energy-efficient Ethernet.

  • CBS250/350: Energy-efficient Ethernet support.

• Security Features:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: Web-based authentication and basic security features.

  • CBS250/350: Strong security with ACLs and web-based authentication, with CBS350 offering more advanced options.

• Performance:

  • Catalyst 1200/1300: Better CPU and onboard storage, suitable for small to medium-sized business applications.

  • CBS250/350: Basic to moderate performance for CBS250, higher performance for CBS350 suitable for more demanding environments.

Conclusion

The Cisco Catalyst 1200 and 1300 series switches are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and branch offices requiring robust management features, VLAN capabilities, PoE support, and better CPU and storage for enhanced performance. The CBS250 series offers a balance of ease of use and performance for smaller networks, while the CBS350 series provides advanced features and higher performance for more demanding network environments. By understanding the specific needs of your network, you can choose the right series of switches that best meets your operational requirements.