Cisco 48-port 1/10GBASE-T and 4-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ Line Card

Designed for modern data centers and enterprise networks, this Cisco line card delivers dense access connectivity combined with high-speed uplinks, enabling scalable, future-proof performance. With 48 ports supporting 1/10GBASE-T and four QSFP+ uplinks at 40 Gigabit Ethernet, it is engineered to simplify cabling, maximize throughput, and optimize network efficiency in demanding environments. This module is purpose-built to integrate with compatible Cisco switches, delivering an agile, modular solution that reduces footprint while expanding capacity for virtualization, storage traffic, and cloud-ready workloads. Whether you’re expanding a campus data center, building a private cloud, or provisioning a high-performance server farm, this line card provides the reliability, flexibility, and feature set needed to support evolving applications and traffic patterns.

• High-density access: 48 ports of 1/10GBASE-T copper connectivity give you flexible server, storage, and edge device attachment with familiar copper cabling, simplifying migrations and minimizing upfront costs.
• Versatile uplinks: Four 40 Gigabit QSFP+ uplink ports provide robust, scalable connections to core or aggregation layers, enabling efficient distribution of traffic across the data center fabric and enabling breakout configurations when required.
• Modular deployment: Engineered as a hot-swappable line card for Cisco chassis that support modular blades, delivering easy field upgrades and maintenance without chassis downtime, while preserving investment in existing infrastructure.
• Feature-rich traffic management: Built to support essential data-center features such as VLAN tagging, Quality of Service (QoS), Link Aggregation (LACP), and routing policy integration, ensuring predictable performance for multi-tenant environments and critical applications.
• Reliability and efficiency: Designed for data-center-grade operation with solid hardware reliability, streamlined management, and compatibility with Cisco’s ecosystem of security and orchestration tools, contributing to a more economical and manageable network fabric.

Technical Details of Cisco 48-port 1/10GBASE-T and 4-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ Line Card

• Ports: 48 x 1/10GBASE-T RJ-45 copper ports for flexible 1G/10G access, plus 4 x 40G QSFP+ uplink ports for high-speed core/aggregation connectivity.
• Forwarding and performance: Supports line-rate forwarding across the full port density, enabling predictable performance for mixed workload traffic including virtualized hosts, storage traffic, and application traffic with low latency.
• Form factor and installation: Line card module designed for Cisco chassis that support modular line cards, with hot-swappable installation to minimize downtime during upgrades or replacement.
• Management and visibility: Integrates with Cisco management frameworks and supports standard monitoring and telemetry protocols commonly used in data centers, facilitating centralized provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Compatibility and transceivers: Requires compatible Cisco chassis and appropriate QSFP+/SFP+ transceivers or breakout cables to realize 40G uplinks and any breakout configurations; compatible with standard Ethernet interfaces and security policies across Cisco networking solutions.

How to install Cisco 48-port 1/10GBASE-T and 4-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ Line Card

• Power down or place the chassis into a maintenance window as required by your internal change-control procedures to ensure safe installation of a line card.
• Locate an available line-card slot in the supported Cisco chassis and confirm compatibility with this specific module family and firmware version.
• Carefully align the line card with the slot, ensuring the connector engages properly, then firmly slide the card into place until it seats and cannot be moved any further.
• Secure the module in its slot using the provided latching mechanism or screws per the chassis’ installation guidelines, and close any chassis covers if applicable.
• Connect your 1/10GBASE-T devices to the 48 copper ports with appropriate RJ-45 cables, and attach 40G QSFP+ transceivers or cables to the four uplink ports as required by your topology (core/aggregation or breakout to multiple 10G links).
• Power up the chassis, verify post-install health, and use the switch’s management interface to confirm module recognition, port status, and interconnect reachability.
• Apply and verify required configurations (VLANs, QoS, LACP, routing policies) to ensure traffic is steered correctly across the new line card, and validate connectivity with representative traffic tests.
• Document the installation for change-control records and monitor the line card performance during initial operation to ensure stability and expected throughput.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the primary purpose of this line card? It provides dense 1/10GBASE-T access ports and high-speed 40G QSFP+ uplinks, enabling scalable edge access and rapid core/aggregation connectivity within Cisco-based data centers and enterprise networks.
• Which switches support this line card? It is designed for Cisco chassis and modular switch platforms that accept this family of line cards, offering a compatible upgrade path for growing data-center deployments.
• Can the 40G uplinks be broken out into multiple 10G links? Depending on chassis capabilities and breakout cable options, the 40G uplinks can often be configured to provide multiple 10G paths to the core or aggregation layer, improving flexibility and port utilization.
• Do I need specific software or firmware to use this line card? Yes, ensure you are running a Cisco software version that supports the line card model and slot, and that your firmware is updated to a version compatible with the feature set you plan to use (VLANs, QoS, LACP, etc.).
• Is the line card hot-swappable? Yes. The module is designed for hot-swappable installation in compatible Cisco chassis, enabling maintenance or upgrades with minimal or no downtime to other components in the chassis.
• What about power, cooling, and environmental compatibility? The line card adheres to standard data-center environmental requirements and is designed to operate within the chassis’ specified power and cooling envelope, ensuring reliable performance under typical data-center workloads.