Cisco C3850-NM-4-10G
Cisco Catalyst 3850 4 x 10GE Network Module
Product Highlights
As campus networks scale to support bandwidth-hungry applications, wireless density, and cloud workloads, the uplink between access and distribution layers becomes a critical bottleneck. The Cisco C3850-NM-4-10G network module eliminates that constraint by adding four 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ uplink ports to your Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series switch.
This hot-swappable, field-replaceable plug-in module supports both 1G SFP and 10G SFP+ transceivers in every slot, giving you the flexibility to start with Gigabit uplinks and migrate to 10 Gigabit as demand grows — all without replacing the switch chassis. All four ports default to 10G operation and are configured as TenGigabitEthernet interfaces, even when running at 1G with SFP modules.
Designed for enterprise access-layer deployments, the C3850-NM-4-10G is ideal for aggregating traffic from high-density PoE+ access ports up to distribution or core switches. It runs on Cisco IOS XE, inheriting the Catalyst 3850 platform's full feature set including advanced QoS, StackWise-480 stacking, and unified wired-wireless policy enforcement. Whether you're expanding a campus network, upgrading a branch office, or building resilient switch stacks, this module delivers the uplink capacity your infrastructure demands.
Features & Benefits
High-Speed 10G Uplink Connectivity
The C3850-NM-4-10G provides four SFP+ ports, each capable of 10 Gbps data rates. This delivers up to 40 Gbps of aggregate uplink bandwidth, ensuring your access-layer switch can keep pace with growing traffic from PoE+ endpoints, wireless access points, and converged applications.
Flexible 1G/10G Dual-Speed Operation
Each SFP+ slot accepts both 1G SFP and 10G SFP+ transceivers, including modules like the SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR, and standard GLC-series SFPs. This dual-speed flexibility lets you protect your existing SFP investment and upgrade to 10G on your own timeline without swapping hardware.
Hot-Swappable, Field-Replaceable Design
The module is hot-swappable, meaning it can be installed or removed from the Catalyst 3850's network module slot without powering down the switch. This minimizes maintenance windows and keeps your network operational during upgrades or replacements.
Enterprise-Class Platform Integration
Running on Cisco IOS XE, the module inherits the full Catalyst 3850 feature set — including advanced QoS for traffic prioritization, link aggregation (LACP) for bandwidth bundling and redundancy, and seamless integration with StackWise-480 switch stacks for unified management across up to nine switches.
Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise Campus Access-to-Distribution Uplinks
Deploy the C3850-NM-4-10G in 48-port Catalyst 3850 access switches to provide high-bandwidth 10G fiber uplinks to your distribution or core layer. Four 10G ports enable redundant, load-balanced connections that prevent the access layer from becoming a bottleneck as endpoint density grows.
High-Density Wireless Deployments
In environments with large numbers of Cisco wireless access points managed by the Catalyst 3850's built-in wireless controller, the C3850-NM-4-10G ensures sufficient uplink capacity to handle aggregated wireless traffic without congestion, supporting seamless roaming and high-throughput applications.
Branch Office or Remote Site Aggregation
Use the module to connect branch-office Catalyst 3850 switches back to a centralized data center or WAN edge router over 10G fiber links. The dual-speed SFP+/SFP flexibility allows you to match the uplink speed to available WAN bandwidth and upgrade incrementally.
General
Interfaces
Performance
Physical
Software
Compatibility Notes
Compatible Catalyst 3850 Switch Models
The C3850-NM-4-10G is supported on the following Catalyst 3850 models:
- 48-port Gigabit Ethernet models: WS-C3850-48T, WS-C3850-48P, WS-C3850-48F, WS-C3850-48U (all -E, -L, -S license variants)
- 12-port and higher 10 Gigabit Ethernet models: WS-C3850-12XS, WS-C3850-12X48U, WS-C3850-24XS, WS-C3850-24XU (all -E, -S license variants)
Not supported on 24-port or 12-port Gigabit-only Ethernet models, or on the 48-port 10G SFP+ model (WS-C3850-48XS).
Software
- Requires Cisco IOS XE software.
Transceivers (sold separately)
- Compatible with Cisco 10G SFP+ transceivers (e.g., SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR, SFP-10G-ER) and 1G SFP transceivers (e.g., GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD).
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| C3850-NM-2-10G | Cisco Catalyst 3850 2x10GE Network Module | 2 x 10G SFP+ ports plus 2 x 1G SFP-only ports — lower cost option when fewer 10G uplinks are needed |
| C3850-NM-8-10G | Cisco Catalyst 3850 8x10GE Network Module | 8 x 10G SFP+ ports for double the uplink density — supported only on multigigabit and 24-port SFP+ models |
| C3850-NM-4-1G | Cisco Catalyst 3850 4x1GE Network Module | 4 x 1G SFP-only ports — budget-friendly option when 10G uplinks are not required |
| C3850-NM-2-40G | Cisco Catalyst 3850 2x40GE Network Module | 2 x 40G QSFP+ ports for maximum uplink bandwidth — supported only on multigigabit and 24-port SFP+ models |
