Cisco WS-X6148A-GE-45AF
Cat6500 48-Port PoE 802.3af & ePoE 10/100/1000 w/Jumbo Frame
Product Highlights
What's Included
Expanding a Cisco Catalyst 6500 chassis with high-density, PoE-capable Gigabit Ethernet ports shouldn't require a forklift upgrade. The Cisco WS-X6148A-GE-45AF is a Classic 48-port 10/100/1000Base-T line card that delivers integrated IEEE 802.3af and Cisco prestandard (enhanced) Power over Ethernet — all with jumbo frame support up to 9,216 bytes.
Designed for wiring-closet deployments, this module provides 48 auto-negotiating RJ-45 ports capable of powering devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras at up to 15.4W per port. It ships with the WS-F6K-48-AF PoE daughter card pre-installed, so it is ready for PoE operation straight out of the box.
The WS-X6148A-GE-45AF supports advanced diagnostics including Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) for in-band cable fault detection, four RMON groups for interface-level statistics, and per-port QoS queuing (Tx: 1p3q8t, Rx: 1q2t) with 2.67 MB of buffer per port. As a hot-swappable module, it can be inserted or removed from a live Catalyst 6500 chassis without disrupting other line cards — minimizing maintenance windows and maximizing network availability.
Note: The Cisco Catalyst 6500 platform and its associated line cards have reached End-of-Life (EOL) status. This module is available as a pre-owned or refurbished spare for organizations maintaining existing Catalyst 6500 infrastructure.
Features & Benefits
High-Density PoE Connectivity
With 48 RJ-45 ports supporting IEEE 802.3af and Cisco prestandard PoE at up to 15.4W per port, the WS-X6148A-GE-45AF powers IP phones, wireless access points, and surveillance cameras directly over the Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for dedicated AC outlets at each device location, reducing installation cost and simplifying cable management.
Jumbo Frame Support
The module supports jumbo frames up to 9,216 bytes, enabling more efficient transport of large payloads such as storage traffic, video streams, and backup data. Fewer frames per transfer means lower CPU overhead on connected hosts and reduced packet-processing load on the switch.
Advanced Cable Diagnostics (TDR)
Built-in Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) lets network engineers diagnose cable breaks, crimps, and miswired pairs directly from the Cisco IOS CLI — without dispatching a technician with a cable tester. This accelerates troubleshooting and reduces mean time to repair (MTTR) in large campus environments.
Robust QoS & Buffering
Each port features 2.67 MB of buffer memory and supports transmit queuing of 1p3q8t (1 priority queue, 3 round-robin queues, 8 thresholds) plus receive queuing of 1q2t. This architecture ensures that latency-sensitive traffic like voice and video receives priority treatment while bulk data flows are handled efficiently.
Hot-Swappable, Zero-Downtime Maintenance
Like all Catalyst 6500 10/100/1000 Ethernet modules, the WS-X6148A-GE-45AF is fully hot-swappable. Network administrators can insert or remove the card from a powered-on chassis without affecting other modules, making planned maintenance and capacity changes seamless.
Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise Wiring Closet — IP Telephony & Wireless
Deploy the WS-X6148A-GE-45AF in campus wiring closets to provide PoE-powered Gigabit connectivity to VoIP handsets and wireless access points. The 48-port density maximizes per-slot utilization, while 802.3af PoE eliminates the need for local power adapters at each endpoint.
Physical Security — PoE-Powered IP Cameras
Use the module to connect and power up to 48 IP surveillance cameras over standard Category 5 cabling. Jumbo frame support improves video stream efficiency, and TDR diagnostics help quickly identify cable issues across long horizontal runs.
Legacy Infrastructure Maintenance & Sparing
For organizations still operating Cisco Catalyst 6500 chassis, the WS-X6148A-GE-45AF serves as a critical replacement spare. Keeping tested modules on the shelf ensures rapid recovery from hardware failures without the cost and complexity of a full platform migration.
General
Interfaces
Power over Ethernet
Performance
Physical
Compatibility Notes
Chassis Compatibility
- Cisco Catalyst 6503, 6503-E
- Cisco Catalyst 6504-E
- Cisco Catalyst 6506, 6506-E
- Cisco Catalyst 6509, 6509-E, 6509-V-E
- Cisco Catalyst 6513-E
Module Classification
- Classic interface module — does not support Distributed Forwarding Card (DFC) upgrades.
Cabling
- Category 5 UTP or better, RJ-45 connectors, 100 m maximum distance per port.
EOL Notice
This product is part of the Cisco Catalyst 6500 platform which has reached End-of-Life. The last date to order Catalyst 6500/6500-E 1 Gigabit Ethernet line cards from Cisco was October 30, 2017. No new Cisco SMARTnet contracts are available; third-party support and refurbished spares remain options.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| WS-X6148A-GE-TX | Cat6500 48-Port 10/100/1000 Classic Module (no PoE) | Same base module without the PoE daughter card — field-upgradable to 802.3af PoE by adding WS-F6K-GE48-AF |
| WS-X6148E-GE-45AT | Cat6500 48-Port 10/100/1000 Classic Module with PoE+ | Supports IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30W per port) in addition to 802.3af — required for higher-power devices |
| WS-X6548-GE-45AF | Cat6500 48-Port 10/100/1000 CEF256 Module with PoE | CEF256 forwarding architecture for higher throughput — but does not support DFC upgrades |
| WS-X6148A-45AF | Cat6500 48-Port 10/100 Classic Module with PoE | 10/100 only (no Gigabit) — lower cost option when 1000Base-T is not required |
