Cisco Catalyst 4500E Service Module 48 Port Gigabit Line Card For High Density Campus Networks

Designed for the demanding needs of dense campus networks, the Cisco Catalyst 4500E Service Module delivers a high-density 48-port Gigabit Ethernet line card that plugs into the Catalyst 4500E chassis to supercharge access-layer connectivity. Available in two scalable bandwidth families—47xx and 46xx—these E-Series line cards enable network operators to tailor performance to their exact environment. The 47xx family offers up to 48 Gbps per slot, while the 46xx family provides up to 24 Gbps per slot, giving you the flexibility to balance capacity, cost, and future growth. With line-rate forwarding at 10/100/1000 Mbps and non-blocking performance, these modules ensure predictable latency and robust throughput for large user populations, virtualization workloads, and latency-sensitive applications across campus core, distribution, and edge deployments. Their modular, hot-swappable design fits seamlessly into Cisco Catalyst 4500E chassis, supporting supervisor redundancy and flexible power options to maximize uptime and simplify maintenance. The Cisco Service Module also leverages a comprehensive feature set that includes QoS, security controls, VLAN segmentation, ACLs, multicast optimization, and IPv6 readiness to future-proof the network. In short, it is engineered to scale with your organization, reduce downtime during upgrades, and deliver consistent performance as density and traffic demands grow.

• High-density 48-port x 10/100/1000 Ethernet line card with per-slot bandwidth options of 48 Gbps (47xx) or 24 Gbps (46xx), enabling flexible deployment for growing campuses.
• Line-rate forwarding at full speed for all active ports, ensuring low latency and predictable throughput for virtualization, HD video, and large user populations.
• Modular, hot-swappable design that slots into the Cisco Catalyst 4500E chassis, supporting supervisor redundancy and configurable power options for easier maintenance and upgrades.
• Robust feature set including Quality of Service (QoS), security controls (ACLs and access controls), VLAN support, IPv6 readiness, and multicast optimization for scalable network performance.
• Seamless management and compatibility with Cisco IOS/IOS-XE management tools, enabling familiar inventory, status, and performance monitoring commands and streamlined network operations.

Technical Details of Cisco Service Module

• Product family: Cisco Catalyst 4500E Series line cards (E-Series) for the Catalyst 4500E chassis.
• Per-slot bandwidth: 48 Gbps for 47xx line cards; 24 Gbps for 46xx line cards.
• Port density: 48 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports per line card (dense Gigabit Ethernet option).
• Forwarding rate: Line-rate forwarding at full speed for all active ports, minimizing bottlenecks in high-demand environments.
• Form factor: Modular, hot-swappable line cards designed to slot into compatible Catalyst 4500E chassis with support for supervisor redundancy and power options.
• Key capabilities: Quality of Service (QoS), security features (ACLs and access controls), VLAN support, IPv6 readiness, and multicast optimization for scalable network performance.
• Management and compatibility: Integrates with Cisco IOS/IOS-XE management tools, supports standard Cisco show and debug commands for inventory, status, and performance monitoring.

How to install Cisco Service Module

Prepare the chassis: Verify that the Catalyst 4500E chassis is powered on and ready to receive a new line card. Ensure that the chassis has an available, compatible slot and that any required supervisor and power configurations are in place to support a new module. Follow any site-specific change control or maintenance window practices before proceeding with hardware changes to minimize downtime.

Install the module: Align the Service Module with the vacant slot in the Catalyst 4500E chassis and slide it in until it seats firmly. If the chassis uses a retention mechanism, ensure the module is latched securely to prevent intermittent connections. Once seated, the module should begin the power-up sequence and begin reporting status to the chassis management interface.

Verify operation: Use Cisco IOS/IOS-XE management tools to verify the presence and health of the new line card. Check slot status, LED indicators, and any interface counters to confirm that ports come online properly and that there are no fault indications. Validate that the line card provides the expected bandwidth and that per-port configurations (VLANs, QoS policies, and ACLs) are applying as intended.

Configure and monitor: After installation, apply the necessary configuration to align the new module with your network design—this includes interface assignments, VLAN tagging, QoS policies, and security controls. Regularly monitor performance with standard commands and dashboards to ensure consistent throughput, low latency, and adherence to service-level objectives. Periodic firmware or software updates may be required to maintain compatibility and security across the pool of Catalyst 4500E line cards.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the maximum per-slot bandwidth for the Cisco Catalyst 4500E Service Module?

  A: The per-slot bandwidth depends on the line card family: up to 48 Gbps per slot for the 47xx series and up to 24 Gbps per slot for the 46xx series.

• Q: How many Ethernet ports does each line card provide?

  A: Each line card provides 48 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, enabling dense Gigabit connectivity in campus environments.

• Q: Is the Service Module hot-swappable?

  A: Yes. The line cards are modular and hot-swappable, allowing maintenance and upgrades with minimal downtime.

• Q: Does the module support IPv6?

  A: Yes. The solution includes IPv6 readiness to future-proof the network as IPv6 adoption grows.

• Q: What deployment scenarios is the Cisco Catalyst 4500E Service Module best suited for?

  A: It is ideal for high-density campus networks, including campus core, dense distribution, and edge access deployments where scalable aggregation and dense client connectivity are required, with integrated QoS, security, and multicast optimization.