Introduction to the RG-CS85-48GT4XS-HPD and its key features
RG-CS85-48GT4XS-HPDis a 1U, 48‑port Gigabit Layer‑3 rackmount switch designed for demanding campus and enterprise access or aggregation roles. It combines full IEEE 802.3af/at PoE/PoE+ on all 48 RJ45 ports with four 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks, modular hot‑swappable power, and a rich L2/L3 feature set. Built to support high port density PoE deployments—such as wireless access point farms, IP telephony, surveillance cameras and IoT devices—this switch balances power delivery, resiliency and advanced routing capabilities in a compact rack‑mounted footprint.
Detailed description of specifications and benefits
The RG-CS85-48GT4XS-HPD is engineered for environments that need many powered Ethernet endpoints plus modern routing and security features. Key specifications and their practical benefits include:
- 48 × Gigabit RJ45 PoE/PoE+ ports: Each copper port supports 10/100/1000BASE‑T with IEEE 802.3af/at, capable of delivering up to 30 W per port. This allows large numbers of access points, VoIP phones and cameras to be powered directly from the switch, reducing the need for external power injectors.
- 4 × 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks: High‑capacity SFP+ uplinks provide flexible aggregation to distribution cores or to server VLANs. The mix of RJ45 ports and SFP+ ports supports both copper and fiber uplinks for longer distances and higher throughput.
- Modular, hot‑swappable power modules: Choose RG‑PA600I‑P‑F (600 W) or RG‑PA1000I‑P‑F (1000 W) modules and configure 1+1 redundancy for resilient PoE power. The theoretical maximum PoE budget listed is up to 1,440 W (dependent on installed modules), making this switch suitable for dense PoE deployments. Hot‑swap capability reduces maintenance windows and supports continuous operation.
- Layer‑3 routing and advanced L2 features: The switch supports static routing, RIP, OSPFv2/v3, BGP, VRF and Policy Based Routing (PBR), along with core L2 features such as VLANs (4K), QinQ, STP/RSTP/MSTP, LACP and ERPS. This enables flexible network segmentation, resilient topologies and integration into routed campus designs.
- Performance: With an approximate switching capacity of 656 Gbps and forwarding rates up to ~488 Mpps depending on the model variant, the device can handle high‑throughput aggregation and bursty traffic typical of modern networks.
- Comprehensive management and security: Management options include CLI, web (Eweb), SNMPv1/2/3, NETCONF, gRPC and Ruijie Cloud integration—helpful for both on‑premise and cloud‑enabled operations. Security features such as ACLs, 802.1x, RADIUS/TACACS+, IP‑MAC binding and CPP/NFPP protect access and guard against common threats.
- Reliability and physical design: The 1U rackmount form factor optimizes rack space. Hot‑swappable fans and power modules (model dependent) and 1+1 power redundancy options increase uptime. Typical operating temperature is 0°C to 45°C for standard deployments; refer to the official datasheet for full compliance and MTBF figures.
For network architects and IT teams, these features translate into tangible benefits: centralized power for endpoint devices simplifies cabling and reduces installation cost; modular power redundancy provides predictable uptime and business continuity; and full L3 routing with modern management interfaces allows the switch to participate as an active element in campus routing, not just a dumb access layer device. The 4 SFP+ uplinks provide the headroom to aggregate traffic from many PoE devices without creating bottlenecks.
Use cases and scenarios where the product excels
The RG‑CS85‑48GT4XS‑HPD is particularly well suited to environments where high PoE port counts are required alongside routing and resiliency. Typical use cases include:
- Campus networks (education and enterprise): In universities and corporate campuses, large numbers of access points and VoIP handsets can be powered centrally. The switch’s L3 capabilities allow it to support inter‑VLAN routing and OSPF/BGP integration with distribution/core layers.
- Hospitality and multi‑tenant buildings: Hotels and serviced apartments often deploy many APs and IP phones per floor. Modular power redundancy and a high per‑port PoE budget mean predictable guest services and simplified maintenance.
- IP surveillance and physical security: Surveillance deployments with PoE cameras benefit from high port counts and centralized power management. The switch supports the continuous power demands of cameras and offers VLAN and ACL tools to segregate surveillance traffic for security and bandwidth control.
- Healthcare and retail: Hospitals and large stores use a mix of wireless, VoIP, POS systems and IoT sensors. This switch supports mixed workloads while enforcing security policies and traffic segmentation via VRF and ACLs.
- Edge aggregation in distributed sites: For branch offices and aggregation closets that require full L3 features, redundant power and fiber uplinks back to a central site, this switch is a compact, capable option.
Comparisons with similar products in the market
When comparing the RG‑CS85‑48GT4XS‑HPD to alternatives from other vendors, consider these differentiators:
- Versus traditional enterprise vendors (Cisco, HPE Aruba, Juniper): These incumbents offer comparable L3 feature sets and enterprise support ecosystems. The RG‑CS85 series competes strongly on a balance of price, PoE redundancy and integrated cloud management (Ruijie Cloud). Organizations seeking vendor diversity or more cost‑effective density may find the RG model compelling.
- Versus unmanaged or L2-only access switches: Many access switches offer 48 PoE ports but lack full L3 routing, modular redundant power or advanced management. The RG‑CS85 adds routed services and higher availability options that are important for larger campus topologies.
- Versus multi‑gig/10G edge switches: Some modern deployments use multi‑gig RJ45 ports (2.5G/5G) to support high‑density Wi‑Fi 6/6E APs. The RG‑CS85 focuses on 48×1G PoE+ ports with 4×10G SFP+ uplinks—this is appropriate where APs and devices are primarily 1G. If your environment requires multi‑gig per access port, evaluate that requirement against the RG‑CS85’s strong PoE and routing capabilities.
- Value and pricing: With a suggested price of $3,590.89 (cost price $3,015.73), the RG‑CS85‑48GT4XS‑HPD is positioned as a competitively priced enterprise switch offering modular PoE redundancy and L3 features. Total solution cost should consider required power modules to meet PoE budgets and any support or maintenance contracts.
Customer feedback and testimonials
Public, attributed customer reviews for this exact model may be limited depending on reseller channels. Representative, anonymized feedback from organizations deploying similar high‑density PoE L3 switches highlights the following themes:
- "Reliable PoE delivery and easy replacement of power modules reduced downtime during a campus power upgrade." — IT manager, higher education (anonymized)
- "Strong L3 feature set meant we could consolidate access and routing functions without adding extra gear." — Network architect, regional enterprise (anonymized)
- "The SFP+ uplinks gave us the capacity to aggregate multiple floors without saturation, improving wireless backhaul performance." — Infrastructure engineer, hospitality group (anonymized)
These illustrative comments echo typical benefits reported by organizations adopting enterprise PoE switches: improved operational simplicity, resiliency and performance. For specific, attributed testimonials, check reseller sites or Ruijie channel partner case studies where available.
Conclusion: Why the RG-CS85-48GT4XS-HPD is a great choice
The RG‑CS85‑48GT4XS‑HPD is a practical choice where centralized PoE, high port density and routed network services are required. It combines 48 full PoE/PoE+ ports, flexible 10G SFP+ uplinks, hot‑swappable modular power with 1+1 redundancy and a comprehensive L2/L3 feature set—packaged in a 1U rack device designed for campus and enterprise use. Whether you are standardizing access layer equipment across multiple buildings, consolidating power for surveillance and wireless deployments, or building a resilient aggregation layer, this switch offers the core capabilities most organizations need at a competitive price point.
Before purchase, assess your total PoE power needs (select appropriate power modules), plan uplink bandwidth to core/distribution switches, and review the official Ruijie datasheet for compliance and environmental specifications. With proper planning, the RG‑CS85‑48GT4XS‑HPD can serve as a reliable, scalable foundation for modern PoE‑centric networks.
