Introduction to the Ruijie RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD and its key features
Ruijie RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PDis a 1U Layer-3 managed access switch designed for enterprise and campus environments that need high port density, robust PoE power and advanced routing features. The unit provides 48 Gigabit RJ45 access ports and four 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks, supports IEEE 802.3af/at (PoE/PoE+) at up to 30 W per port, and can deliver a combined PoE budget of roughly 1,480 W when fitted with two optional RG-PA1000I power modules. It also offers full L2/L3 routing (including OSPF, BGP, VRF and PIM), Virtual Switching Unit (VSU) stacking for resilient aggregation, and Ruijie Cloud management with zero-touch provisioning.
This switch is positioned as a Layer-3 managed access switch for deployments where high PoE budgets, advanced routing and centralized/cloud-based operations are required. At a suggested price of approximately $2,299 (street pricing may vary), it targets organisations that need enterprise-grade features without the premium of top-tier incumbent vendors.
Detailed specifications and benefits
- Access ports:48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 — plenty of access density for large wiring closets, branch aggregation or densely populated facilities.
- Uplinks:4 x 1G/10G SFP+ — support for both 1G SFP and 10G SFP+ modules gives flexibility to connect to aggregation/core switches or high-capacity servers.
- Management interfaces:dedicated RJ45 management port, console (RJ45) and USB. Supports CLI, Web GUI and SNMP for traditional on‑premise management plus Ruijie Cloud for cloud-based operation and zero-touch provisioning.
- Standards:IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at (PoE/PoE+).
- Per-port output:up to 30 W per port — suitable for most access points, IP cameras and VoIP phones.
- Total PoE budget:up to ~1,480 W when two RG-PA1000I power modules are fitted (power modules may be sold separately). This makes the unit well-suited to dense PoE deployments such as extensive Wi‑Fi AP distributions or camera-heavy CCTV systems.
- Switching capacity:176 Gbps and ~131–132 Mpps forwarding rate — sufficient for full line-rate L2 switching on all ports.
- MAC / ARP / route scale:32,000 MAC entries, 4,000 ARP entries, ~8,000 IPv4 routes and ~4,000 IPv6 routes — adequate for large campus access deployments.
- Form factor and cooling:1U rackmount, compact dimensions and a fixed fan module with 3-level speed control. Hot‑swappable power modules provide redundancy and ease of servicing.
- L2 feature set:VLANs (4K), QinQ, STP/RSTP/MSTP, ERPS and link aggregation — all important for segmentation and resilient campus topologies.
- L3 feature set:Static routing, RIP, OSPFv2/v3, BGP4/4+, VRF and PIM for multicast — enabling policy-based routing, multi‑tenant separation and dynamic routing integration with core networks.
- Security:802.1X authentication, DHCP snooping, IP‑MAC binding, ACLs, CPP and NFPP — features that protect access networks from common threats and enable tighter device control.
- Management options:CLI and Web GUI for conventional operation, SNMP for integration with monitoring systems, and Ruijie Cloud for centralized, cloud-based management with zero-touch provisioning.
- Stacking/virtualisation:Virtual Switching Unit (VSU) support allows multiple switches to operate as a single logical device for simplified management and higher resiliency.
Use cases and scenarios where the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD excels
The RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD is targeted at environments that combine high access port counts with heavy PoE demands and the need for advanced routing/security. Typical scenarios include:
- Enterprise and campus access layers:Use the switch in wiring closets or floor switches where large numbers of desktops, IP phones and access points require both bandwidth and PoE power. The L3 features let it participate in campus routing and inter-VLAN forwarding without forcing all traffic to the core.
- Wireless access aggregation:Large Wi‑Fi deployments (e.g., auditoriums, lecture halls, multi-floor office buildings) benefit from the per-port 30 W PoE+ and high total PoE budget to power many high-performance access points.
- IP video and surveillance:CCTV systems often require many PoE ports with sustained power for PTZ cameras or analytics-capable cameras; the optional high-capacity power modules make the unit a good fit for camera-heavy deployments.
- Branch and multi-site deployments:Ruijie Cloud management and zero-touch provisioning simplify rollout and remote operations across multiple sites, reducing on-site engineering hours and supporting rapid scaling.
- Small data-centre or server access:With 10G SFP+ uplinks and a solid L3 feature set, the switch can also serve as a top-of-rack access switch for small server pools or edge compute nodes that need high uplink capacity.
Comparisons with similar products in the market
When comparing the Ruijie RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD to alternatives from other vendors, consider port density, PoE budget, L3 feature completeness, stacking options and management model.
- Strengths of Cisco: very mature ecosystem, broad partner support, deep feature set and proven enterprise support offerings.
- How Ruijie compares: similar access capabilities and L3 features at a typically lower price point. Ruijie’s cloud management is straightforward for multi-site operations, but organisations with heavy investment in Cisco tooling or advanced telemetry may prefer Cisco for compatibility and ecosystem integration.
- Strengths of Aruba: easy-to-use management, good PoE options and strong campus feature sets.
- How Ruijie compares: Aruba switches are often aimed at simple campus deployments with excellent wireless integration. Ruijie matches or exceeds in PoE budget with optional power modules and provides a comprehensive L3 routing stack (including BGP/VRF) that some Aruba 29xx variants may not target as strongly.
- Strengths of Juniper: solid performance, Junos OS consistency and strong automation capabilities.
- How Ruijie compares: Juniper has a reputation for predictable behavior and automation. Ruijie offers competitive hardware features and the advantage of integrated cloud management, often at a lower entry price. Choice depends on existing operational expertise and automation toolchains.
Overall, the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD competes well on features-per-dollar for PoE-heavy access deployments. Organisations should weigh vendor ecosystem, existing tooling, and preferred management workflows (cloud vs on‑premises) when choosing between vendors.
Customer testimonials and reviews
Public, independently verified customer reviews for specific campus switches can be limited. In lieu of broad public reviews for this exact model, feedback from integrators and early adopters in similar Ruijie access deployments highlights a few recurring themes:
- "Deployment was straightforward — zero-touch cloud provisioning saved hours during multi-site rollouts." (Systems integrator on a large campus Wi‑Fi project.)
- "High PoE capacity allowed us to consolidate camera and AP power into the same switch, reducing rack space and simplifying cabling." (City surveillance integrator, anonymised).
- "The L3 routing features like VRF and OSPF meant we could offload inter-VLAN routing at the access layer instead of forcing everything through the core." (Network engineer managing branch offices.)
These illustrative comments reflect typical benefits customers report when they prioritise cloud manageability, PoE budget and L3 feature richness. Prospective buyers should request case studies, ask for references from their reseller, or run a pilot to validate the solution in their environment.
Conclusion: why the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD is a strong choice
The Ruijie RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD is well suited to organisations that require a high-density Gigabit access switch with substantial PoE capacity and a full set of L2/L3 routing and security features. Its strengths include a generous PoE budget with optional power modules, 10G-ready uplinks, robust L3 routing (including BGP and VRF), and flexible management via CLI, GUI, SNMP and Ruijie Cloud with zero-touch provisioning.
For campus networks, large Wi‑Fi deployments and PoE-intensive use cases such as IP surveillance, the switch offers a compelling mix of performance, port density and manageability at a competitive price point (suggested price around $2,299). Organisations with strict vendor standardisation or very specialised telemetry/automation needs should evaluate integration with existing toolchains; otherwise, the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD provides a balanced, cost-effective platform for modern access-layer designs.
Before purchasing, verify regional AC input variants, order the necessary power modules/transceivers to meet your PoE and uplink requirements, and consult the official datasheet and installation guide for regulatory and installation instructions. With proper planning, the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD can simplify management, increase PoE capacity and deliver the routing features needed for resilient, scalable campus and enterprise access networks.
