Dell Networking S4148F-ON L3 48 x 10 Gigabit SFP+ Managed Switch

Overview

The Dell S4148F-ON is a Layer 3 managed switch designed to deliver high-speed connectivity with 48 SFP+ ports for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, complemented by four QSFP28 ports supporting 100 Gigabit uplinks and two QSFP+ ports for 40 Gigabit traffic. With a switching capacity of 1.76 Tbps and throughput rated at 1320 million packets per second, it efficiently handles demanding network cores and aggregation layers, ensuring smooth data flow without bottlenecks.

This switch supports extensive routing and virtualization capabilities, including up to 128,000 IPv4 routes, 64,000 IPv6 routes, and 160,000 MAC addresses, making it suitable for complex enterprise environments. Its compact 1U rack design and front-to-back airflow align with data-center cooling standards, saving space while maintaining reliable performance.

Key features

• High port density with 48 SFP+ ports for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, enabling robust network connectivity.
• Four QSFP28 ports provide 100 Gigabit uplinks for fast aggregation and backbone connections.
• Two QSFP+ ports support 40 Gigabit traffic, offering flexible uplink options.
• Supports large-scale routing tables and virtualization with up to 128,000 IPv4 routes and 160,000 MAC addresses.
• Management options include SNMP, RJ-45 console port, and support for OSPF and BGP-4 routing protocols.
• Security features with RADIUS and TACACS authentication help enforce access control policies.
• Hot-pluggable redundant power supplies ensure continuous operation during maintenance or unexpected failures.
• Front-to-back airflow design optimizes cooling in standard data-center rack environments.
• Supports 4000 Layer 2 VLANs and 128 link aggregation groups for resilient and load-balanced network topologies.

Key specs

• Switching capacity: 1.76 Tbps
• Throughput: 1320 million packets per second (Mpps)
• Ports: 48 x 10 Gigabit SFP+, 4 x 100 Gigabit QSFP28, 2 x 40 Gigabit QSFP+
• Routing capacity: 128,000 IPv4 routes, 64,000 IPv6 routes
• MAC address table: 160,000 entries
• ARP entries: 128,000
• Layer 2 VLANs supported: 4000
• Link aggregation groups: 128
• Power consumption: typical 370 W
• Form factor: 1U rack-mountable

Connectivity and compatibility

This switch offers a versatile range of high-speed ports to accommodate various network architectures. The 48 SFP+ ports support 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections commonly used for servers and storage devices, while the QSFP28 and QSFP+ ports provide uplinks capable of 100 and 40 Gigabit speeds respectively, ideal for backbone and aggregation layers. Management is accessible via SNMP and an RJ-45 console port, and the device supports widely used routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP-4, ensuring compatibility with diverse network environments.

Performance and reliability

Designed for demanding enterprise networks, the S4148F-ON delivers high throughput and low latency to keep data moving efficiently. Its large routing and MAC address tables support extensive virtualization and segmentation, which are essential for modern data centers and campus networks. Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies provide uninterrupted operation, while the front-to-back airflow design helps maintain optimal temperatures in dense rack configurations.

Ideal uses and environments

This switch fits well in data centers, enterprise server rooms, and campus distribution closets where high port density and fast uplinks are critical. It is particularly suited for environments requiring rapid east-west traffic, storage replication, or large virtual machine migrations. Network architects will appreciate its scalability and flexibility for building resilient, load-balanced topologies that support complex routing and segmentation needs.