Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A

The Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A belongs to the IE3500 Rugged Series — a line of industrial switches designed to deliver high-performance, reliable Ethernet connectivity in challenging environments. What sets the IE-3500-8T3X-A apart is its combination of flexible copper downlinks, high-speed fiber uplinks, and advanced software features under the “Network Advantage” license — making it suitable for both industrial and enterprise-grade networks. (Cisco)

Built to operate in harsh conditions, this switch is commonly used in industrial automation, OT/IT convergence, factory networks, transportation infrastructure, and other environments requiring robust, dust- and vibration-resistant networking equipment. (Cisco)

Key Features & Industrial Benefits

• Rugged, Fanless Design: The IE-3500-8T3X-A is built with an IP30-rated enclosure, designed for DIN-rail mounting, and works reliably in extreme temperatures from –40 °C to +75 °C. The fanless, convection-cooled architecture (no moving parts) enhances durability and reduces maintenance — vital for industrial or outdoor deployments.
• Modular & Scalable: As part of the modular IE3500 series, the switch supports expansion modules (IEM) to increase port count — enabling up to 27 ports depending on the module. This modularity allows flexible network growth.
• High-Speed Uplinks: The 3 SFP+ fiber ports support 1G/10G, allowing high-bandwidth fiber uplinks for backbone or aggregation connectivity — ideal for connecting to data centers, high-speed routers, or fiber-backed segments.
• Managed, Advanced Networking Capabilities: Under the Network Advantage license, this switch supports Layer 2 and full Layer 3 routing, enabling dynamic routing protocols, VLAN segmentation, security policies, and other enterprise-grade networking features.
• Industrial-Grade Security & Resilience: The IE3500 line offers security measures such as secure boot, tamper detection (chip guard), and features to support OT visibility and segmentation. This ensures that critical industrial networks remain secure and compliant.
• Efficient for Harsh Environments: The combination of rugged construction, extended operating temperature, fanless passive cooling, and shock/vibration resistance makes it highly suitable for industrial automation, transportation systems, substations, or remote outdoor sites.

Technical Specifications & Performance

Here’s a breakdown of the most important specs for IE-3500-8T3X-A:

Advanced features (especially under Network Advantage license) include dynamic routing (e.g. OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), segmentation and security (e.g. VLANs, ACLs, MACsec, zero-trust principles), and support for industrial protocols & redundancy relevant to OT environments.

Use Cases: Where Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A Shines

Because of its rugged design, modular flexibility, and enterprise-grade capabilities, IE-3500-8T3X-A is well-suited for:

• Industrial automation networks — factories, manufacturing plants, SCADA systems, and PLC connectivity.
• OT/IT convergence environments — combining operational technology devices (sensors, controllers) with enterprise network infrastructure.
• Harsh or remote environments — outdoor cabinets, substations, railway/transportation infrastructure, energy/delivery hubs, where temperature, vibration, dust or electrical noise may be present.
• High-performance backbone or aggregation layers — using 10G fiber uplinks to link multiple network segments, server racks, or data-center cells.
• Networks requiring advanced segmentation, routing, and security — e.g. corporate + IoT networks, multi-VLAN industrial deployments, secure remote access, or zero-trust implementations.

Why Choose IE-3500-8T3X-A Over Standard Switches

• Durability & Reliability: Unlike typical consumer or enterprise switches, IE-3500-8T3X-A is industrial-grade — built for 24/7 operation in tough conditions (extreme temperature, dust, vibration).
• Future-proof & Scalable: Modular design and expansion support allow networks to grow without replacing the core switch. High-speed 10G fiber uplinks ensure bandwidth scalability.
• Advanced Networking & Security: With the Network Advantage license, you get Layer 3 routing, VLAN segmentation, security, and resilience — often not available on standard unmanaged or basic managed switches.
• Low Maintenance: Fanless passive cooling reduces points of failure; industrial certifications make it suitable for long-term deployments without frequent servicing.

Final Thoughts

For organizations designing industrial networks, factory automation systems, or mixed OT/IT infrastructures — the Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A represents a powerful, future-ready backbone switch. Its combination of rugged hardware, modular flexibility, high-speed fiber uplinks, and enterprise-grade software features make it a compelling choice for environments where reliability, performance, and resilience are critical.

FAQs:

1. What is the Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A used for?
The Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A is designed for industrial environments such as manufacturing plants, transportation systems, utilities, and outdoor industrial cabinets. It provides rugged, high-performance switching with advanced security and Layer 3 features under the Network Advantage license.

2. How many ports does the IE-3500-8T3X-A have?
This model includes 8 Gigabit Ethernet copper ports and 3 SFP+ fiber uplink ports that support 1G/10G speeds. The switch also supports modular expansion, allowing additional ports through compatible expansion modules.

3. Does the Cisco IE-3500-8T3X-A support PoE?
No, the IE-3500-8T3X-A is a non-PoE switch. All eight RJ45 ports are data-only. If you require PoE/PoE+ for industrial devices, the IE3500 series includes alternate models that provide power delivery. Please see below for few IE3500 switches that offer PoE capability:
IE-3500-8P3S-E (360W PoE Budget)
IE-3500-8P3S-A (360W PoE Budget)
IE-3505-8P3S-E (480W PoE Budget)
IE-3505-8P3S-A (480W PoE Budget)

4. Can the IE-3500-8T3X-A operate in harsh environments?
Yes. The switch can sustain temperatures ranging from –40°C to +75°C. Moreover, it supports shock and vibration resistance and uses a fanless design. Furthermore it includes an IP30-rated rugged enclosure. This makes it suitable for extreme industrial conditions.

5. What software features come with the Network Advantage license?
With Network Advantage, the switch supports full Layer 3 routing, advanced security policies, segmentation (VLANs, ACLs), high-availability features, and industrial protocol support. It enables enterprise-class functionality in rugged OT environments.