The FS S3400-48t4sp is a 48-port POE + L2 managed switch that the manufacturer made available a few years ago, and yes, there is a newer version called S3410-48TS-P that has some improvements, such as a larger PoE budget or hot-swappable power supplies.
But the price is also significantly higher, if you don’t really need these features, the FS S3400-48t4sp is still a solid option for a larger network. The 48 ports show an affinity for a large number of network devices, but since the PoE budget is 370 W, I guess it can only hold a little more than ten PoE access points (the high-end models).
There are also four 10 GB uplink SFP slots that allow remote communication between networks using fiber optic modules and cables. FS actually offers reliable but affordable fiber optic cables and modules, and this approach also applies to their switches, because after testing many FS devices, it is clear that the hardware is top-notch, while the software is very similar to what Cisco has to offer.
Before reviewing and testing the FS S3400-48t4sp, I should also mention that the Ethernet switch cannot be stacked, which is a bit of a shame considering that so many other models support this useful feature. If this is necessary for your network configuration, you can take a look at the new FS s3410-48TS-P.
Quality of design and manufacture
The FS S3400-48t4sp is a 48-port switch, so the front panel is filled with Ethernet ports and, as expected, a large device, just enough to fit in a rack (U1). Indeed, the rectangular case measures 44.1 x 28.0 x 4.4 cm (17.37 x 11.04 x 1.75 inches) and FS does not cut corners in the build quality, which makes the Ethernet switch all-metal. A 48-port Ethernet switch becomes much easier to heat up, especially if all ports are used, including the maximum PoE budget.
However, the manufacturer has added three fans on the right side for air intake, while on the left side there is a single fan before to expel hot air, + there are several other ventilation holes. This includes an additional fan hole, but FS did not take into account that the FS S3400-48t4sp needs more help to keep the material cool enough. I haven’t really managed to get this Ethernet switch to the max, but I still have 13 PoE access points connected and the metal case is heating up, but the fans are efficient enough not to let the heat linger long enough to overheat the device.
But are the fans noisy? Well, they are not quiet at all and there are four of them, so you will definitely hear the fans when they are running – on the other hand, if the device is in a before rack, the noise should not bother anyone. There are mounting holes for the rack mounts on the left and right sides of the FS S3400-48t4sp (they are in the box), but if you were hoping to mount this big, heavy switch on the wall (it weighs 9.48 pounds), there are no mounting holes at the bottom, you
The good news is that you get silicone feet that you want to waste a lot of space on your desk. On the back of the Ethernet switch is the usual power connector next to a large, easy-to-press power switch.
And there is also a ground screw, as well as a strange-looking connector. This is actually direct current, so FS has taken into account users who prefer a more efficient way to power the FS S3400-48t4sp (this also means support for hot restart). You still get a normal power supply and it’s internal, so there are no power bricks lying around.
There are actually fewer LEDs on the front of the network switch than other switches, and this is due to the 48 Ethernet ports. Of course, each one has its own LED that indicates that there is a data transfer on that particular Ethernet port. All ports are PoE + (there is support for IEEE 802.3 af/at standards) and, as mentioned earlier, the maximum budget is 370 w, so you cannot use 48 PoE wireless access points (unless they are unusually energy efficient).
On the right side, there is an LED that tells you when you reach the maximum budget, next to a SYS and PWR LED. In addition to the 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, there are four SFP slots that support 10 Gbps, each covered with a protective silicone cap.
Finally, there is a console port (you get an RJ45 to VGA cable in the package) and a recessed swap button. It took me a while to figure out what these buttons actually do, but they actually have a very simple function. Remember the only LED for each port? If you don’t want to see if there is a data transfer at that particular port level, press the SWAP button to see the PoE status of the ports.
