Fortinet FortiSwitch 448E, 48-Port GE Campus Switch (FS-448E)

Double the access ports of a 24-port switch, same 1U height, same four 10GE uplinks. The FortiSwitch 448E lands in environments where a single floor runs 30 to 48 connected devices and splitting them across two 24-port switches would mean doubling the uplink count, management overhead, and cabinet space. With 176 Gbps of non-blocking switching capacity, a 32,000-entry MAC table, and FortiLink compatibility, it handles both the density and the Security Fabric integration requirements that Fortinet shops in Canada expect from their access layer.

Hardware Specifications

Where the 448E Fits Best

Any scenario that would otherwise require two 24-port switches is the primary use case. A floor with 40 workstations, a lab with 48 fixed stations, or an open-plan office that mixes wired and wireless infrastructure across 45 or more access ports: the 448E covers all of these in a single 1U device with a single FortiLink connection to the FortiGate.

The 32,000-entry MAC table is twice the 424E’s 16,000 and is well-suited to high-density segments where many devices share the same switch. Power efficiency is also worth noting: at 46.5 W average, the 448E draws less than half what a comparable 48-port PoE+ model would, making it appropriate for locations where circuit capacity or power cost are constraints and PoE is not needed.

FortiLink vs. Standalone Mode

In FortiLink mode, a compatible FortiGate discovers the 448E automatically and manages VLAN assignment, NAC policy, 802.1X enforcement, firmware updates, and health monitoring from the FortiGate GUI. The Security Fabric also provides IoT device identification and automated quarantine at the port level. Standalone mode supports the same full L2/L3 feature set managed via the switch’s own CLI or HTTPS interface.

Hardware only means no FortiCare subscription. Adding FC-10-S448N-247-02-12 (FortiCare Premium, 1 year) enables firmware updates, TAC access, and advance hardware replacement per the selected support tier.

Who Buys the FS-448E

IT managers at Canadian mid-size companies, school classrooms, open-plan offices, and retail back-offices with 30 to 48 wired endpoints on a single floor choose the 448E when they want to avoid stacking two 24-port switches. Organizations running a FortiGate 60F, 70G, 80F, or larger that want to maximize connected endpoints per FortiLink switch count also find the 448E more efficient than doubling up on 24-port units.

Next Step Up

When you need more than 48 ports or a newer-generation ASIC, the FortiSwitch 648F (FS-648F) is the natural upgrade: 48-port F-generation hardware with higher switching throughput and updated silicon while maintaining FortiLink compatibility. For PoE on 48 ports, the FS-448E-POE (421 W) and FS-448E-FPOE (772 W) are the PoE variants in the same E generation.

Buying from DataCenter360.ca

DataCenter360.ca keeps the FortiSwitch 448E in Canadian stock as an authorized Fortinet Select Partner. It ships free in 0 to 1 business day, brand new with Fortinet’s limited lifetime hardware warranty. For organizations standardizing on Fortinet switching across multiple floors, we can quote multi-unit orders and help plan the FortiLink topology to fit your FortiGate’s switch management capacity. Reach out any time.