Cisco WS-X3500-XL enterprise networking (router/Catalyst switch/UCS families) Switch / Carrier Ethernet Line Card

The Cisco WS-X3500-XL is a GigaStack GBIC module for the Catalyst 3500 XL, 2900 XL and 3550 switch families, providing a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet stacking interface separate from the switch’s regular uplink ports. Fitted into the GigaStack slot on a compatible switch, it links up to eight units into a single logical stack over a shared 1Gbps backplane cable, without consuming a standard uplink port for stack traffic. This was the standard stacking method for the XL-generation Catalyst fixed-configuration switches before dedicated StackWise interconnects arrived on later platforms. Catalyst XL-series switches remain in service across many established SME and branch networks, and a genuine spare such as this restores stack connectivity after a module failure or extends an existing stack. Tech-Star (UK-based, shipped worldwide) stocks Cisco switch modules for engineers maintaining these networks.