Cisco HWIC-4ESW Full Official Product Description
1. Part Number & Naming Definition
Official Full Name
Cisco 4-Port EtherSwitch High-Speed WAN Interface Card
Spare SKU:HWIC-4ESW=
Naming Breakdown
-
HWIC: High-Speed WAN Interface Card
-
4ESW: 4-port EtherSwitch Layer 2 switched Fast Ethernet module
Core Product Positioning
The Cisco HWIC-4ESW is a single-wide pluggable EtherSwitch HWIC that integrates a full Layer 2 Fast Ethernet switch into Cisco Integrated Services Routers. Unlike routed HWIC-1FE / HWIC-2FE modules, this card delivers line-rate Layer 2 switching among its four ports, combining routing and switching within one router chassis. It eliminates the need for an external access switch at branch sites, supporting data, voice over IP and video services for small office, retail and remote enterprise locations. Inter-VLAN routing is processed by the host router CPU.
2. Hardware Compatibility & Supported IOS Releases
Supported Router Platforms
-
Cisco 1841
-
Cisco 2800 Series: 2801, 2811, 2821, 2851
-
Cisco 2900 Series: 2901, 2911, 2921, 2951
-
Cisco 3800 Series: 3825, 3845
-
Cisco 3900 Series: 3925, 3945, 3925E, 3945E
Unsupported Platforms
Legacy 1700/2600/3600 ISRs, ISR 4000/9000 series, Catalyst standalone switches
Note: HWIC-4ESWdoes not support PoE. PoE-capable variant is HWIC-4ESW-POE.
Supported IOS Firmware
Minimum IOS Release: 12.3(8)T4; Validated releases: 12.4T, 15.0, 15.1, 15.2(4)M and later IOS mainline versions
3. Physical & Electrical Technical Specifications
Form Factor
Single-wide HWIC module, occupies one standard HWIC expansion slot
Front Panel Interfaces
-
4 × RJ45 10/100BASE-TX switched Ethernet ports
-
Independent LED indicators per port: LINK, ACT status
Ethernet Standards
IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T, IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX
Auto-negotiation, Auto-MDI/MDI-X, full/half duplex detection
Maximum cable distance: 100 meters over Cat5 UTP cable
Power Consumption
Typical power draw: 5.8 W
Environmental Operating Parameters
-
Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F – 104°F)
-
Storage temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F – 158°F)
-
Relative Humidity: 5% – 85% non-condensing
4. Key Protocol & Networking Feature Set
Layer 2 Switching Functions
802.1Q VLAN trunking, access port mode, voice VLAN for IP phones
IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), 802.1p CoS priority marking
Port security, broadcast storm suppression, 802.3x flow control
One port can be configured as an internal stacking port to interconnect multiple EtherSwitch HWICs inside the same router
Layer 3 Routing
Inter-VLAN routing executed on the host router; supports IPv4 / IPv6
Compatible with static routes, EIGRP, OSPF, HSRP, NAT, IOS Zone-Based Firewall
QoS & Voice Support
Per-port traffic classification, queuing scheduling for VoIP, WMM support
Optimized deployment for Cisco IP Phone connectivity at remote branches
Management Capabilities
IOS CLI configuration, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RMON statistics, Syslog logging
Switchport configuration syntax consistent with Cisco Catalyst switches
5. Typical Enterprise Deployment Use Cases
-
Branch office integrated routing + switching to connect PCs, printers and IP phones without external switches
-
Small retail site unified network infrastructure for POS terminals and staff workstations
-
Remote site VoIP deployment, delivering voice VLAN separation for Cisco IP telephones
-
Low-density LAN extension for industrial equipment and surveillance devices
-
Cost-effective network consolidation for small remote enterprise locations
6. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications
-
Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2 No.60950-1, IEC/EN 60950-1
-
EMC & EMI Compliance: CE Mark, FCC Part 15 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, VCCI Class A
-
Environmental Directives: EU RoHS 2.0 compliant, EU WEEE compliant
7. Standard Factory Package Contents
-
Cisco HWIC-4ESW 4-port EtherSwitch HWIC module
-
Hardware installation guide
-
Safety and regulatory documentation
Ethernet patch cables are sold separately.
End-of-Life Status Note
Cisco HWIC-4ESW has reached Cisco End-of-Sale (EoS). Official firmware maintenance and new hardware production are discontinued. Modern replacement options include switch-equipped ISR 4000 models or external compact Catalyst switches.
UNSPSC Classification Code
43222608 – Cisco HWIC-4ESW four-port 10/100 EtherSwitch High-Speed WAN Interface Card for Cisco ISR 1841/2800/2900/3800/3900 integrated service routers, providing onboard Layer 2 switching capability to consolidate routing and LAN access at enterprise branch offices.
Standard Hardware Warranty
Brand-new modules carry a 1-year limited factory hardware warranty covering manufacturing defects. Refurbished inventory follows supplier warranty terms.
|
