The Cisco STACK-T1-50CM is a 50 cm StackWise-480 stacking cable, the shortest of the three lengths in the T1 family, used to join Catalyst switches into a single stack running at 480 Gbps of stack throughput. Cisco lists it as a spare under the part number STACK-T1-50CM= on this platform, intended for switches mounted in adjacent rack units.
What StackWise-480 does and what this cable carries
StackWise-480 is the stacking interconnect that turns a group of switches into one logical device with a single configuration, a single management address and a single control plane. The T1 cable family is the physical layer of that interconnect and carries 480 Gbps of stack throughput between members. Without the cable the switches remain independent devices; with it they behave as one, which is why the cable is a functional part of the design rather than an accessory to it.
Length is the only difference across the T1 family
Three lengths exist in the T1 family and they differ by length only. The 50 cm, 1 m and 3 m cables are interchangeable within a stack, subject to physical reach between the stack ports of the members being joined. There is no electrical, throughput or compatibility distinction between them, so a stack may mix lengths where the rack layout requires it.
| Cable | Length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| STACK-T1-50CM | 50 cm | Switches in adjacent rack units |
| STACK-T1-1M | 1 m | Switches separated by patch panels or gaps |
| STACK-T1-3M | 3 m | Members split across two racks or cabinets |
Plan cable length against the actual vertical distance between stack ports, including any cable management arms in the path, rather than against rack unit count alone. A cable that is too short forces a member to be re-racked; one that is generously long is only untidy.
Condition, testing and what ships
Cables are refurbished Cisco parts carrying the original part number, inspected and tested on receipt and checked again before despatch. Parts including stacking cables carry the 1-year Enterasource warranty, and shipping is free FedEx Ground to the lower 48 states. Stacking cables are not supplied with a switch chassis unless quoted with it, so a stack build should be specified as a complete bill of materials including the cable count.
Other Catalyst parts sit alongside this one in the Cisco networking hardware range, including the Catalyst 3850 fan module. The wider switch catalogue is under Cisco switches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a STACK-T1-50CM interchangeable with a STACK-T1-1M or a STACK-T1-3M?
Yes. The three cables in the T1 family differ by length only and are interchangeable within a StackWise-480 stack, subject to the physical reach between the stack ports being connected. There is no difference in stack throughput or supported member count between them, so the choice is purely a question of how far apart the switches sit once they are racked.
What stack throughput does a STACK-T1 cable support?
480 Gbps, which is the StackWise-480 figure for the interconnect this cable family serves. That throughput is a property of the stacking architecture rather than of the individual cable, so it is the same across all three T1 lengths. Stack members joined with these cables present as a single logical switch with one configuration file and one management address.
Does a Catalyst switch come with stacking cables?
Not on a secondary-market purchase, and often not on a new one either. Stacking cables are separate Cisco part numbers and should be counted explicitly when a stack is specified: a linear stack of four switches needs three cables, and a closed ring for redundancy needs four. Assuming cables are in the box is one of the most common reasons a stack build stalls on the day of installation.
How long is a 50 cm stacking cable in practice?
Fifty centimetres of cable is intended for switches mounted in adjacent rack units, and the usable reach is shorter than the nominal length once the bend radius at each connector and any cable management routing are accounted for. Where switches are separated by a patch panel, a blanking plate or a gap in the elevation, specify the 1 m cable instead and keep the 50 cm length for genuinely adjacent members.
