PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst 9300
Cisco Catalyst 9300
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 208 Gbps (C9300-24P) to 256 Gbps (C9300-48P) for PoE+ models; 640 Gbps (C9300-24UX) for UPOE+; up to 1,760 Gbps (C9300X-48HX) and 2,000 Gbps (C9300X-24Y)
  • Forwarding Rate: 154.76 Mpps (C9300-24P) to 190.47 Mpps (C9300-48P); 476.19 Mpps (C9300-24UX); 1,309 Mpps (C9300X-48HX) to 1,488 Mpps (C9300X-24Y)
  • Ports (breakdown): 24 or 48 ports per switch. Copper GE (PoE+/UPOE/UPOE+) on the 9300, mGig on 9300X-48TX/24UX-class models, and SFP or SFP+/25G fiber on 9300-24S/48S and 9300X-24Y. Modular uplink modules add 1G/10G/25G/40G/100G depending on module
  • PoE Budget: Model and PSU dependent. Reseller sheets cite about 490 W for C9300-24UX-A and about 645 W for C9300-48S-E. Verify the exact figure for your configuration on the Cisco datasheet
  • Layer: L2 (Network Essentials) or L3 (Network Advantage), licensed per switch
  • Stacking support: Yes. StackWise-480 on modular-uplink models, StackWise-320 on fixed-uplink models, and up to 1 Tbps local stackable switching bandwidth on 9300X

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade stackable access switch with a mature, widely deployed platform; Modular uplink options and StackWise stacking scale from 24 to 48 ports and into multi-switch stacks; Full L2/L3 feature set with the Network Advantage license, including routing and advanced security; Strong PoE and UPOE/UPOE+ options for powering APs, cameras, and phones; 9300X models add mGig, 25G fiber, and up to 1 Tbps stacking bandwidth; Cisco DNA Center and IOS-XE support for automation and programmability
  • ✘ Cons: High acquisition cost, and Network Advantage and DNA licensing add significantly to total cost; Feature and throughput specs differ widely across sub-models, which makes selection complex; PoE budget depends on the chosen power supply and can be a constraint on high-power UPOE deployments; Spec figures in reseller datasheets are inconsistent, so official Cisco data must be checked before purchase; Stacking and modular uplinks require matching modules and licenses, which raises complexity and cost
  • Est. Price: $10,120 - $40,227

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