Primary Device
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
Compare Against
Aruba (HPE) Aruba CX 6200
★ 4.2 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 128 Gbps (24-port models); 176 Gbps (48-port models)
- Forwarding Rate: 95.2 Mpps (24-port models); 130.9 Mpps (48-port models)
- Ports (breakdown): 24x or 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T (PoE+ on PoE SKUs) + 4x SFP/SFP+ uplinks (1GbE/10GbE); 6200M models add 4x SFP+ uplinks
- PoE Budget: 370W Class 4 (24G and 48G 370W SKUs); 740W Class 4 (48-port 6200F PoE SKU); up to 1440W Class 6 (60W per port) on 6200M PoE SKUs. Varies by SKU
- Layer: L2/L3 (Layer 3 static routing; dynamic routing depends on software license)
- Stacking support: Yes, VSF virtual stacking up to 8 members (single logical device); VSX redundancy also supported
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Fixed-port, Layer 2/3 managed access switch in a compact 1U form factor; Wide range of PoE and non-PoE SKUs (370W, 740W, and 1440W class 6 PoE options) for IP phones, cameras, and APs; VSF stacking of up to 8 members simplifies management as one logical device; Full Aruba CX OS features with REST API, network analytics, and automation support via Aruba Central; Solid mid-range pricing compared with enterprise-class core switches; 10GbE SFP+ uplinks support aggregation and campus backbone links
- ✘ Cons: Model and SKU naming (6200F vs 6200M, 24G vs 48G, PoE vs non-PoE) is confusing and specs differ significantly between variants; Public spec sources conflict on some figures (for example, 6200F throughput and uplink types), so exact datasheet values should be verified per SKU; Dynamic routing and advanced L3 features require additional licensing; Power budget is limited on 370W and 740W SKUs, so high-draw PoE devices may not all be supported at full load; Pricing is in USD only for 6200F SKUs. European 6200M pricing was found only in EUR and GBP, and no official HPE list price was confirmed
- Est. Price: $4,261 - $8,663