PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series
Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: Model-dependent: up to 12.8 Tbps on the 9500X (C9500X-28C8D, Silicon One Q200); up to 0.96 Tbps on 40X/48X-class fixed models (older datasheet); 2.0-3.2 Tbps on 24Y4C/48Y4C (current comparison table)
  • Forwarding Rate: Model-dependent: up to 8 Bpps on the 9500X; up to 1.44 Bpps on 24Q-class; up to 1 Bpps on 24Y4C/48Y4C; up to 720 Mpps on 40X/48X-class (older datasheet)
  • Ports (breakdown): C9500-24Q: 24 x 40G QSFP+; C9500-40X: 40 x 10G SFP+ plus 2 x 40G uplink module; C9500-24Y4C: 24 x 1/10/25G SFP28 plus 4 x 40/100G QSFP28; C9500-48Y4C: 48 x 1/10/25G SFP28 plus 4 x 40/100G QSFP28; C9500X-28C8D: 28 x 40/100G QSFP28 plus 8 x 40/100/200/400G
  • PoE Budget: N/A - no PoE. Cisco's Catalyst 9500 datasheets list no PoE/PoE+ ports or PoE budget (one unverified reseller listing claims PoE on a 9500 variant)
  • Layer: Layer 2 and Layer 3 (IPv4, IPv6, multicast routing); L3 features depend on Network Essentials vs. Network Advantage licensing
  • Stacking support: StackWise Virtual (two-node virtualization, Network Advantage license). StackWise-480 is a Catalyst 9300 feature, not a 9500 feature
  • Research Note: Prices are reseller and distributor listings, not official Cisco list prices, and they conflict across sellers. Datasheet throughput figures differ between document versions, so verify SKU-level numbers on cisco.com before publishing. Cisco DNA licensing is an additional cost

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Cisco IOS is the industry-standard switch operating system with broad feature parity and familiar CLI; Wide range of fixed-form-factor models covering 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G uplinks; Scalable Layer 3 routing tables (IPv4, IPv6, multicast) suit campus core and aggregation roles; StackWise Virtual provides two-node redundancy with multi-chassis EtherChannel and SSO support; Mature platform with a long track record in enterprise campus and data center edge deployments; 9500X models offer very high capacity (up to 12.8 Tbps) with Silicon One Q200
  • ✘ Cons: Pricing is high: list prices range from roughly $10k to $38k per switch before the mandatory Cisco DNA license; Feature and licensing tiers (Network Essentials vs. Network Advantage) add cost and complexity; No PoE, so it is not suitable as an access switch for powering endpoints or APs; StackWise Virtual is limited to two nodes, which restricts scale compared with larger virtual chassis; Throughput specs vary across datasheet versions and models, which makes specification comparisons harder; Some users report features promised at launch arriving only in later firmware releases; Web management UI is considered less polished than cloud-managed competitors
  • Est. Price: $9,761 - $37,824

Compare Against

Aruba (HPE) Aruba CX 6200
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

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