PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst 9178i
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 204.8 Tbps (full chassis)
  • Forwarding Rate: 204.8 Tbps
  • Ports: Up to 288 u00d7 10/25/40/100 Gbps (via modular line cards)
  • Layer: L2/L3
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units via Stacking Cables)
  • Chassis Type: 3-slot modular chassis
  • PoE Budget: Up to 5.6 kW per module (optional PoE+ modules)
  • Max Power Consumption: 10.2 kW (full chassis)
  • Backplane Bandwidth: 204.8 Tbps
  • Throughput per Port: Up to 100 Gbps per port
  • Cooling: Redundant, variable-speed fans
  • Uplinks: Multiple 100 Gbps QSFP28 capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 204.8 Tbps switching fabric supports next-generation high-density deployments; Modular architecture allows flexible line-card configurations for different port densities and speeds; Full redundancy support (PSU, fan, uplinks) ensures carrier-grade reliability; Native support for Cisco DNA Center and SD-Access intent-based networking; Excellent in-service upgrade capabilities with no traffic disruption
  • ✘ Cons: Significantly higher capital cost compared to fixed-configuration switches; Requires skilled technical staff for modular line-card installation and configuration; Power and cooling infrastructure overhead for large deployments; Complexity of managing modular chassis in smaller networks may be overkill; Limited flexibility in port mix compared to disaggregated options
  • Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000

Compare Against

Cisco Catalyst 9136I
Cisco Catalyst 9136I
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 960 Gbps
  • Forwarding Rate: 960 Gbps
  • Ports (Count): 48u00d7 10GBASE-T (base) + modular uplinks (4u00d7 40GbE or 100GbE)
  • PoE Budget: Up to 3600W total PoE+ (90W per port)
  • Layer: L3 (Multilayer with full routing)
  • Stacking Support: Yes (via stack cables)
  • Form Factor: 1RU fixed configuration
  • Operating System: IOS XE
  • Max Throughput: 960 Gbps aggregate
  • Power Consumption: ~1.2u20131.5 kW

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Enterprise-grade reliability with 99.999% uptime SLA; Integrated security with ISE (Identity Services Engine) and end-to-end encryption support; Advanced L3 routing capabilities (BGP, OSPF, segment routing); High-density PoE+ for access layer deployments; Full routing in compact 1RU form factor; Strong Cisco ecosystem integration with DNA Center management; Modular uplink options for multi-generational stacking; Support for VxLAN overlay networks
  • ✘ Cons: Extremely high capital cost restricts enterprise deployments; Power consumption (1.2–1.5 kW) requires robust data center infrastructure; Steep IOS XE learning curve and CLI-based configuration; Cisco DNA licensing complexity adds recurring operational costs; Fixed 48-port design lacks flexibility vs. modular chassis; Limited open networking/disaggregated support; Ongoing software licensing and SmartNet maintenance required; Vendor lock-in to Cisco ecosystem
  • Est. Price: $35,000 - $55,000

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