Primary Device
Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P
★ 3.5 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 256 Gbps (standalone); 736 Gbps with StackWise-480 stacking
- Forwarding Rate: 190.48 Mpps (IPv4/IPv6); approx. 547.62 Mpps when stacked
- Ports (breakdown): 48x 10/100/1000 RJ-45 PoE+ access ports; 1 network module slot for uplinks (4x 1G SFP, or 10G options depending on the module installed)
- PoE Budget: 437 W default with 715 W WAC PSU; up to approx. 1440 W with an 1100 W secondary PSU (upgrade figure from third-party listings, not verified against Cisco documentation)
- Layer: L2 with Network Essentials; L3 (routing) with Network Advantage (-A) license
- Stacking support: Yes, StackWise-480 (480 Gbps stacking bandwidth, up to 8 switches per stack)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Full 48-port PoE+ access with 437 W default PoE budget suits typical access-layer deployments; StackWise-480 stacking allows a single managed stack with unified configuration; Network Advantage (-A) variant adds full L3 routing and advanced features; Enterprise-grade IOS-XE platform with streaming telemetry, model-driven programmability and strong security features; Modular uplink network module slot gives flexibility for 1G or 10G uplinks; Redundant power supply options allow higher PoE budget and resilience
- ✘ Cons: Default 437 W PoE budget can be limiting for high-draw devices such as PTZ cameras or multiple high-power APs without a larger PSU; Higher price point than many competing 48-port PoE+ switches, especially with the Advantage licence; Stacking and higher PoE budgets require additional hardware and licences, increasing total cost; Forwarding rate and PoE upgrade figures vary between sources, so verify against Cisco's current datasheet before purchase; Uplink options depend on the network module, which is an extra purchase; Power and cooling needs are higher than basic unmanaged switches
- Est. Price: $7,700 - $8,712
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