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
Compare Against
Ubiquiti Switch Pro Max 24 PoE
★ 4.1 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 112 Gbps
- Non-Blocking Throughput: 56 Gbps
- Forwarding Rate: 83.3 Mpps
- Ports: 24 total: 8x 2.5GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE++, 8x 1GbE PoE+, plus 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks
- PoE Budget: 400W total (max 60W per port)
- Layer: L3
- Stacking support: Not confirmed; no physical stacking documented in sources reviewed
- MAC Address Table Size: 32,000 entries
- Packet Buffer Size: 2 MB
- Form Factor: 1U rack-mountable, 442 x 325 x 44 mm, 5.1 kg without brackets
- Management: UniFi Network 8.0.24+
- Operating Temperature: -5 to 40u00b0C (23 to 104u00b0F)
- Certifications: CE, FCC, IC (one listing states NDAA compliant)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Layer 3 switching in a 24-port 1U chassis; 8x 2.5GbE PoE++ ports for multi-gig wireless and workstation uplinks; 400W total PoE budget with up to 60W per port; 2x 10G SFP+ uplinks; 112 Gbps switching capacity and 56 Gbps non-blocking throughput; managed centrally through UniFi Network; list price of $799 USD from Ubiquiti's US store is competitive for L3 PoE++ hardware
- ✘ Cons: 400W total PoE budget is limited if many high-power PoE++ devices are connected at once; No physical stacking documented, so scaling beyond one unit needs separate management; Port breakdown is described inconsistently across retailer listings, so the official Ubiquiti datasheet should be checked; Reseller prices vary widely (about $799 to $951 USD, plus higher regional prices); Independent hands-on reviews with measured performance were not found; Requires UniFi Network 8.0.24 or later for management
- Est. Price: $799 - $951