Primary Device
Cisco Catalyst 9176I (CW9176I)
★ 4.3 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 51.2 Tbps
- Forwarding Rate: 38.4 Tbps
- Chassis Slots: 16-slot modular
- Port Options: Varies by line card configuration (up to 576 10GE/25GE ports or mixed)
- Layer Support: L2/L3
- PoE Support: Supported via optional PoE line cards
- Stacking Support: Yes, via Catalyst 9000 stacking
- Redundancy: Dual supervisor engines, hot-swappable
- Management: Cisco DNA Center compatible
- Max Power Consumption: 8400W
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Modular architecture allows flexible configuration for enterprise campuses; Extremely high switching capacity (51.2 Tbps) supports massive scale deployments; Full redundancy with dual supervisors and hot-swappable components; Integrated security and SD-Access ready; Supports latest 25GE/40GE/100GE line cards for future-proof design
- ✘ Cons: Very high capital expense ($85K–$125K+) makes it suitable only for large enterprises; Steep learning curve for network administrators unfamiliar with modular platforms; Requires significant power infrastructure (8400W maximum); Configuration complexity increases operational overhead; Price-to-performance ratio may be excessive for mid-market networks
- Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000
Compare Against
Cisco Catalyst CW9176
★ 3.4 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4 MIMO
- Aggregate Throughput: 5.9 Gbps
- Radios: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- Uplink Port Speed: 1 Gbps Ethernet
- Max Clients: 256
- PoE Requirement: 802.3bt Type 3 (60W)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Advanced Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology enables superior performance and efficiency; High aggregate throughput of 5.9 Gbps supports demanding applications and high-density environments; Enterprise-grade security features including 802.1X, WPA3 encryption, and threat detection for secure deployments
- ✘ Cons: Requires 802.3bt Type 3 PoE infrastructure which is not universally available in legacy deployments; High power consumption (60W) increases operational costs and cooling requirements; Premium enterprise pricing makes it less suitable for small or budget-conscious deployments
- Est. Price: $850 - $1,200