Primary Device
Cisco Catalyst 9300X
★ 3.2 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 57.6 Tbps (fully populated 9-slot chassis)
- Forwarding Rate: 200 billion packets per second
- Ports (Modular): Up to 288 x 1G, or mixed configs (1G/10G/25G/40G/100G)
- PoE Budget: Up to 60W per port (varies by module)
- Layer: L3 (Multi-layer, IPv4/IPv6)
- Stacking Support: StackWise Virtual (distributed, active-active redundancy)
- Chassis Slots: 9 module slots
- Max Uplink Ports: Up to 32 x 100G ports (high-speed spine interconnect)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Extreme switching capacity (57.6 Tbps) for core/spine architectures; Modular design allows flexible port configurations (1G/10G/25G/40G/100G mix); StackWise Virtual eliminates single points of failure with active-active forwarding; SD-Access and Cisco ACI ready for intent-based networking; High PoE delivery (up to 60W) suits large-scale access deployments; Enterprise-grade security, comprehensive VLAN and QoS capabilities
- ✘ Cons: Very high capital cost ($25–85K+) limits adoption to large enterprises; Requires advanced configuration expertise; High power draw (2000+ watts typical) demands robust cooling/power infrastructure; Oversized for small-to-medium networks; Module replacement and port upgrades carry premium pricing; Steep learning curve for network operations teams
- Est. Price: $25,000 - $85,000
Compare Against
Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Pro Max 16 PoE
★ 4.1 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Switching Capacity: 360 Gbps
- Forwarding Rate: 268 Mpps
- Ports: 16x Gigabit Ethernet PoE + 2x 10G SFP+ uplink
- PoE Budget: 240W total
- Layer: L3 (Managed/Routing)
- Stacking Support: Yes, stackable via stacking ports
- Max Power Consumption: 400W
- Dimensions: 17.3 x 8.9 x 1.7 inches
- Management: UniFi Controller / Web UI
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: 240W PoE budget for high device density; Dual 10G SFP+ uplink ports for high-bandwidth core connectivity; Layer 3 routing capabilities for VLAN and inter-subnet management; Centralized UniFi controller integration with intuitive dashboard; Stackable design for scalable network growth; Fanless or near-silent operation; Enterprise-grade build quality in compact form factor
- ✘ Cons: Requires UniFi Controller for advanced management features (standalone mode is limited); Higher initial cost compared to unmanaged switches; Limited to 10G uplinks rather than 40G or higher bandwidth options; Learning curve for users unfamiliar with UniFi ecosystem; No console port for legacy terminal-based management; PoE budget may be insufficient for very high-density deployments with power-hungry APs
- Est. Price: $899 - $1,399