Platform Selection and Design Boundaries

The Catalyst 9200 Series comprises modular-uplink C9200, fixed-uplink C9200L, and compact C9200CX switches. Selection should begin with uplink requirements, endpoint power, segmentation scale, and field-service requirements rather than port count alone.

Platform Uplinks Power and cooling Stacking SD-Access virtual networks
C9200 Replaceable network modules FRU power supplies and redundant FRU fans StackWise-160, 160 Gbps, eight members 4
C9200 enhanced VN Replaceable network modules FRU power supplies and redundant FRU fans StackWise-160, 160 Gbps, eight members 32
C9200L Fixed FRU power supplies; fixed redundant fans StackWise-80, 80 Gbps, eight members 1
C9200CX Fixed Fanless; internal fixed supply or external/upstream power, model-dependent Not supported 16

Selection rules:

  • Choose C9200 when replaceable uplinks, replaceable fans, or 160 Gbps stacking are requirements.
  • Choose C9200L when fixed uplinks and 80 Gbps stacking meet the design.
  • Choose C9200CX for compact, fanless installations, upstream-powered access, or the specified HVDC options.
  • Select C9200-24PB-A or C9200-48PB-A for 32 virtual networks. These cannot stack with four-VN C9200 models.
  • Do not mix C9200 and C9200L in a stack. Members must have the same license level.

Comprehensive Switch SKU Matrix

The following matrices reconstruct all switch ordering SKUs in Tables 19, 21, and 22. -E identifies Network Essentials; -A identifies Network Advantage. MTBF values are in hours.

For modular and fixed models, supply ratings refer to the default primary supply. C9200 uses PWR-C6-125WAC, PWR-C6-600WAC, or PWR-C6-1KWAC; C9200L uses the corresponding PWR-C5 part numbers.

Modular C9200

All models accept modular uplinks, subject to the compatibility restrictions below. Multigigabit ports support speeds up to 10G.

Network Essentials SKU Network Advantage SKU Downlinks Default PSU MTBF
C9200-24T-E C9200-24T-A 24 data 125W 587,800
C9200-24P-E C9200-24P-A 24 PoE+ 600W 422,310
Not listed C9200-24PB-A 24 PoE+, enhanced VN 600W 434,220
C9200-24PXG-E C9200-24PXG-A 8 mGig + 16 1G, PoE+ 600W 353,960
C9200-48T-E C9200-48T-A 48 data 125W 571,440
C9200-48P-E C9200-48P-A 48 PoE+ 1000W 375,570
C9200-48PL-E C9200-48PL-A 48, partial PoE+ 600W 375,570
Not listed C9200-48PB-A 48 PoE+, enhanced VN 1000W 384,980
C9200-48PXG-E C9200-48PXG-A 8 mGig + 40 1G, PoE+ 1000W 320,440

The supplied text does not identify the number of powered ports on partial-PoE+ models. That detail should remain a quotation validation item.

Fixed C9200L

Uplink codes below mean: 4G = four 1G; 4X = four 1/10G; 2Y = two 1/10/25G.

Network Essentials SKU Network Advantage SKU Downlinks Uplinks PSU MTBF
C9200L-24T-4G-E C9200L-24T-4G-A 24 data 4G 125W 531,030
C9200L-24P-4G-E C9200L-24P-4G-A 24 PoE+ 4G 600W 392,210
C9200L-48T-4G-E C9200L-48T-4G-A 48 data 4G 125W 508,700
C9200L-48P-4G-E C9200L-48P-4G-A 48 PoE+ 4G 1000W 347,760
C9200L-48PL-4G-E C9200L-48PL-4G-A 48, partial PoE+ 4G 600W 347,760
C9200L-24T-4X-E C9200L-24T-4X-A 24 data 4X 125W 525,990
C9200L-24P-4X-E C9200L-24P-4X-A 24 PoE+ 4X 600W 390,310
C9200L-48T-4X-E C9200L-48T-4X-A 48 data 4X 125W 503,400
C9200L-48P-4X-E C9200L-48P-4X-A 48 PoE+ 4X 1000W 346,270
C9200L-48PL-4X-E C9200L-48PL-4X-A 48, partial PoE+ 4X 600W 346,270
C9200L-24PXG-4X-E C9200L-24PXG-4X-A 8 mGig + 16 1G, PoE+ 4X 600W 379,410
C9200L-48PXG-4X-E C9200L-48PXG-4X-A 12 mGig + 36 1G, PoE+ 4X 1000W 337,360
C9200L-24PXG-2Y-E C9200L-24PXG-2Y-A 8 mGig + 16 1G, PoE+ 2Y 600W 374,730
C9200L-48PXG-2Y-E C9200L-48PXG-2Y-A 8 mGig + 40 1G, PoE+ 2Y 1000W 337,260

Presales distinction: C9200L-48PXG-4X has 12 multigigabit downlinks; C9200L-48PXG-2Y has eight. Moving to 25G uplinks does not preserve the same downlink mix.

The text also references C9200L-M and Catalyst 9200L-M-1 models, but does not provide their individual ordering SKUs.

Compact C9200CX

Network Essentials SKU Network Advantage SKU Downlinks Fixed uplinks Power source MTBF
C9200CX-12T-2X2G-E C9200CX-12T-2X2G-A 12 data 2x10G + 3x1G, including PD port Class 6 PoE; optional 80W adapter 960,180
C9200CX-12P-2X2G-E C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A 12 PoE+ 2x10G + 2x1G Internal 315W AC 704,430
C9200CX-8P-2X2G-E C9200CX-8P-2X2G-A 8 PoE+ 2x10G + 2x1G Internal 315W AC 736,000
C9200CX-8UXG-2X-E C9200CX-8UXG-2X-A 4 mGig + 4 1G, UPOE 2x10G Internal 315W AC 711,500
C9200CX-12P-2XGH-E C9200CX-12P-2XGH-A 12 PoE+ 2x10G + 2x1G Internal 315W HVDC/AC 702,630
C9200CX-8P-2XGH-E C9200CX-8P-2XGH-A 8 PoE+ 2x10G + 2x1G Internal 315W HVDC/AC 734,030
C9200CX-8UXG-2XH-E C9200CX-8UXG-2XH-A 4 mGig + 4 1G, UPOE 2x10G Internal 315W HVDC/AC 709,660
C9200CX-8PT-2G-E C9200CX-8PT-2G-A 8 PoE+ 2x1G UPOE+ Upstream power and external 80W/150W supply 746,530

The narrative additionally names C9200CX-12PT-2G, but the configuration and ordering tables identify C9200CX-8PT-2G. The former is an unresolved source inconsistency, not a validated additional configuration.

Uplinks, Stacking, and Availability

Module SKU Ports Compatibility
C9200-NM-4G 4x1G Not supported on C9200-24PXG or C9200-48PXG
C9200-NM-4X 4×1/10G C9200 modular models
C9200-NM-2Y 2x25G Only C9200-24PXG and C9200-48PXG
C9200-NM-2Q 2x40G Only C9200-24PXG and C9200-48PXG
C9200-NM-BLANK No network module Blank option

Stack kits are C9200-STACK-KIT and C9200L-STACK-KIT. Each contains two adapters and one default 0.5 m cable. Cable options are STACK-T4-50CM, STACK-T4-1M, and STACK-T4-3M; spare versions are listed with =.

Stacks support up to 384 access ports. Availability features include cross-stack EtherChannel, MSTP, PVRST+, and stated sub-50-ms SSO failover. Cold patching requires a reboot; it should not be proposed as a reboot-free maintenance method. C9200 replacement fan ordering uses FAN-T2=.

Throughput and Forwarding Scale

Representative standalone values from Table 9 are shown below. Forwarding measurements use 64-byte packets.

Configuration Switching capacity Forwarding rate
C9200 24-port 1G models 128 Gbps 95.23 Mpps
C9200 48-port 1G models 176 Gbps 130.95 Mpps
C9200-24PXG 352 Gbps 261.90 Mpps
C9200-48PXG 400 Gbps 297.61 Mpps
C9200L 24-port 4G models 56 Gbps 41.67 Mpps
C9200L 48-port 4G models 104 Gbps 77.38 Mpps
C9200L 24-port non-mGig 4X models 128 Gbps 95.23 Mpps
C9200L 48-port non-mGig 4X models 176 Gbps 130.95 Mpps
C9200L-24PXG-4X / -2Y 272 / 292 Gbps 214.28 / 229.16 Mpps
C9200L-48PXG-4X / -2Y 392 / 340 Gbps 291.66 / 252.97 Mpps
C9200CX-12T-2X2G 70 Gbps 52.08 Mpps
C9200CX 12-port PoE+ models 68 Gbps 50.59 Mpps
C9200CX 8-port PoE+ internal-PSU models 60 Gbps 44.64 Mpps

The compact UPOE models are listed at 128 Gbps, and C9200CX-8PT-2G at 20 Gbps. Their forwarding entries use Mbps, unlike adjacent Mpps entries; those units require clarification before contractual use. Table 9 also lists 532/580 Gbps stacked capacity for modular PXG models despite the separate 160 Gbps stacking specification. Do not silently reconcile these figures.

Resource C9200 C9200L C9200CX
MAC addresses 32,000 16,000 32,000
IPv4 routes, ARP plus learned 14,000 11,000 14,000
IPv4 routing entries 4,000 3,000 4,000
IPv6 routing entries 2,000 1,500 2,000
ACL entries 1,600 1,500 1,600
DRAM / flash 4 / 4 GB 2 / 4 GB 4 / 8 GB

All platforms list 512 SVIs, 4094 VLAN IDs, 128 PVST instances, 9198-byte jumbo frames, 1000 multicast routes, and 1000 QoS entries. Buffers are 6 MB, increasing to 12 MB on C9200/C9200L multigigabit models.

Size uplinks independently from switching capacity. Stack bandwidth is not interchangeable with external uplink bandwidth.

PoE and Electrical Sizing

PoE+ supports up to 30W per port. Compact multigigabit UPOE models support up to 60W per port.

Model group Single default AC PSU budget Dual identical AC PSU budget Single / dual 715W DC budget
C9200/C9200L 24-port PoE+ and PXG 370W 740W 485W / 740W
C9200/C9200L 48-port full PoE+ and PXG 740W 1440W 485W / 970W
C9200/C9200L 48PL 370W 740W 485W / 970W
C9200CX internal 315W models 240W Not applicable Not applicable

C9200CX-8PT-2G lists 180W with the 80W adapter plus UPOE+ uplinks, and 240W with the 150W adapter plus UPOE+ uplinks. These are not adapter-only budgets.

Sizing rules:

  • Separate port capability from aggregate budget. Derived from the ratings, 24 endpoints at 30W require 720W; 48 require 1440W.
  • A 240W compact budget cannot supply eight endpoints simultaneously at 60W.
  • Size required failure-state PoE against the surviving supply, not the dual-supply total.
  • Perpetual PoE maintains power during reload; Fast PoE starts endpoint power before the operating system finishes loading.
  • PWR-C5-715WDC= and PWR-C6-715WDC= are spare-only, require IOS XE 17.8.1 or later, and support PoE models only. AC/DC mixing is explicitly supported.

Standard AC supplies accept 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz. The 715W DC supplies accept -40 to -72 VDC. Compact HVDC supplies accept 120-418 VDC or 100-277 VAC. C9K-ADPT-DC accepts 18-60 VDC.

Use measured consumption separately from PSU ratings. For example, C9200L-48P-4X at 115 VAC records 68.36W under full-port, 100% traffic without PoE and 872.6W in the 100% PoE, no-traffic test. These are distinct test conditions.

Software, Segmentation, and Licensing

IOS XE supports NETCONF, RESTCONF, YANG models, streaming telemetry, PnP provisioning, and embedded WebUI. Management choices include CLI, Catalyst Center, and Meraki dashboard workflows.

Cloud configuration source provides cloud-delivered configuration and read-only Cloud CLI. Device configuration source retains local configuration and provides read/write Cloud CLI.

Network Essentials includes static routing, RIP, RIPng, and OSPF routed access. Advanced routing capabilities include full OSPF, EIGRP, IS-ISv4, OSPFv3, and EIGRPv6. C9200CX adds basic BGP from IOS XE 17.13.1 and supports IEEE 1588v2 PTP with stated sub-microsecond accuracy.

C9200 lists AES-128 MACsec; C9200CX lists AES-256. SD-Access uses Catalyst Center automation and ISE policy. C9200 supports 25 fabric-AP access tunnels per standalone switch or stack; C9200CX supports 25 from IOS XE 17.9.5. C9200L is not supported as a fabric edge for SD-Access Wireless. None supports the SD-Access Embedded Wireless Controller.

Unified Switching Essentials and Advantage subscriptions have a standard minimum new-subscription term of 36 months. Listed supporting releases are 26.2.1, 17.18.5, and 26.1.3.

Cisco DNA subscriptions have 3-, 5-, or 7-year terms and must correspond to Network Essentials or Advantage. An add-on license is required at purchase. On expiry, the documented base-license path requires deactivating the add-on and reloading. Catalyst Center deployment is not mandatory. Umbrella integration requires Cisco DNA Advantage and an Umbrella license per device.

Environmental, Physical, and Acoustic Engineering

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions below are H x W x D in centimeters.

Group Chassis Including supply and fans
C9200 4.4 x 44.5 x 35.0 4.4 x 44.5 x 39.1
C9200L non-mGig 4.4 x 44.5 x 28.8 4.4 x 44.5 x 32.9
C9200L mGig 4.4 x 44.5 x 35.0 4.4 x 44.5 x 39.1
C9200CX-12T-2X2G and -8PT-2G 4.4 x 26.9 x 16.5 Same
Other C9200CX 4.4 x 26.9 x 24.4 Same

C9200 listed weights span 5.0-5.5 kg; C9200L spans 4.35-5.71 kg. Compact data and pass-through models weigh 1.81 and 1.95 kg respectively; internal-PSU PoE+ models weigh 2.99 kg and UPOE models 3.18 kg. C9200-24PB has inconsistent source values of 12.12 lb and 5.0 kg; confirm before shipping calculations.

Use installed depth for cabinet planning, then validate cable and service access. Compact accessories include C9K-CMPCT-DIN-MNT, C9K-WALL-TRAY, C9K-CMPCT-DESK-MNT, and RACKMNT-19-CMPACT.

Temperature and Humidity

  • Normal operation: -5 to +45 C up to 1500 m.
  • C9200CX-8UXG-2X and -2XH: -5 to +40 C up to 1500 m.
  • Normal operation up to 3000 m: -5 to +40 C.
  • Minimum cold-start ambient: 0 C.
  • Storage: -40 to +70 C.
  • Humidity: 5%-90%, noncondensing.

C9200/C9200L exceptional operation permits +50 C at 1500 m, +45 C at 3000 m, or +45 C at sea level with one failed fan. Limits are 96 consecutive hours, 360 total hours, or 15 occurrences per year.

A separate altitude row states 3000 m at +45 C, conflicting with normal-operation limits. Use the explicitly qualified normal limits pending confirmation.

Acoustics and Reliability

At 25 C, C9200/C9200L with AC supplies and either 24 or 48 loaded PoE+ ports list:

  • LpA: 42 dB typical, 45 dB maximum.
  • LwA: 5.3 B typical, 5.6 B maximum.
  • Measurement: ISO 7779; declaration: ISO 9296.

C9200CX is fanless, but no numeric acoustic value is supplied. Fanless should not be quoted as a measured zero-noise specification.

Per-model MTBF appears in the SKU matrices. C5/C6 125W AC supplies list 3,332,120 hours; 600W and 1000W AC supplies list 1,600,060 hours. These values do not replace a service-level requirement.

Warranty, Services, and Quotation Controls

The Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty applies while the original customer owns the product. Following manufacturing discontinuance, warranty support is limited to five years from the discontinuance announcement.

Hardware replacement uses commercially reasonable efforts for next-business-day delivery where available. Otherwise, replacement shipment is within 10 working days after receipt of the RMA request. Actual delivery depends on location.

Warranty starts at shipment to the customer; reseller transactions cannot defer commencement beyond 90 days after Cisco’s original shipment. Included TAC support is device-level basic configuration, diagnosis, and troubleshooting for 90 days, eight hours daily, five days weekly during business hours. It excludes broader solution or network-level support. Cisco.com access is guest-only, and Cisco reserves the right to refund the purchase price as its exclusive warranty remedy.

Professional, implementation, optimization, technical, and managed services are described, but contractual response-time options are not specified in the supplied text.

Before quotation release, validate:

  1. Exact switch SKU, license tier, term, and software dependencies.
  2. Uplink module and optics compatibility at https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com.
  3. Normal and failure-state endpoint power.
  4. Stack compatibility, kits, and cable lengths.
  5. Installed dimensions, environmental limits, and mounting accessories.
  6. Power cords and connectors; HVDC cabling is the customer or integrator’s responsibility.
  7. Required ongoing support beyond the warranty’s 90-day TAC provision.
  8. All unresolved source inconsistencies before specifications become contractual commitments.