1. Product Overview & Use Cases

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series represents the foundational building block for enterprise-grade switching, engineered specifically to support advanced security, massive Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, high-density mobility environments, and seamless cloud integrations. Positioned as the premier stackable campus switching platform within the Cisco portfolio, the hardware heavily leverages the Cisco Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The UADP 2.0 and UADP 2.5sec architectures provide unparalleled investment protection via a programmable micro-engine pipeline, enabling the switch to support entirely new protocols and encapsulation standards without requiring a physical hardware refresh. The platform serves as the premier fabric edge node for Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), facilitating automated micro-segmentation, policy enforcement, and endpoint profiling.

By integrating seamlessly with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco DNA Center, the Catalyst 9300 Series ensures consistent policy application across wired and wireless domains. The switches eliminate historical bottlenecks associated with convergence, processing rich telemetry directly in hardware.

Category Capability Matrix Target Environments
Enterprise Campus Access High-density 1G/2.5G/5G/10G downlinks, StackWise-480/1T, continuous forwarding, stateful switchover (SSO), nonstop forwarding (NSF). Large corporate headquarters, university campuses, healthcare facilities, distributed enterprise edge locations.
High-Density Wi-Fi 6/6E 90W Cisco UPOE+, Multigigabit ethernet (mGig), rapid access point (AP) provisioning, integrated wireless controller support. Arenas, auditoriums, high-density open-plan offices, smart buildings, campus dormitories, enterprise conference centers.
IoT & OT Deployments Audio Video Bridging (AVB), Precision Time Protocol (PTP IEEE 1588v2), Fast PoE, Perpetual PoE, application hosting via Docker containers. Manufacturing floors, broadcast studios, smart lighting systems, automated logistics hubs, warehouse environmental sensors.
Zero-Trust Security Cisco TrustSec, MACsec-256 link encryption, Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), Hardware-based IPsec, Secure Boot, Trust Anchor Module (TAM). Financial institutions, government agencies, compliance-heavy sectors, healthcare patient record databases, legal firms.
SD-Access & Cloud Fabric edge node, fabric border node, fabric control plane node, Cisco DNA Center deep integration, telemetry streaming. Multi-site enterprise networks transitioning to intent-based networking, hybrid cloud fabrics, remote site automation.
Micro-branch & Retail Fixed uplink models (9300L/LM), compact 1RU depth deployments, complete Cisco Meraki Dashboard dual-personality support. Retail chains, branch offices, distributed healthcare clinics, temporary pop-up commercial locations, small footprint closets.

2. Architecture & Form Factors

The hardware architecture relies heavily on distinct internal routing engines, x86 CPU complexes, and highly available stacking fabrics. Stacking is facilitated via physical back-panel copper cables, aggregating up to eight physical chassis into a single logical entity with a unified control plane and management IP. StackWise-480 operates at 480 Gbps on standard 9300 models, while StackWise-1T pushes aggregate backplane throughput to 1 Tbps on the 9300X variants. Memory and flash configurations scale drastically from the standard 9300 models to the 9300X configurations, supporting heavier Docker container workloads and routing tables.

The flagship model, the Cisco Catalyst C9300X-48HX, represents the peak physical configuration for the access layer. The exact dimensions for this flagship chassis are 1.73 inches in height (1RU), 17.5 inches in width, and an exact depth of 19.2 inches. Without the power supplies installed, the C9300X-48HX has an exact weight of 14.8 lbs. It dissipates thermal load using three modular, field-replaceable fan units configured for port-side to power-supply-side airflow. The CPU architecture utilizes an x86-based Intel processor functioning in tandem with the ASIC to handle complex control-plane tasks.

Architectural Component Specification / Technical Detail
ASIC Engine UADP 2.0 (Catalyst 9300/9300L/9300LM) or UADP 2.5sec (Catalyst 9300X) with programmable pipeline and deep packet inspection.
CPU Complex x86-based Intel CPU, 1.3 GHz to 2.4 GHz Quad-Core, supporting third-party application hosting natively.
Memory (RAM) 8 GB DDR4 (Catalyst 9300/9300L/9300LM) or 16 GB DDR4 (Catalyst 9300X) allocated for control plane and container memory.
Flash Storage 16 GB (Catalyst 9300/9300L/9300LM) or 32 GB (Catalyst 9300X) internal USB 3.0 supporting core dump storage and logging.
Stacking Architecture StackWise-480 (480 Gbps) or StackWise-1T (1 Tbps). Stateful switchover (SSO) with sub-50ms failover across 8 members.
Cooling Subsystem 3x Hot-swappable fans (FAN-T2 or FAN-T2-B), N+1 redundancy, PWM speed controlled based on thermal ASIC telemetry.
Operating System Cisco IOS XE (Open, programmable, API-driven) or Meraki OS (Cloud-managed dual-personality on specific SKUs).
Application Hosting Docker container support directly on the switch leveraging internal x86 CPU, RAM, and front-panel USB 3.0 SSD expansion.
Form Factor (C9300X-48HX) Exact Dimensions: 1.73 x 17.5 x 19.2 inches (4.4 x 44.5 x 48.8 cm), standard 19-inch rack-mountable 1RU.
Weight (C9300X-48HX) Exact Weight: 14.8 lbs (6.71 kg) chassis only. Fully populated with dual 1100W PSUs adds approximately 5.8 lbs.

3. Performance & Scaling

Catalyst 9300 Series switches execute continuous wire-rate packet forwarding regardless of packet size (64-byte to 9198-byte jumbo frames) or enabled Layer 4-7 services. Switch Database Management (SDM) templates allow network administrators to dynamically reallocate Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) allocations depending on the topological role of the switch. Core templates maximize IPv4/IPv6 unicast/multicast routing tables, whereas Access templates maximize MAC address tables and Security Group Tag (SGT) hardware enforcement policies. Advanced SDM templates such as Network Address Translation (NAT) and Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) profiles ensure TCAM is actively utilized to prevent CPU interrupts during complex traffic manipulation.

Metric Catalyst 9300 (Data/PoE) Catalyst 9300 (Multigigabit) Catalyst 9300X (Fiber/mGig) Catalyst 9300L / LM
Switching Capacity (Standalone) 208 Gbps (24-port) / 256 Gbps (48-port) Up to 640 Gbps Up to 2000 Gbps (2 Tbps) 56 Gbps / 104 Gbps
Switching Capacity (Stack) Up to 688 Gbps (24-port) / 736 Gbps (48-port) Up to 1120 Gbps Up to 3000 Gbps (3 Tbps) 376 Gbps / 424 Gbps
Forwarding Rate (Standalone) 154.76 Mpps (24p) / 190.47 Mpps (48p) Up to 476.19 Mpps Up to 1488 Mpps 41.66 Mpps / 77.38 Mpps
Forwarding Rate (Stack) Up to 511.90 Mpps (24p) / 547.62 Mpps (48p) Up to 833.33 Mpps Up to 2232 Mpps 279.76 Mpps / 315.48 Mpps
MAC Address Table Size 32,000 entries 32,000 entries 32,000 entries 32,000 entries
IPv4 Routing Entries 32,000 (16,000 direct, 16,000 indirect) 32,000 39,000 (23,000 direct, 16,000 indirect) 32,000
IPv6 Routing Entries 16,000 (8,000 direct, 8,000 indirect) 16,000 19,500 (11,500 direct, 8,000 indirect) 16,000
Multicast Routes 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000
QoS Scale 5,120 ingress entries, 5,120 egress entries 5,120 ingress entries, 5,120 egress entries 5,120 ingress entries, 5,120 egress entries 5,120 ingress entries
FNF Entries (Flexible NetFlow) 64,000 flows 64,000 flows 128,000 flows 64,000 flows
VLAN IDs 4,094 4,094 4,094 4,094
Jumbo Frames 9198 bytes 9198 bytes 9198 bytes 9198 bytes
Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000

4. Power & Consumption

Power delivery is handled by dual redundant, hot-swappable Platinum-rated AC or DC power supply units. The Catalyst 9300 supports Perpetual PoE, guaranteeing uninterrupted power delivery to downstream endpoints (IP phones, IP cameras, wireless access points) during operating system reloads. Fast PoE ensures power is restored to ports within seconds of a cold boot, prior to IOS XE fully initializing. Utilizing Cisco StackPower technology, up to four switches can pool and share physical power supplies in a unified ring topology, providing an aggregated chassis power reserve for N+1 redundancy without requiring UPS-backed dual power runs to every single switch. Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standards dynamically power down idle PHY circuits to curb overall chassis consumption.

For the flagship C9300X-48HX model under operational load, exact typical power consumption without PoE draw is 125.6 Watts.

Power Supply Model Maximum Output Rating Input Voltage & Frequency Application / Compatibility Max PoE Budget (Single PS)
PWR-C1-350WAC-P 350 Watts 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz Data-only switches N/A
PWR-C1-715WAC-P 715 Watts 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz PoE+ switches (24/48 port) 437W (24p) / 437W (48p)
PWR-C1-1100WAC-P 1100 Watts 115-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz UPOE and PoE+ switches 822W (24p) / 822W (48p)
PWR-C1-1900WAC-P 1900 Watts 200-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz UPOE+ and Multigigabit 1440W
PWR-C1-715WDC 715 Watts DC -36V to -72V DC DC environments, telco 437W
Platform Idle Power (Watts) 10% Traffic Power (Watts) 100% Traffic Power (Watts) Max Heat Dissipation (BTU/hr)
C9300-24T 63.8 70.3 71.9 273.6
C9300-48P 86.9 95.8 98.7 366.8
C9300-48UXM 123.4 136.2 140.5 480.8
C9300X-48HX 110.1 125.6 132.8 496.1
C9300X-24Y 98.4 112.5 119.2 439.1
C9300L-48P-4G 62.4 69.1 71.5 277.4

5. Uplinks, Modules & Optics

The standard Catalyst 9300 and 9300X platforms feature a modular uplink architecture, accepting front-facing, hot-swappable Network Modules (NMs). This design allows migration from 10G to 25G, 40G, or 100G topologies without chassis replacement. Auto-negotiation and auto-MDIX are natively supported across all copper interfaces. Forward error correction (FEC) is strictly enforced on 25G and 100G interfaces to maintain signal integrity over long fiber runs. Network modules contain independent MACsec encryption PHYs capable of wire-rate 256-bit AES cryptographic encapsulation over Wide Area Network (WAN) and metropolitan dark fiber links.

Direct Attach Copper (DAC) and Active Optical Cables (AOC) are supported extensively across the 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G interface modules for intra-rack data center links.

Network Module Uplink Configuration Supported Chassis Types Primary Transceiver Types Max Port Bandwidth
C3850-NM-4-1G 4x 1 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300 SFP (GLC-TE, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD) 4 Gbps
C3850-NM-2-10G 2x 10G or 4x 1G Catalyst 9300 SFP+ (SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR), SFP 20 Gbps
C3850-NM-8-10G 8x 10G SFP+ Catalyst 9300 (Multigig models) SFP+ (SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR, DWDM) 80 Gbps
C3850-NM-2-40G 2x 40G QSFP+ Catalyst 9300 QSFP+ (QSFP-40G-SR4, QSFP-40G-LR4) 80 Gbps
C9300-NM-4G 4x 1 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300 SFP 4 Gbps
C9300-NM-8X 8x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300 SFP+ 80 Gbps
C9300-NM-2Q 2x 40 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300 QSFP+ 80 Gbps
C9300-NM-2Y 2x 25 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300 SFP28 (SFP-25G-SR-S, SFP-25G-LR-S) 50 Gbps
C9300X-NM-8M 8x Multigigabit (10G) Catalyst 9300X Copper RJ45 (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) 80 Gbps
C9300X-NM-8Y 8x 25 Gigabit Ethernet Catalyst 9300X SFP28 (25G) or SFP+ (10G) 200 Gbps
C9300X-NM-2C 2x 100 Gigabit / 40G Catalyst 9300X QSFP28 (100G) or QSFP+ (40G) 200 Gbps
C9300X-NM-4C 4x 100 Gigabit / 40G Catalyst 9300X (Fiber models only) QSFP28 (100G) or QSFP+ (40G) 400 Gbps
Optic / Transceiver Interface Type Wavelength Reach / Distance Cable Type Transceiver Power
GLC-SX-MMD 1000BASE-SX 850 nm Up to 550m MMF (OM2/OM3) 1W
GLC-LH-SMD 1000BASE-LX/LH 1310 nm Up to 10km SMF 1W
SFP-10G-SR 10GBASE-SR 850 nm Up to 300m MMF (OM3) 1W
SFP-10G-LR 10GBASE-LR 1310 nm Up to 10km SMF 1W
SFP-10G-ER 10GBASE-ER 1550 nm Up to 40km SMF 1.5W
SFP-10G-ZR 10GBASE-ZR 1550 nm Up to 80km SMF 1.5W
SFP-25G-SR-S 25GBASE-SR 850 nm Up to 100m MMF (OM4) 1.2W
SFP-25G-LR-S 25GBASE-LR 1310 nm Up to 10km SMF 1.2W
QSFP-40G-SR4 40GBASE-SR4 850 nm Up to 150m MPO-12 MMF 1.5W
QSFP-40G-LR4 40GBASE-LR4 1310 nm Up to 10km LC SMF 3.5W
QSFP-100G-SR4-S 100GBASE-SR4 850 nm Up to 100m MPO-12 MMF (OM4) 3.5W
QSFP-100G-LR4-S 100GBASE-LR4 1310 nm Up to 10km LC SMF 4.5W

6. Comprehensive SKUs

The Catalyst 9300 hardware ordering catalog is strictly segmented into base model formats (-A for Network Advantage, -E for Network Essentials). Switches feature distinct permutations for downlink speeds, ranging from pure gigabit copper to specialized Multigigabit (mGig) arrays and pure fiber aggregation units. This section details the complete physical specifications of the access tier units.

Base SKU Downlink Port Density & Speed PoE Capability Default Power Supply Uplink Type
C9300-24T-A/E 24x 10/100/1000 Ethernet Data Only PWR-C1-350WAC Modular
C9300-48T-A/E 48x 10/100/1000 Ethernet Data Only PWR-C1-350WAC Modular
C9300-24P-A/E 24x 10/100/1000 Ethernet PoE+ (30W) PWR-C1-715WAC Modular
C9300-48P-A/E 48x 10/100/1000 Ethernet PoE+ (30W) PWR-C1-715WAC Modular
C9300-24U-A/E 24x 10/100/1000 Ethernet UPOE (60W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular
C9300-48U-A/E 48x 10/100/1000 Ethernet UPOE (60W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular
C9300-24UX-A/E 24x mGig (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) UPOE (60W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular
C9300-48UXM-A/E 36x 2.5G mGig, 12x 10G mGig UPOE (60W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular
C9300-48UN-A/E 48x 5G mGig UPOE (60W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular
C9300X-48HX-A/E 48x mGig (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) UPOE+ (90W) PWR-C1-1100WAC Modular (100G ready)
C9300X-48TX-A/E 48x mGig (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) Data Only PWR-C1-715WAC Modular (100G ready)
C9300X-12Y-A/E 12x 25G/10G/1G SFP28 Data Only PWR-C1-715WAC Modular (100G ready)
C9300X-24Y-A/E 24x 25G/10G/1G SFP28 Data Only PWR-C1-715WAC Modular (100G ready)
C9300L-24T-4G-A/E 24x 10/100/1000 Ethernet Data Only PWR-C1-350WAC Fixed 4x 1G
C9300L-48P-4X-A/E 48x 10/100/1000 Ethernet PoE+ (30W) PWR-C1-715WAC Fixed 4x 10G
C9300LM-48U-4Y-A/E 48x 10/100/1000 Ethernet UPOE (60W) Internal Modular Fixed 4x 25G
Stacking Component Description Form Factor Compatibility Maximum Bandwidth
STACK-T1-50CM StackWise-480/1T Copper Cable, 50cm 9300, 9300X 480 Gbps / 1 Tbps
STACK-T1-1M StackWise-480/1T Copper Cable, 1m 9300, 9300X 480 Gbps / 1 Tbps
STACK-T1-3M StackWise-480/1T Copper Cable, 3m 9300, 9300X 480 Gbps / 1 Tbps
CAB-SPWR-30CM StackPower Cable, 30cm 9300, 9300X N/A (Power Only)
CAB-SPWR-150CM StackPower Cable, 150cm 9300, 9300X N/A (Power Only)
STACK-T3-50CM StackWise-320 Copper Cable, 50cm 9300L, 9300LM 320 Gbps
STACK-T3-1M StackWise-320 Copper Cable, 1m 9300L, 9300LM 320 Gbps
STACK-T3-3M StackWise-320 Copper Cable, 3m 9300L, 9300LM 320 Gbps

7. Environmental Specs & Warranty

Hardware reliability is driven by strict compliance with international thermal, shock, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) guidelines. Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) calculations represent worst-case scenarios inside fully populated campus distribution racks running at maximum operating temperatures. RoHS compliance is strictly enforced across all manufacturing components. Electromagnetic emissions are suppressed well below FCC Class A and EN55022 limits. The hardware is designed for highly controlled enterprise network closets, data center top-of-rack deployments, and clean industrial environments. Thermal tolerance scales depending on operating altitude and the specific Network Modules loaded.

Environmental Variable Operating Range / Threshold Non-Operating (Storage) Range / Threshold
Temperature (Sea Level to 5,000 ft) 23°F to 113°F (-5°C to 45°C) -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)
Temperature (Up to 10,000 ft) 23°F to 104°F (-5°C to 40°C) -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)
Relative Humidity 5% to 90% (noncondensing) 5% to 95% (noncondensing)
Operating Altitude Up to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) Up to 15,000 ft (4,500 m)
Acoustic Noise (Idle, Typical) 42 dB to 45 dB N/A
Acoustic Noise (Maximum) 60 dB to 65 dB (at 40°C ambient) N/A
Shock Tolerance 30G half-sine per Mil-Std-810G 50G trapezoidal per Mil-Std-810G
Vibration Tolerance 0.41 Grms random 1.12 Grms random
MTBF (C9300X-48HX) 196,150 hours N/A
MTBF (C9300-24T) 314,790 hours N/A
EMI / EMC Compliance FCC Part 15 Class A, EN 55032 N/A
Warranty & Support Policy Description / Entitlement
Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW) Base level warranty providing Next Business Day (NBD) hardware replacement where available, or 10-day replacement otherwise. Extends 90 days past end-of-life announcement.
Technical Assistance Center (TAC) 90 days of 8×5 Cisco TAC support included with E-LLW. Smart Net Total Care required for 24×7 support and advanced troubleshooting.
Software Updates Maintenance releases for the life of the platform for the base OS (IOS XE). DNA subscriptions provide advanced feature updates.
Cisco Smart Net Total Care Optional add-on. Provides 24x7x365 TAC access, NBD, 4-hour, or 2-hour hardware replacement options based on service level agreement (SLA).
Cisco Solution Support Optional add-on. Provides centralized support across Cisco and third-party partner products for complex solutions like SD-Access and centralized wireless deployments.

8. Licensing Constraints

Procurement of the Catalyst 9300 Series strictly mandates the attachment of a Cisco DNA (Digital Network Architecture) term-based subscription license. The physical hardware is permanently provisioned with a Network Advantage or Network Essentials perpetual base license. The mandatory DNA tier dictates access to SDN capabilities, analytics, advanced telemetry, and centralized automation via Cisco DNA Center. License enforcement is managed via Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLUP), utilizing a cloud-based portal or a localized, air-gapped Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM) On-Prem deployment. Advanced tracking monitors feature consumption instantly without hard-locking the operating system out of critical functions if licensing expires, providing a grace period for administrators.

Licensing Tier Term Options Key Capability Access Included Features (Partial List)
Network Essentials Perpetual Foundational Layer 2/3 switching, routing, and basic security enforcement. OSPF (Routed Access), EIGRP Stub, RIP, PIM Stub, TrustSec SXP, MACsec-128.
Network Advantage Perpetual Advanced routing, comprehensive security, network segmentation, overlay networks. BGP, Full EIGRP, Full OSPF, Full PIM, MACsec-256, VRF, VXLAN, BGP EVPN.
DNA Essentials 3, 5, or 7 Years Basic telemetry streaming, DNA Center base automation, Meraki dashboard visibility. Base Automation, Plug and Play (PnP), Software Image Management (SWIM), Basic Telemetry.
DNA Advantage 3, 5, or 7 Years Advanced SD-Access provisioning, Encrypted Traffic Analytics, ThousandEyes integration. SD-Access Fabric, AI Network Analytics, Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), Application Hosting.
Cisco Spaces Subscription Location analytics, wayfinding, and IoT gateway capabilities. BLE Beacon management, AP asset tracking integration, occupancy analytics.
ThousandEyes Included in DNA Adv Synthetic transaction monitoring, external network path visibility. Web/App monitoring, BGP path visualization, network health analytics and hop-by-hop latency mapping.
Meraki Dashboard Management Licensing Specification
Supported Mode Catalyst 9300 switches can be migrated to Meraki mode (managed entirely via the cloud Dashboard).
License Requirement Requires a dedicated Meraki Enterprise or Advanced license tier for full functionality; replaces DNA licensing in cloud mode.
Firmware Transition Switching from Cisco IOS XE to Meraki OS requires a complete image wipe and firmware flash via TFTP or USB.
Stacking in Meraki Mode Supported. Stacking configurations match IOS XE physical limitations (up to 8 physical units per stack).
Reversion capability Hardware can be flashed back to on-premises Cisco IOS XE utilizing ROMMON if business requirements change back to local management.
Telemetry Support Full integration with Meraki Health, topology mapping, and automated firmware upgrades.