Cisco IE-9310-26S2C-A Industrial Switch: What Are Its Capabilities, and How Does It Fit into Modern Industrial Networks?

​​Introduction to the IE-9310-26S2C-A​​

The ​​Cisco IE-9310-26S2C-A​​ is a high-density, modular industrial Ethernet switch designed for mission-critical applications in sectors like energy, transportation, and large-scale manufacturing. Part of Cisco’s Industrial Ethernet 9300 series, it combines carrier-grade reliability with advanced Layer 3 features to support next-generation industrial automation and IoT deployments.

​​Core Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Configuration​​:
  • 24x 1G/10G SFP+ ports
  • 2x 40G/100G QSFP28 uplinks
  • Modular expansion slot for additional interfaces (e.g., 10G Base-T, OTN)
• ​​Performance​​: 960 Gbps switching capacity, 720 Mpps forwarding rate.
• ​​Power Supply​​: Dual 110-240V AC or 48V DC inputs with 1+1 redundancy.
• ​​Layer 3 Features​​: BGP, OSPFv3, VRF-lite, MPLS, and IPv6.
• ​​Certifications​​: IEC 61850-3, IEEE 1613, EN 50121-4 (railway EMI compliance).

​​Key Innovations and Industrial Applications​​

​​1. High-Speed Backbone for Industrial IoT​​

The ​​40G/100G uplinks​​ enable aggregation of data from distributed sensors, PLCs, and edge devices in smart factories or oil refineries, reducing latency for real-time analytics.

​​2. Carrier-Grade Reliability for Utilities​​

Compliant with ​​IEC 61850-3​​, the switch ensures uninterrupted communication in electrical substations, supporting synchrophasors and differential protection systems with <1ms jitter.

​​3. Rail and Metro Networks​​

With ​​EN 50121-4 certification​​, it operates reliably in railway signaling systems and onboard train networks, resisting electromagnetic interference (EMI) from high-voltage lines.

​​Comparison with Cisco IE-4000 Series​​

​​Frequently Asked Questions​​

​​Q: Can the IE-9310-26S2C-A support 5G network slicing for private industrial networks?​​
A: Yes. Its ​​MPLS and VRF-lite​​ features enable network slicing to isolate traffic between OT, IT, and 5G backhaul.

​​Q: Is it compatible with Cisco DNA Center for SDN management?​​
A: Limited. While it runs IOS-XE, full DNA Center integration requires additional licenses and is primarily tailored for enterprise use cases.

​​Q: How to ensure redundancy in power-constrained environments?​​
A: Use dual DC power inputs with an external RPS (Redundant Power System) for N+1 redundancy during grid instability.

​​Deployment Best Practices​​

• ​​Thermal Management​​: Install in well-ventilated cabinets with forced airflow to maintain operating temperature in high-heat environments like steel mills.
• ​​Traffic Engineering​​: Use ​​MPLS-TE​​ to optimize bandwidth allocation for critical SCADA traffic across WAN links.
• ​​Security Hardening​​: Activate MACsec on 10G/40G links and deploy Control Plane Policing (CoPP) to mitigate DDoS attacks.

​​Purchasing and Technical Support​​

For pricing, lead times, and modular expansion options, visit the “IE-9310-26S2C-A” product page at itmall.sale. Custom configurations for OTN or railway deployments are available upon request.

​​Final Perspective​​

The IE-9310-26S2C-A is a powerhouse for industrial networks demanding carrier-grade performance and scalability. While its cost and complexity may be prohibitive for smaller operations, enterprises modernizing grid infrastructure or deploying smart transportation systems will find its high-speed uplinks and MPLS support transformative. Its true value emerges in environments where downtime is not an option—though maximizing its potential requires expertise in both industrial protocols and advanced routing.