In-Depth Cisco C9200-STACK-KIT= Datasheet and Pricing Guide for Catalyst 9200 Series Stack Kit

1. Product Overview

The Cisco C9200-STACK-KIT= is a critical hardware component designed specifically for the Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches, enabling high-performance stacking capabilities. This stack kit facilitates the creation of a unified logical switch by interconnecting up to eight Catalyst 9200 switches, delivering enhanced scalability, simplified management, and increased resiliency for enterprise campus networks.

As part of Cisco’s industry-leading Catalyst 9000 family, the Catalyst 9200 Series is engineered for secure, intelligent, and programmable access-layer switching. The C9200-STACK-KIT= stack module and associated cables provide the physical and logical infrastructure to aggregate multiple switches into a single stack, which operates as a single entity with a unified control plane and data plane.

This stacking solution is ideal for organizations requiring high availability, simplified network operations, and seamless scalability in medium to large campus environments. The stack kit supports Cisco StackWise-160 technology, delivering up to 160 Gbps of stack bandwidth, ensuring low latency and high throughput across the stack.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Components

The C9200-STACK-KIT= includes the following hardware elements:

• StackWise-160 Stack Module: A dedicated module that plugs into the rear stacking slot of the Catalyst 9200 switch chassis.
• Stack Cables: High-quality, shielded stacking cables designed to connect switches in a ring topology, ensuring redundancy and fault tolerance.

2.2 Compatibility

The stack kit is compatible exclusively with Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches, including models such as C9200-24T, C9200-48T, and their PoE/PoE+ variants. It is not backward compatible with Catalyst 2960-X or 3850 series stacking modules.

2.3 Technical Specifications

2.4 Software Requirements

The C9200-STACK-KIT= requires Cisco IOS XE Software version 16.12.1 or later to fully support StackWise-160 features, including stack management, redundancy, and unified control plane operations. The software must be consistent across all stack members to ensure stability and feature compatibility.

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 High-Performance Stack Bandwidth

The StackWise-160 technology embedded in the C9200-STACK-KIT= provides an aggregate stack bandwidth of 160 Gbps full-duplex. This high throughput ensures that inter-switch communication within the stack is fast and efficient, minimizing bottlenecks and latency. This is critical for environments with high data traffic, such as enterprise campuses, data centers, and service provider edge networks.

3.2 Scalability and Flexibility

By enabling up to eight Catalyst 9200 switches to operate as a single logical unit, the stack kit allows network administrators to scale their access layer infrastructure seamlessly. Adding or removing switches from the stack is simplified, reducing downtime and operational complexity. This flexibility supports evolving network demands without requiring significant architectural changes.

3.3 Simplified Management and Operations

The stack operates under a single IP address and management interface, consolidating configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting tasks. This unified management reduces administrative overhead and the risk of configuration inconsistencies. Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime Infrastructure further enhance management capabilities with automation and analytics.