Cisco C9300L-STACK-KIT= Datasheet and Price: Expert Guide to Catalyst 9300 Series Stacking Kit

1. Product Overview

The Cisco C9300L-STACK-KIT= is a critical hardware accessory designed specifically for the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches, enabling high-performance stacking capabilities. As part of Cisco’s flagship enterprise switching portfolio, the Catalyst 9300 Series is engineered for secure, scalable, and resilient network deployments. The stacking kit facilitates the creation of a unified logical switch by interconnecting multiple physical switches, thereby simplifying management, increasing bandwidth, and enhancing redundancy.

Cisco’s Catalyst 9300 Series switches are widely recognized for their advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, robust security, and programmability. The C9300L-STACK-KIT= is an essential component for network architects and engineers aiming to build scalable campus LAN infrastructures with seamless switch stacking. This stacking kit supports Cisco StackWise technology, which delivers a high-speed, low-latency interconnect fabric between switches.

The C9300L-STACK-KIT= is compatible with the Cisco Catalyst 9300L models, which are the cost-optimized variants of the 9300 Series, offering a balance of performance and value. This stacking kit enables up to eight switches to be stacked together, creating a single logical unit with up to 480 Gbps of stack bandwidth, ensuring high throughput and resiliency.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Physical and Mechanical Specifications

The Cisco C9300L-STACK-KIT= consists of two primary components: the stack module and the stack cable. The stack module is installed in the dedicated stacking slot on the rear of the Catalyst 9300L switch chassis. The stack cable physically connects the stack modules of adjacent switches to form a ring topology.

• Stack Module Dimensions: Approximately 1.5 x 3.5 x 0.5 inches (HxWxD)
• Stack Cable Length: Available in 0.5m, 1m, and 3m variants (depending on ordering)
• Weight: Lightweight design to minimize chassis load
• Connector Type: Proprietary Cisco stacking connector designed for high-speed data transfer and reliability

2.2 Electrical and Environmental Specifications

The stacking kit is engineered to operate within the environmental parameters of the Catalyst 9300L switches, ensuring consistent performance and reliability.

• Power Consumption: Negligible additional power draw from the stack module
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing

2.3 Performance Specifications

The C9300L-STACK-KIT= supports Cisco StackWise technology, which provides a resilient and high-bandwidth inter-switch link.

• Stack Bandwidth: Up to 480 Gbps full-duplex stack bandwidth per stack ring
• Stack Size: Supports up to 8 switches per stack
• Stack Latency: Sub-microsecond latency for inter-switch communication
• Stack Topology: Ring topology for redundancy and failover

2.4 Compatibility and Interoperability

The C9300L-STACK-KIT= is specifically designed for Cisco Catalyst 9300L Series switches. It is not compatible with other Cisco switch families or older Catalyst 9300 models that require different stacking modules.

• Compatible with Cisco Catalyst 9300L-24T, 9300L-48T, and 9300L-24P models
• Supports Cisco IOS XE Software releases compatible with Catalyst 9300L stacking
• Interoperable with Cisco StackWise Virtual technology when used in supported configurations

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 High-Performance StackWise Technology

The Cisco C9300L-STACK-KIT= leverages Cisco’s proprietary StackWise technology, which aggregates multiple physical switches into a single logical unit. This technology provides a high-speed, low-latency interconnect that enables seamless data forwarding and control plane synchronization across the stack.

Benefits include:

• Increased Bandwidth: Up to 480 Gbps stack bandwidth ensures that inter-switch traffic does not become a bottleneck.
• Resiliency: The ring topology provides automatic failover in case of a stack cable or switch failure, maintaining network uptime.
• Simplified Management: The entire stack is managed as a single entity with one IP address, reducing operational complexity.

3.2 Scalability and Flexibility

The stacking kit allows network administrators to scale their access layer infrastructure incrementally by adding switches to the stack without disrupting