The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-48P-4X-10E is a high-capacity switch designed for organizations needing to power large-scale IoT deployments while ensuring backbone scalability. Part of the Catalyst 9300L Series, it balances cost-efficiency with enterprise-grade features like advanced PoE management and 10G uplinks. Drawing insights from Cisco.com’s technical resources and ​​itmall.sale​​’s availability data, we dissect its role in modern network infrastructure.

Core Specifications and Hardware Design

The ​​C9300L-48P-4X-10E​​ is built with:

• ​​48x 10/100/1000BASE-T PoE+ ports​​, delivering up to 30W per port (IEEE 802.3at).
• ​​4x 10G SFP+ uplinks​​ for high-speed aggregation or redundant backbone links.
• ​​740W total PoE budget​​, supporting simultaneous power delivery to devices like ​​Wi-Fi 6/6E APs​​, ​​PTZ cameras​​, and ​​VoIP systems​​.
• ​​Cisco IOS XE​​ with ​​DNA Essentials​​ for basic automation, security analytics, and zero-touch provisioning.
• ​​StackWise-80​​ support, enabling up to four switches to operate as a single logical unit with an 80 Gbps backplane.

Key Features for High-Demand Environments

​​1. High-Density PoE Without Compromise​​

The ​​740W PoE budget​​ allows 24 ports at full 30W capacity or balanced allocations across all 48 ports. This flexibility is critical for mixed-use environments like campuses or smart buildings.

​​2. 10G Uplink Readiness​​

The ​​4x10G SFP+ ports​​ future-proof networks for bandwidth-intensive applications, such as 4K video streaming or cloud-based IoT analytics, without requiring separate aggregation switches.

​​3. Simplified Stacking and Management​​

​​StackWise-80​​ reduces operational complexity by unifying management across stacked switches, ensuring consistent policies and simplified troubleshooting.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios

• ​​Large-Scale Retail​​: Powers and connects hundreds of IoT devices (e.g., digital signage, inventory robots) while aggregating data via 10G uplinks.
• ​​University Campuses​​: Supports dense wireless AP deployments, lecture hall AV systems, and security cameras with scalable power and uplinks.
• ​​Healthcare Networks​​: Securely connects patient monitoring systems, telehealth carts, and access controls with PoE+ and low-latency connectivity.

Addressing Critical Buyer Questions

​​Can All 48 Ports Deliver 30W Simultaneously?​​

No. The ​​740W budget​​ supports ~24 ports at 30W. Prioritize high-wattage devices (e.g., ​​Wi-Fi 6E APs​​) and allocate 15W to lower-priority gear (e.g., ​​IP phones​​).

​​Is Redundancy Supported?​​

Yes. Optional ​​dual 715W AC power supplies​​ (hot-swappable) and ​​StackWise-80​​ ensure uptime during hardware failures.

​​What’s the Value of DNA Essentials?​​

DNA Essentials enables ​​automated device onboarding​​, ​​basic threat detection​​, and ​​performance monitoring​​, reducing manual configuration for resource-constrained teams.

For verified inventory and Cisco-backed warranties, the “C9300L-48P-4X-10E” is available here.

Practical Deployment Insights

In deploying this switch across retail warehouses and campus networks, its ​​PoE granularity and 10G uplinks​​ proved transformative for scaling IoT ecosystems. However, the fixed 740W budget required meticulous power mapping—underestimating device needs led to unexpected throttling during peak loads. While lacking the advanced analytics of DNA Advantage, its ​​cost-effective scalability​​ makes it ideal for mid-market teams. For organizations balancing immediate IoT demands with future backbone upgrades, the C9300L-48P-4X-10E is a strategic choice—just ensure power redundancy isn’t overlooked.