Core Specifications and Target Applications

The ​​C9300LM-24U-4Y-1E​​ is a ​​Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series modular switch​​ engineered for ​​high-power Universal PoE (UPOE)​​ environments. It features ​​24x Multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports​​ (supporting 100M/1G/2.5G/5G speeds) with ​​90W UPOE+ per port​​ and ​​4x 25G SFP28 uplinks​​, delivering ​​1.8kW total power capacity​​. Designed for industries like healthcare, education, and smart buildings, this model supports power-hungry devices such as ​​HD videoconferencing systems​​, ​​AI-driven sensors​​, and ​​high-performance wireless APs​​.

Key Technical Advantages

• ​​Ultra-High PoE+ Capacity​​: Each port delivers ​​UPOE+ (90W IEEE 802.3bt)​​ to power devices like ​​pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras​​, ​​digital kiosks​​, or ​​thin clients​​ without external injectors.
• ​​25G Uplink Scalability​​: The ​​4x 25G SFP28 ports​​ enable high-speed backbone connectivity, supporting ​​100G aggregate throughput​​ via port channels.
• ​​Modular Flexibility​​: Supports ​​Cisco Network Modules​​ for future upgrades to 40G/100G uplinks.
• ​​Cisco DNA Essentials Licensing​​: Provides foundational ​​SD-Access​​, ​​AI Endpoint Analytics​​, and ​​encrypted traffic visibility​​.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

​​Q: Can the 1.8kW power budget sustain full UPOE+ loads across all 24 ports?​​

A: Yes, but practical deployment requires planning. For example, powering 20x ​​90W devices​​ consumes 1.8kW, leaving 4 ports inactive. Use ​​Cisco’s Power Manager​​ to prioritize critical devices and avoid tripping thresholds.

​​Q: Are the 25G uplinks backward-compatible with 10G infrastructure?​​

A: Yes. The ​​SFP28 ports auto-negotiate to 10G​​, ensuring seamless integration with existing switches or routers.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios

• ​​Smart Hospitals​​: Powers ​​connected MRI machines​​, ​​patient monitoring systems​​, and ​​4K medical displays​​ with zero latency.
• ​​University Research Labs​​: Supports ​​AI/ML clusters​​, ​​4K VR workstations​​, and ​​high-density Wi-Fi 7 APs​​.
• ​​Retail Innovation Hubs​​: Drives ​​interactive kiosks​​, ​​facial recognition systems​​, and ​​autonomous inventory robots​​.

Procurement and Licensing

For organizations requiring verified UPOE-ready hardware, the C9300LM-24U-4Y-1E is available through Cisco’s authorized partner. ​​DNA Essentials licensing​​ includes basic automation, while upgrades to ​​Advantage​​ unlock ​​full intent-based networking​​ and ​​predictive analytics​​.

Hands-On Insight

Deploying Catalyst 9300LM switches in smart hospital networks revealed the ​​C9300LM-24U-4Y-1E​​’s unique value: ​​future-proof UPOE+ scalability​​ without forklift upgrades. Its ​​25G uplinks​​ effortlessly handle bandwidth spikes from 4K medical imaging, though organizations must rigorously audit power budgets to avoid overloading circuits. While the upfront cost is higher than traditional PoE switches, the long-term ROI for power consolidation and reduced cabling complexity makes it a strategic choice for tech-forward enterprises. Just ensure cooling infrastructure can handle the 1.8kW thermal load in dense deployments.