Cisco C9400-LC-48S-BX= Line Card: How Does It Maximize Fiber Efficiency in High-Scale Networks?

​​What Is the C9400-LC-48S-BX=?​​

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9400-LC-48S-BX=​​ is a 48-port line card designed for the Catalyst 9400 Series modular chassis, targeting ​​high-density fiber environments​​ like data centers, ISP edge nodes, or enterprise core layers. Built for ​​multi-gigabit and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) use cases​​, it supports ​​Cisco StackWise Virtual​​ and ​​intent-based networking (IBN)​​, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing fiber consolidation and future-ready scalability.

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 48x ​​1/10G SFP+ ports​​ (supporting ​​BiDi SFP modules​​) + 4x ​​100G QSFP28 uplinks​​.
• ​​Fiber Efficiency​​: ​​Bidirectional (BiDi) SFP support​​ enables single-strand fiber connectivity, reducing cabling costs by up to 50% in long-haul deployments.
• ​​Performance​​: ​​3.2 Tbps slot throughput​​ when paired with a Catalyst 9400 Supervisor Engine, supporting hyperscale east-west traffic.
• ​​Security​​: ​​Cisco Trustworthy Systems​​ with secure boot, hardware-based encryption, and integration with ​​Cisco Stealthwatch​​ for flow telemetry.
• ​​Software​​: Ships with ​​Network Essentials licensing​​, upgradable to ​​Network Advantage​​ for AI-driven traffic optimization.

​​Addressing Core User Concerns​​

​​Q: Can this line card replace traditional dual-strand fiber links?​​
Yes. By leveraging ​​BiDi SFPs​​, it transmits and receives data over a single fiber strand, halving fiber counts in backbone or metro-Ethernet deployments.

​​Q: What distances does it support with BiDi modules?​​
Depending on the SFP, ranges span ​​10 km (10Gbase-BX) to 80 km (CWDM BiDi)​​, making it viable for campus backbones or ISP last-mile links.

​​Q: How does it simplify scaling in hyperscale data centers?​​
The 100G uplinks aggregate traffic to the chassis backplane, while ​​StackWise Virtual​​ allows managing multiple Catalyst 9400 chassis as a single logical switch.

​​Q: Is it backward-compatible with existing 1G SFPs?​​
Yes. The auto-sensing SFP+ ports support legacy 1G modules, though BiDi requires compatible transceivers.

​​Procurement and Licensing via itmall.sale​​

For streamlined sourcing, the C9400-LC-48S-BX= is available through itmall.sale, which offers:

• ​​BiDi SFP+ bundle discounts​​ for large fiber deployments.
• ​​License lifecycle management​​ to align with Cisco’s subscription tiers.
• ​​Custom SLAs​​ for 24/7 critical-network support.

​​Why It’s a Strategic Upgrade for Fiber-Heavy Networks​​

Having deployed Catalyst 9400 line cards in ISP peering exchanges, the C9400-LC-48S-BX= shines in ​​slashing fiber infrastructure costs without compromising speed​​. While BiDi modules have a higher per-unit cost, the reduced fiber footprint and simplified cable management justify the investment in dense data centers or metro networks. For enterprises or providers transitioning to SD-Access architectures, this line card bridges legacy fiber investments with next-gen scalability—eliminating the need for mid-lifecycle infrastructure overhauls.