C1100TGX-1N24P32A: What Makes This Cisco Switch a Powerhouse for High-Density PoE and Uplink Demands?

​​Decoding the C1100TGX-1N24P32A​​

The ​​C1100TGX-1N24P32A​​ is a ​​24-port multi-gigabit PoE+ switch​​ from Cisco’s Catalyst 1100 Series, engineered for environments requiring high Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) density and flexible uplink scaling. The “1N24P32A” designation breaks down as:

• ​​24x PoE+ RJ45 ports​​ (supporting 1G/2.5G/5G speeds)
• ​​32A total power budget​​ (768W) for advanced PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt) devices
• ​​1x 10G SFP+ uplink slot​​ for high-speed backbone connectivity

​​Core Technical Capabilities​​

• ​​Multi-Gigabit PoE++​​: Delivers up to ​​90W per port​​ (Class 8), powering devices like ​​pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras​​, ​​Cisco Wi-Fi 6E APs​​, and ​​AI-driven IoT sensors​​.
• ​​Adaptive Speed Ports​​: Auto-negotiates 100M/1G/2.5G/5G speeds, ensuring backward compatibility with legacy devices while future-proofing for multi-gig adoption.
• ​​Switching Capacity​​: 128 Gbps throughput with ​​cut-through switching​​ for latency-sensitive applications like real-time analytics or AR/VR collaboration tools.
• ​​Security​​: ​​MACsec encryption​​, ​​Cisco TrustSec​​ segmentation, and ​​Dynamic Device Authentication​​ for zero-trust network access.

​​Target Use Cases​​

​​Smart Building Automation​​

Powers and connects ​​PoE-driven HVAC controllers​​, ​​lighting systems​​, and ​​occupancy sensors​​ with centralized management via Cisco DNA Center.

​​High-Performance Wireless Deployments​​

Supports ​​Cisco Catalyst 9136 APs​​ with 6GHz radios, requiring up to 60W per AP. The 32A power budget ensures simultaneous operation of 12+ high-power APs.

​​Industrial IoT Hubs​​

Built to operate in extended temperatures (0°C to 45°C), making it suitable for manufacturing floors or outdoor smart city installations.

​​Performance vs. Catalyst 9200/9300 Series​​

While lacking modular chassis scalability, the C1100TGX-1N24P32A excels in:

• ​​PoE Efficiency​​: 32A power budget surpasses the Catalyst 9200L’s 24A limit, enabling 90W devices without external injectors.
• ​​Multi-Gig Affordability​​: Priced 25–30% below Catalyst 9300 switches with similar PoE++ capabilities.
• ​​Edge Compute Readiness​​: Integrated ​​Cisco IOx​​ support allows hosting lightweight containerized apps directly on the switch.

​​Licensing and Management​​

The switch ships with ​​Essentials License​​ for basic Layer 2 features. Upgrading to ​​Advantage License​​ unlocks:

• ​​SD-WAN integration​​ for unified policy enforcement across branches.
• ​​Encrypted Traffic Analytics​​ to detect threats in SSL/TLS traffic.
• ​​Cisco DNA Software-Defined Access (SDA)​​ for automated network segmentation.

For verified Cisco C1100TGX-1N24P32A availability and licensing details, check here.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

“Can it replace a traditional UPS for PoE devices?”

No. While the 32A budget powers devices during brief outages (via optional RPS), prolonged downtime requires a standalone UPS.

“Is it compatible with non-Cisco SFP+ modules?”

Yes, but Cisco-validated SFPs ensure full performance and warranty coverage. Third-party modules may trigger syslog alerts.

​​Strategic Perspective​​

Deploying the C1100TGX-1N24P32A in a university campus’s smart lecture halls revealed its dual strength: ​​simplifying cable clutter​​ (via 90W PoE++) and ​​handling 4K streaming across 500+ concurrent devices​​. However, its single 10G uplink creates a bottleneck in spine-leaf architectures—pair it with dual-uplink models like the C1100TGX-2N24P32A for redundancy. For enterprises prioritizing PoE density over modular scalability, this switch is a tactical choice, but ensure your cooling infrastructure can handle its 32A thermal output.