Cisco Catalyst C9300-24S-A Datasheet and Pricing Guide: Expert Technical Analysis for Enterprise Networks

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series represents the industry-leading fixed enterprise switching platform designed for the evolving demands of modern campus networks. Within this series, the Cisco Catalyst C9300-24S-A model stands out as a high-performance, secure, and scalable 24-port SFP switch engineered to deliver exceptional Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities.

Built on Cisco’s Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) 2.0 ASIC, the C9300-24S-A is optimized for high-density fiber connectivity, making it ideal for environments requiring robust uplink capacity, advanced security, and seamless integration with Cisco DNA Center for intent-based networking. This switch is tailored for enterprise campus core, distribution, and aggregation layers, as well as for high-performance access deployments.

The “-A” suffix denotes the inclusion of the Cisco IOS XE Software with the Network Advantage license, unlocking advanced routing, security, and automation features essential for complex network topologies.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst C9300-24S-A is a fixed-configuration switch featuring 24 SFP ports supporting 1 Gigabit Ethernet fiber connectivity. The switch chassis is a 1RU form factor designed for rack mounting in standard 19-inch racks.

• Switching Capacity: 480 Gbps (full-duplex)
• Forwarding Rate: Up to 360 Mpps (million packets per second)
• Ports: 24 x 1G SFP fiber ports
• Uplink Options: Four fixed 10G SFP+ ports for high-speed uplinks
• Stacking: Supports Cisco StackWise-480 technology with up to 480 Gbps stack bandwidth
• Power Supply: Dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies (AC or DC options available)
• Fans: Front-to-back redundant, field-replaceable fans
• Dimensions: 1.73 x 17.5 x 17.5 inches (HxWxD)
• Weight: Approximately 10.5 kg (23.1 lbs)

2.2 Software and Licensing

The C9300-24S-A ships with Cisco IOS XE Software, a modular operating system designed for enhanced programmability, security, and automation. The “A” model includes the Network Advantage license, which provides:

• Advanced Layer 3 routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS)
• Multicast routing (PIM-SM, PIM-DM, SSM)
• Advanced security features (MACsec encryption, TrustSec)
• Flexible NetFlow for traffic analytics
• Segment Routing and MPLS support
• Enhanced QoS and policy-based routing

2.3 Performance and Scalability

The C9300-24S-A supports up to 32,000 MAC addresses and 16,000 IPv4/IPv6 routes, making it suitable for large-scale enterprise deployments. The switch supports up to 8,000 VLANs and 64,000 ARP entries, ensuring extensive segmentation and address resolution capabilities.

StackWise-480 technology enables up to eight switches to be stacked, creating a single logical unit with up to 3.84 Tbps of switching capacity and simplified management.

2.4 Security and Resiliency

Security is a core design principle of the C9300-24S-A. It supports hardware-based MACsec encryption on all ports, providing line-rate encryption to protect data in transit. Cisco TrustSec technology enables scalable segmentation and policy enforcement.

The switch supports advanced resiliency features such as:

• StackWise Virtual for active-active redundancy
• Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) for fast failure detection
• Nonstop Forwarding (NSF) and Stateful Switchover (SSO) for high availability

2.5 Management and Automation

The C9300-24S-A integrates seamlessly with Cisco DNA Center, enabling intent-based networking with centralized automation, assurance, and policy enforcement. It supports:

• RESTCONF and NETCONF APIs for programmability
• Python scripting and Embedded Event Manager (EEM)
• Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for rapid deployment
• Telemetry streaming for real-time network analytics

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 High-Density Fiber Connectivity

The 24 SFP ports on the C9300-24S-A provide flexible fiber connectivity options, supporting a wide range of SFP transceivers including 1000BASE-SX, LX, ZX, and BiDi modules. This flexibility allows enterprises to tailor their fiber infrastructure to distance and media requirements without compromising performance.