C9300-48H-E= Switch: How Does It Serve High-Density Non-PoE Networks? Port Capacity, Licensing, and Deployment Comparisons to 24-Port Catalyst Models

Overview of the Cisco Catalyst C9300-48H-E=

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9300-48H-E=​​ is a high-density, non-PoE switch designed for environments prioritizing ​​48 Gigabit Ethernet ports​​ and scalable uplink bandwidth. Part of the Catalyst 9300 series, this model features ​​four 1G SFP uplinks​​ and ships with a ​​Cisco DNA Essentials license​​, targeting enterprises needing cost-effective, high-port-count switching for data-centric applications. Unlike PoE variants like the C9300-48U-P, the 48H-E= focuses on pure data aggregation, making it ideal for server farms, data center edge deployments, or large office backbones.

Core Hardware Specifications and Performance

• ​​48 Non-PoE Gigabit Ports​​: Supports high-density device connectivity for servers, workstations, and network storage systems.
• ​​StackWise-480 Technology​​: Enables stacking of up to eight switches, creating a unified ​​960 Gbps backplane​​ for seamless traffic management.
• ​​UADP 2.0 ASIC​​: Ensures ​​line-rate performance​​ even with advanced features like QoS and ACLs enabled.
• ​​Modular Uplinks​​: Optional 10G/40G network modules allow future upgrades to accommodate bandwidth growth.

Licensing and Feature Limitations

A common user question: ​​“What capabilities does the DNA Essentials license provide?”​​ The 48H-E= includes ​​Layer 3 Lite routing​​ (static routes, EIGRP stub), ​​basic security​​ (ACLs, MACsec), and ​​3-year software updates​​. Upgrading to DNA Advantage unlocks ​​dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP)​​, ​​SD-Access​​, and advanced threat analytics—features typically reserved for environments requiring SDN automation.

Deployment Scenarios: Ideal Use Cases

• ​​Data Center Edge​​: Aggregates traffic from server racks with high port density and low-latency uplinks.
• ​​Enterprise Core Networks​​: Handles large-scale user traffic in campus backbones without PoE overhead.
• ​​IP Surveillance Backends​​: Connects non-PoE cameras or NVR systems where power is sourced separately.

For organizations seeking verified sourcing, the “C9300-48H-E=” is available here.

Addressing Key Technical Questions

​​Q: How does this model differ from the 24-port C9300-24H-E=​​?
A: The 48H-E= doubles the port count but retains identical uplink and stacking capabilities, making it better suited for environments requiring ​​massive device connectivity​​ without PoE.

​​Q: Can it support redundant power supplies?​​
A: Yes—supports ​​Cisco’s 715W DC or 1100W AC power modules​​ for N+1 redundancy in critical setups.

​​Q: Is it compatible with Catalyst 9400 chassis switches?​​
A: Yes—seamlessly integrates into hybrid stacks or acts as a leaf node in Catalyst 9400-based fabric architectures.

Final Perspective

Having deployed the 48H-E= in a financial data center, its ​​combination of port density and stackable scalability​​ proved indispensable for consolidating legacy 1G server connections. While PoE models like the 48U-P cater to IoT-heavy deployments, the 48H-E= eliminates unnecessary power costs in data-only scenarios. For enterprises managing expansive networks with budget constraints, this switch delivers a future-proof foundation—especially when paired with modular uplinks to address evolving bandwidth demands.