Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P-A Datasheet and Pricing: Expert Technical Overview and Buying Guide

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P-A is a flagship enterprise-class stackable access layer switch designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern campus networks. As part of the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series, it represents the next generation of enterprise switching, delivering high performance, advanced security, and comprehensive programmability. The “48P” designation indicates 48 ports with Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), enabling seamless connectivity and power delivery to a wide range of devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras.

Engineered for digital transformation initiatives, the C9300-48P-A supports Cisco’s intent-based networking architecture, integrating advanced automation, analytics, and security features. It is optimized for high-density environments requiring robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, with support for advanced routing protocols, flexible uplink options, and resilient stacking technology.

This switch is ideal for enterprise campus access deployments, branch offices, and mid-sized data centers, providing a scalable platform that supports evolving network demands. The C9300-48P-A is powered by Cisco IOS XE, a modular operating system that enhances network agility and simplifies management through programmability and automation.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Specifications

The Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P-A is a fixed-configuration switch with the following key hardware specifications:

• Ports: 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports with PoE+ (up to 30W per port)
• Uplink Interfaces: 4 x 1G SFP or 4 x 10G SFP+ modular uplink slots (depending on model configuration)
• Switching Capacity: 176 Gbps (non-blocking)
• Forwarding Rate: Up to 154.76 Mpps (million packets per second)
• Stacking Bandwidth: Up to 480 Gbps with Cisco StackWise-480 technology
• PoE Power Budget: 740W total PoE power budget
• Dimensions: 1.73 x 17.5 x 16.1 inches (4.4 x 44.5 x 40.9 cm)
• Weight: Approximately 12.35 lbs (5.6 kg)
• Power Supplies: Dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies (AC or DC options available)
• Fans: Front-to-back or back-to-front airflow with redundant fans for high availability

2.2 Software and Protocol Support

The C9300-48P-A runs Cisco IOS XE Software, providing a rich feature set for enterprise networking:

• Layer 2 Features: VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP, RSTP, MSTP), EtherChannel, Private VLANs, MACsec encryption
• Layer 3 Features: Static routing, OSPFv2/v3, EIGRP, BGP, VRF-lite, PIM-SM/SSM for multicast routing
• Security: 802.1X Network Access Control, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, DHCP Snooping, TrustSec, MACsec encryption
• Quality of Service (QoS): Advanced QoS with classification, marking, policing, shaping, and queuing
• Management and Automation: NETCONF, RESTCONF, Cisco DNA Center integration, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Embedded Event Manager (EEM), Python scripting
• Stacking: Cisco StackWise-480 technology supports up to 8 switches in a stack with unified management

2.3 Environmental and Compliance Specifications

The Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P-A is designed for enterprise environments with the following compliance and environmental standards:

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Humidity: 10% to 95% non-condensing
• Regulatory Compliance: UL, CE, FCC Class A, RoHS, WEEE
• Energy Efficiency: Compliant with Energy Star and IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 Advanced Security and Trust

Security is paramount in modern networks, and the Cisco Catalyst 9300-48P-A integrates multiple layers of protection to safeguard enterprise assets. The switch supports MACsec encryption on all wired ports, providing hardware-based Layer 2 encryption to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping. Cisco TrustSec technology enables scalable segmentation and policy enforcement without relying solely on VLANs.

Network Access Control (NAC) is enforced through 802.