C9300-48P-M vs. C9300-48P-10A: What’s the Difference? Modular Power and Licensing Explained



​What Is the Cisco Catalyst C9300-48P-M?​

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9300-48P-M​​ is a ​​48-port PoE+ Layer 3 switch​​ optimized for scalable enterprise access layers. It features ​​48x 1G PoE+ RJ45 ports​​ and ​​4x 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks​​, with a ​​740W total PoE budget​​ for powering devices like wireless APs, IP cameras, and VoIP phones. The “​​M​​” suffix denotes a ​​modular power supply design​​, allowing organizations to upgrade or replace power modules for redundancy or higher capacity.


​Key Technical Specifications​

  • ​Ports​​: 48x ​​1G PoE+ RJ45 ports​​ (30W per port) + 4x ​​1G/10G SFP+ uplinks​​.
  • ​Power Supplies​​: Supports ​​modular PSUs​​ (e.g., 715W AC or 1100W AC) for flexibility in PoE scaling.
  • ​Stacking​​: ​​StackWise-480​​ technology for up to 480 Gbps stacking bandwidth across 8 switches.
  • ​Performance​​: ​​176 Gbps switching capacity​​ and ​​130 Mpps forwarding rate​​.
  • ​Software​​: ​​Cisco IOS XE​​ with ​​DNA Essentials or Advantage​​ (license-dependent), enabling automation and encrypted traffic analytics.
  • ​Security​​: ​​MACsec-128​​, Cisco TrustSec, and role-based access control (RBAC).

​Primary Use Cases​

  • ​High-Density Wireless​​: Powers ​​Cisco 9120/9130 APs​​ in large office campuses or conference centers.
  • ​Healthcare Networks​​: Supports connected medical devices and nurse call systems with PoE+ reliability.
  • ​Retail Environments​​: Delivers power to POS terminals, digital signage, and security cameras.
  • ​Modular Scalability​​: Ideal for organizations needing future-proof power upgrades without replacing entire switches.

​C9300-48P-M vs. C9300-48P-10A: Key Differences​

​Feature​ ​C9300-48P-M​ ​C9300-48P-10A​
​Power Design​ Modular PSUs Fixed PSUs
​PoE Budget​ Up to 740W (with 1100W PSU) 740W (fixed)
​Licensing​ License sold separately Includes DNA Advantage license
​Cost Efficiency​ Higher upfront, lower TCO Lower upfront, fixed capacity

​Where to Purchase the C9300-48P-M Reliably?​

For enterprises prioritizing ​​modular power flexibility​​ and Cisco DNA licensing, [​​C9300-48P-M​​ link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers certified hardware with validated power supply options. Itmall.sale ensures compatibility with Cisco’s modular PSU ecosystem, critical for long-term deployments.


​Practical Deployment Notes​

The C9300-48P-M’s ​​modular power design​​ is its standout feature, but it demands strategic planning. In a recent hotel deployment, upgrading to dual 1100W PSUs allowed the switch to power 40x IP phones and 25x APs simultaneously. However, initial setups often overlook ​​PSU compatibility checks​​—always verify voltage requirements for global deployments. While the 10G uplinks suffice for most scenarios, pairing it with 40G core switches (e.g., C9300-24H) future-proofs bandwidth demands. If opting for DNA Essentials, budget for eventual upgrades to Advantage for full visibility into PoE utilization and threat analytics.

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