C9300-48UXM-1E: How Does Cisco’s Switch Address Hyper-Density Power and Multi-Gig Demands?



​Core Innovations of the C9300-48UXM-1E​

The ​​Cisco Catalyst 9300-48UXM-1E​​ is a ​​48-port multi-gigabit UPOE+ switch​​ designed for environments requiring ​​simultaneous high-power delivery​​ and ​​multi-gigabit speeds​​. With ​​90W UPOE+ per port​​ (total ​​3,460W PoE budget​​), it powers devices like ​​Wi-Fi 7 access points​​, ​​AI-driven surveillance systems​​, and ​​industrial IoT controllers​​ without power-sharing compromises. Its ​​four modular uplink slots​​ support 10G/25G/40G/100G modules, while ​​Cisco StackWise-480​​ enables stacking of up to eight switches with ​​480 Gbps stacking bandwidth​​, ideal for unified management in large-scale deployments.

Integration with ​​Cisco DNA Center​​ simplifies policy automation, and ​​MACsec-256 encryption​​ ensures data confidentiality at the port level.


​Technical Specifications and Performance​

  • ​Port Layout​​: 48 x UPOE+ RJ-45 ports (1/2.5/5/10Gbps auto-negotiation) + 4 x modular uplinks.
  • ​Switching Capacity​​: 1.44 Tbps (non-blocking).
  • ​Forwarding Rate​​: 1.08 Bpps (bidirectional).
  • ​Power Supply​​: 2200W AC (hot-swappable, N+1 redundancy).
  • ​Security​​: ​​Cisco TrustSec​​ microsegmentation, ​​Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA)​​, and ​​Secure Network Analytics (SNA)​​ for threat detection.

Running ​​Cisco IOS XE 17.12+​​, the switch supports ​​Application Hosting​​, allowing edge applications (e.g., localized AI inference) to run directly on the device.


​Critical Use Cases​

  • ​Smart campuses​​: Powers ​​digital twin sensors​​, ​​smart lighting​​, and ​​collaboration hubs​​ with uninterrupted 90W.
  • ​Manufacturing​​: Connects ​​robotic assembly lines​​ and ​​AR/VR maintenance tools​​ with <1ms latency.
  • ​Healthcare​​: Supports ​​connected MRI machines​​ and ​​telemedicine carts​​ requiring zero downtime.

The ​​modular uplinks​​ enable cost-effective migration to 100G for spine-leaf topologies, avoiding costly hardware replacements.


​Licensing and Operational Tools​

  • ​DNA Essentials​​: Basic automation, monitoring, and assurance.
  • ​DNA Advantage​​: Unlocks ​​AI Endpoint Analytics​​, ​​SD-WAN integration​​, and ​​Predictive NetOps​​ for proactive troubleshooting.
  • ​Cisco ThousandEyes​​: Enhances visibility into SaaS application performance across hybrid networks.

​Why It Outperforms Competing Switches​

  • ​Dedicated 90W Per Port​​: Competing models (e.g., Juniper EX4650) use shared power pools, risking outages during peak loads.
  • ​Native Multi-Gig Ports​​: Entry-level switches often lack 2.5G/5G/10G auto-sensing, creating bottlenecks for Wi-Fi 7 or 5G backhaul.
  • ​Edge Compute Capability​​: Rarely found in rivals, ​​Application Hosting​​ reduces latency by processing data locally.

​Procurement and Validation​

For ​​Cisco-certified hardware​​ and licensing support, “C9300-48UXM-1E” is available here. Prioritize ​​C9300-NM-8Q​​ (40G/100G) or ​​C9300-NM-2C​​ (25G/100G) uplink modules based on scalability needs.


​Author Perspective​

The C9300-48UXM-1E redefines what’s possible at the network edge. While its price point is premium, the ​​TCO justification​​ lies in eliminating oversubscription risks, enabling IoT/OT convergence, and future-proofing infrastructure. For enterprises building hyper-connected factories or smart cities, this switch isn’t just hardware—it’s the backbone of innovation.

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