In-Depth Cisco Catalyst C9300L-24P-4G-E Datasheet and Pricing Analysis for Enterprise Networks

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-24P-4G-E is a high-performance, stackable Layer 3 enterprise switch designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern campus and branch networks. As part of Cisco’s renowned Catalyst 9300 Series, the C9300L model offers a cost-effective yet robust solution optimized for Power over Ethernet (PoE) deployments, advanced security, and seamless integration with Cisco DNA (Digital Network Architecture).

Engineered for scalability and operational simplicity, the C9300L-24P-4G-E supports 24 full PoE+ ports, delivering up to 30W per port, and four 1G SFP uplink ports, enabling flexible connectivity options. This switch is ideal for organizations seeking to deploy converged wired and wireless access, IoT devices, and high-density endpoint environments with guaranteed performance and security.

The “L” in the model number denotes the “Lite” variant of the Catalyst 9300 series, offering a streamlined feature set with a focus on cost efficiency without compromising Cisco’s industry-leading reliability and software capabilities. The C9300L-24P-4G-E is powered by Cisco IOS XE, providing advanced programmability, automation, and network assurance features.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-24P-4G-E is built on a modular hardware platform featuring a fixed configuration with 24 RJ-45 ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds with PoE+ capabilities. The switch includes four dedicated 1G SFP uplink ports for fiber or copper connectivity, enabling flexible network topologies and high-speed aggregation.

The device supports Cisco StackWise-160 technology, allowing up to eight switches to be stacked with a unified data and control plane, simplifying management and increasing redundancy. The stack bandwidth of 160 Gbps ensures low latency and high throughput across the stack.

2.2 Performance and Capacity

The switch delivers a switching capacity of 128 Gbps and a forwarding rate of up to 95.2 Mpps (million packets per second), ensuring wire-speed performance for all ports simultaneously. The device supports up to 32,000 MAC addresses and 16,000 IPv4 and IPv6 routes, making it suitable for large-scale enterprise deployments.

The C9300L-24P-4G-E supports up to 256 VLANs and 64 active VLANs per port, enabling granular segmentation and traffic management. It also supports advanced QoS features with hardware-based classification and scheduling to prioritize mission-critical traffic.

2.3 Power and PoE Capabilities

The switch provides a total PoE power budget of 370W, sufficient to power a wide range of endpoint devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, security cameras, and IoT sensors. Each port supports IEEE 802.3at PoE+ standard, delivering up to 30W per port.

The internal power supply is a fixed 715W AC PSU with built-in redundancy support when stacked with other units. The device also supports Cisco EnergyWise technology for power management and energy efficiency.

2.4 Software and Security

Running Cisco IOS XE Software, the C9300L-24P-4G-E supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features including OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and multicast routing protocols. The switch supports Cisco DNA Center integration for centralized automation, assurance, and policy enforcement.

Security features include MACsec encryption on all ports, TrustSec for role-based access control, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), IP Source Guard, and advanced threat defense capabilities. The device supports segmentation via Private VLANs and VXLAN for multi-tenant environments.

2.5 Physical and Environmental Specifications

The switch is designed for standard 1RU rack mounting with dimensions of approximately 44.5 cm (W) x 44.5 cm (D) x 4.4 cm (H) and weighs around 5.5 kg. It operates within a temperature range of 0°C to 45°C and supports an operating humidity of 10% to 90% non-condensing.

Cooling is provided by front-to-back airflow with redundant fans to ensure optimal thermal management in data center or wiring closet environments.

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 Advanced Stackable Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-24P-4G-E supports StackWise-160 technology, enabling up to eight switches to operate as a single logical unit. This architecture simplifies network management by consolidating control planes and providing high availability through redundant stack members. The stack can be managed via a single IP address, reducing operational complexity.

3.2 Comprehensive PoE+ Support for Converged Networks

With 24 PoE+ ports delivering up to 30W each, the C9300L-24P-4G-E is optimized for powering a wide array of endpoint devices including IP telephony, wireless access points, and security cameras. The generous 370W power budget ensures sustained performance even in high-density deployments.

3.3 Robust Security and Network Segmentation

Security