C9300L-48PF-4G-A Switch: What Are Its Capabilities? Port Density, PoE+ Power, and Deployment Scenarios

Core Specifications and Target Applications

The ​​C9300L-48PF-4G-A​​ is a ​​Catalyst 9300L Series​​ switch designed for ​​high-density PoE+ deployments​​ in enterprise and campus environments. It features ​​48x Gigabit Ethernet PoE+ ports​​ (740W total power budget) and ​​4x 1G SFP uplinks​​, making it ideal for connecting power-hungry devices like wireless APs, IP phones, and IoT endpoints. Unlike EDU-focused models, this variant prioritizes ​​flexibility for mixed-use commercial networks​​.

Key Technical Advantages

• ​​High PoE+ Density​​: Delivers ​​30W per port​​ (IEEE 802.3at) to support demanding devices like ​​Wi-Fi 6 APs​​, PTZ cameras, and digital signage.
• ​​StackWise-320 Compatibility​​: Enables stacking of up to 8 switches for a unified 640Gbps backplane.
• ​​Cisco UADP 2.0 ASIC​​: Provides ​​application visibility​​ (NetFlow) and ​​QoS prioritization​​ for voice/video traffic.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

​​Q: Can the 740W power budget handle full PoE+ load across all 48 ports?​​

A: Yes, but with caveats. For example, powering 48x 15.4W devices (802.3af) consumes ~740W. For higher 30W devices, plan for partial port utilization or staggered power cycling.

​​Q: Are the 4x SFP uplinks sufficient for high-traffic backbones?​​

A: For small-to-mid campuses, yes. Use ​​link aggregation (LACP)​​ to combine uplinks for 4Gbps throughput. For larger deployments, consider models with 10G/25G uplinks.

Ideal Deployment Scenarios

• ​​Enterprise VoIP Systems​​: Prioritizes voice traffic with ​​AutoQoS​​ while powering hundreds of IP phones.
• ​​Retail IoT Ecosystems​​: Connects POS terminals, inventory scanners, and security cameras.
• ​​Hybrid Office Networks​​: Supports hybrid workers with seamless roaming between wired and wireless devices.

Procurement and Licensing

For organizations requiring verified hardware with Cisco’s Limited Lifetime warranty, the C9300L-48PF-4G-A is available through Cisco’s authorized channels. Ensure ​​Network Advantage licensing​​ is selected for advanced security and automation features.

Practical Observations

Having managed deployments of the 9300L series, the ​​C9300L-48PF-4G-A​​ excels in environments where ​​PoE density trumps raw uplink speed​​. Its ​​per-port power granularity​​ allows precise allocation for mixed device fleets, though the lack of 10G uplinks may limit scalability for data-heavy campuses. For cost-conscious enterprises needing reliable PoE at scale, this switch is a workhorse—provided future bandwidth needs are carefully mapped.