Cisco Catalyst C9300L-48T-4G-A Datasheet and Pricing Guide: Expert Technical Overview for Enterprise Network Deployments

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-48T-4G-A is a high-performance, stackable enterprise-class access layer switch designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern campus networks. As part of the Cisco Catalyst 9300L Series, this model delivers advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities, enhanced security features, and flexible uplink options, making it an ideal choice for organizations seeking scalable, resilient, and secure network infrastructure.

Engineered for digital transformation initiatives, the C9300L-48T-4G-A supports Cisco’s intent-based networking architecture, enabling automation, programmability, and deep network visibility. It is optimized for high-density access deployments, supporting up to 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports with Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) capabilities, and four fixed 1G SFP uplinks. This switch is designed to seamlessly integrate with Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and policy enforcement.

The “L” suffix in the model number denotes the “Lite” version of the Catalyst 9300 series, offering a cost-effective solution without compromising on essential enterprise features. The C9300L-48T-4G-A is well-suited for medium to large enterprise campus access layers, branch offices, and wiring closets requiring robust performance, security, and scalability.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst C9300L-48T-4G-A is built on Cisco’s Unified Access Data Plane (UADP) 2.0 ASIC, which provides hardware-based forwarding and advanced traffic management. This ASIC supports wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding, enabling low latency and high throughput for demanding applications.

The switch chassis is a fixed 1RU form factor, housing 48 RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps ports with PoE+ support (up to 30W per port), and four fixed 1G SFP uplink ports for fiber or copper connectivity. The device supports Cisco StackWise-160 technology, allowing stacking of up to eight switches with a total stack bandwidth of 160 Gbps, providing simplified management and high availability.

2.2 Performance and Capacity

The C9300L-48T-4G-A delivers a switching capacity of 176 Gbps and a forwarding rate of up to 130.95 Mpps (million packets per second). It supports up to 32,000 MAC addresses and 16,000 IPv4 and IPv6 routes, enabling large-scale network deployments with extensive endpoint connectivity.

The device supports up to 64,000 IPv4 and IPv6 unicast routes with Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage licenses, and up to 256,000 routes with Cisco DNA Premier licenses, providing flexibility for future network growth.

2.3 Power and Environmental Specifications

The switch includes a fixed internal power supply rated at 715W, supporting PoE+ with a total power budget of up to 740W for connected devices. This enables powering of IP phones, wireless access points, security cameras, and other PoE-enabled devices without requiring additional power injectors.

Operating temperature ranges from 0°C to 45°C, with storage temperature from -40°C to 70°C. The device supports front-to-back airflow for efficient cooling in rack environments.

2.4 Software and Licensing

The C9300L-48T-4G-A runs Cisco IOS XE Software, a modular operating system that supports programmability, automation, and advanced security features. The switch supports Cisco DNA Center integration for intent-based networking, enabling policy-driven automation and analytics.

Licensing options include Cisco DNA Essentials, Advantage, and Premier, which unlock features such as advanced security, segmentation, application visibility, and enhanced routing protocols. The base license includes LAN Base features suitable for basic Layer 2 switching.

2.5 Physical and Management Interfaces

The switch provides a console port (RJ-45), USB Type-A and USB Type-B ports for local management and software upgrades, and an out-of-band management Ethernet port. It supports SNMP, RMON, NetFlow, and streaming telemetry for comprehensive network monitoring.

3. Features and Benefits

3.1 Advanced Security Features

Security is paramount in enterprise networks, and the C9300L-48T-4G-A incorporates multiple layers of protection. It supports Cisco TrustSec for scalable segmentation and policy enforcement, IEEE 802.1X for port-based access control, and MACsec encryption on uplinks to secure data in transit.

The switch also integrates Cisco Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), which detects malware and threats in encrypted traffic without decryption, enhancing network visibility and threat response.

3.2 High Availability and Resiliency

With StackWise-160 technology, the C9300L-48T-4G-A enables stacking of up to eight switches, creating a single logical unit with unified management and redundancy. This architecture provides non-stop forwarding and stateful switchover capabilities, minimizing downtime during software upgrades or hardware failures.

The switch supports redundant power supplies (optional external), dual fans, and hardware-based forwarding to ensure continuous operation in mission-critical environments.

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