In-Depth Cisco C9400-LC-48UX= Datasheet and Pricing Guide for Catalyst 9400 Series

1. Product Overview

The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX= is a high-performance line card designed for the Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series modular switches, which are widely recognized as the industry-leading enterprise-class access and aggregation platform. This line card specifically provides 48 ports of 10/100/1000/2500/5G/10G Multigigabit Ethernet connectivity with advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, optimized for high-density, high-throughput enterprise campus environments.

Engineered to meet the demands of modern digital transformation initiatives, the C9400-LC-48UX= supports Cisco’s intent-based networking architecture, enabling seamless integration with Cisco DNA Center for automation, assurance, and security. It is ideal for organizations requiring scalable, resilient, and secure network access with support for emerging technologies such as IoT, wireless, and high-bandwidth applications.

This line card is fully compatible with the Cisco Catalyst 9400 chassis and supervisors, leveraging Cisco’s modular design to provide investment protection and operational flexibility. It supports advanced features such as Multigigabit Ethernet, Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+), and Cisco UPOE (Universal Power Over Ethernet), making it suitable for powering a wide range of endpoint devices.

2. Product Specifications

2.1 Physical and Environmental Specifications

The C9400-LC-48UX= line card is a single-slot module designed to fit into the Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series chassis. It features a compact form factor optimized for high port density without compromising airflow or thermal performance.

• Dimensions: Approximately 1.73 x 17.5 x 16.5 inches (H x W x D)
• Weight: Approximately 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing
• Power Consumption: Dependent on PoE load; typical power draw ~50W (without PoE)

2.2 Port and Interface Specifications

The core of the C9400-LC-48UX= is its 48 Multigigabit Ethernet ports, each capable of auto-negotiating speeds from 10 Mbps up to 10 Gbps over standard twisted-pair copper cabling (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a). This flexibility allows enterprises to leverage existing cabling infrastructure while supporting next-generation endpoint devices.

• Port Count: 48 RJ-45 ports
• Port Speeds Supported: 10/100/1000/2.5G/5G/10G Multigigabit Ethernet
• PoE Support: Supports PoE+, UPOE, and Cisco Universal PoE standards
• Forwarding Bandwidth: Up to 960 Gbps switching capacity per chassis (aggregate)
• MAC Address Table Size: 128,000 entries
• Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9216 bytes

2.3 Performance and Scalability

The C9400-LC-48UX= is engineered to deliver line-rate forwarding performance across all ports simultaneously, ensuring no bottlenecks in high-density deployments. It supports advanced QoS, security, and routing features to maintain optimal network performance and reliability.

• Switching Capacity: Up to 960 Gbps per chassis (dependent on supervisor engine)
• Forwarding Rate: Up to 716 Mpps (million packets per second)
• Layer 2 Features: VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Rapid STP, Multiple STP, EtherChannel
• Layer 3 Features: OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, VRF, PBR, IPv4/IPv6 routing
• Security Features: 802.1X, Dynamic ARP Inspection, IP Source Guard, DHCP Snooping

2.4 Compatibility and Software Support

The C9400-LC-48UX= line card is fully compatible with Cisco IOS XE software, which provides a rich feature set for enterprise networking, including programmability, automation, and security enhancements.

• Supported Platforms: Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series Chassis (C9400-24T, C9400-48T, C9400-40X, etc.)
• Supervisor Engines: Compatible with Supervisor Engine 2T and later
• Software Version: Cisco IOS XE 16.9.1 and later recommended
• Management: CLI, SNMP, NETCONF, RESTCONF, Cisco DNA