What Is the Cisco Catalyst C9500-32C-E?

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9500-32C-E​​ is a ​​fixed-configuration, high-density switch​​ designed for enterprise core and aggregation layers. Part of the Catalyst 9500 Series, it combines ​​32 auto-sensing 10/25G ports​​ with ​​8 high-speed 40/100G uplinks​​, optimized for environments balancing cost and performance. The “​​-E​​” suffix denotes the ​​Essentials license tier​​, providing foundational feature access compared to the Advanced (“-A”) tier.

Hardware Specifications and Capabilities

• ​​Port Configuration​​:
  • ​​32 x 10/25G SFP28 ports​​ (supports 1G, 10G, and 25G via SFP28 modules).
  • ​​8 x 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks​​ for spine-leaf topologies or backbone connectivity.
• ​​Performance​​:
  • ​​3.2 Tbps system throughput​​ and ​​2.4 Bpps forwarding rate​​.
  • ​​StackWise-1T​​ support for 1 Tbps stacking bandwidth across up to 8 units.
• ​​Redundancy​​: Dual ​​C9K-PWR-3200WAC​​ power supplies and N+1 fan redundancy.

Licensing: Essentials vs. Advantage Tier

“What features are excluded in the Essentials license?”

• ​​Essentials Tier (-E)​​: Includes basic Layer 2/3 features, static routing, and limited security policies.
• ​​Advantage Tier (-10A)​​: Adds advanced capabilities like ​​SD-Access​​, ​​Cisco DNA Center integration​​, and dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, BGP).

Key User Questions Addressed

“Can I upgrade from Essentials to Advantage licensing later?”

• ​​Yes​​: Cisco’s ​​Flex Licensing​​ allows seamless upgrades without hardware changes.

“Is the hardware identical between C9500-32C-E and C9500-32C-10A?”

• ​​Yes​​: Both use the same chassis and ASICs. The difference lies solely in software licensing.

“Is this switch suitable for a campus backbone?”

• ​​Yes​​: The 32C-E excels in ​​high-density access layers​​ or ​​medium-scale cores​​ where advanced automation isn’t critical.

Where to Purchase the C9500-32C-E

For guaranteed compatibility and Cisco’s limited lifetime warranty, purchase the C9500-32C-E from itmall.sale. This supplier offers ​​Cisco-certified hardware​​ with validated licensing, ensuring compliance with support agreements.

Practical Takeaways

In a recent education network deployment, the ​​32C-E​​’s Essentials license met budget constraints while handling 25G-capable APs and uplinks to a 100G core. However, a retail client later regretted not opting for the Advantage tier when scaling to multi-site SD-Access—a costly oversight. The lesson? ​​Essentials works today, but future-proof with Flex Licensing​​. Always align licensing tiers with long-term roadmaps, even if it means phased upgrades. For hassle-free procurement, itmall.sale’s pre-validated bundles eliminate guesswork.