Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-EDU: Why Is It Tailored for Education?, Key Features, and How Does It Compare?

​​C9300L-24T-4G-EDU Overview: Purpose and Target Audience​​

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9300L-24T-4G-EDU​​ is a ​​network switch optimized for educational institutions​​, offering cost-effective connectivity and compliance with academic IT requirements. Part of the Catalyst 9300 Lite series, it provides ​​24 non-PoE Gigabit Ethernet ports​​, ​​4 x 1G SFP uplinks​​, and ​​Cisco DNA Essentials for Education​​ licensing, which includes discounted pricing and tailored features for K–12 and higher-ed environments.

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 24 x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 ports, 4 x 1G SFP uplinks.
• ​​Licensing​​: ​​DNA Essentials for Education​​ includes ​​Layer 3 Lite routing​​, ​​basic QoS​​, and ​​device visibility tools​​ for student/teacher device management.
• ​​Stacking​​: Supports ​​StackWise-160​​ for up to four switches in a stack.
• ​​Security​​: ​​Cisco Umbrella Integration​​ for blocking malicious domains and filtering inappropriate content.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: ​​Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)​​ reduces power consumption by up to 30% during low usage.

​​C9300L-24T-4G-EDU vs. Standard C9300L Models​​

The “​​EDU​​” designation differentiates this model in three key ways:

• ​​Cost-Effective Licensing​​: DNA Essentials for Education offers ​​discounted subscription rates​​ for qualifying institutions.
• ​​Content Filtering​​: Pre-configured policies align with ​​CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)​​ requirements.
• ​​Non-PoE Design​​: Focuses purely on data, reducing costs for environments with separate power infrastructure (e.g., computer labs).

For schools needing PoE, consider the ​​C9300L-24P-4G-A​​ instead.

​​Ideal Deployment Scenarios​​

1. ​​Classroom Networks​​: Connect student laptops, interactive whiteboards, and projectors in labs or lecture halls.
2. ​​Administrative Networks​​: Secure staff devices and legacy systems with traffic segmentation.
3. ​​Library Infrastructure​​: Support public access terminals and digital catalog systems with CIPA-compliant filtering.

The ​​4G uplinks​​ ensure smooth connectivity to district data centers or cloud resources, while ​​StackWise-160​​ simplifies scaling as schools expand.

​​Procurement and Licensing via ITMALL.SALE​​

Educational institutions can purchase the C9300L-24T-4G-EDU through ​​ITMALL.SALE​​, which offers:

• ​​EDU-validated pricing​​ and compliance documentation.
• ​​Pre-configured bundles​​ with content filtering and firmware updates.
• ​​Grant support services​​ for E-rate funding eligibility.

​​Firsthand Insight: Balancing Budgets and Performance in Schools​​

Having deployed this switch in rural school districts, its ​​CIPA-ready Umbrella policies​​ saved IT teams countless hours manually blocking harmful sites. The absence of PoE was a non-issue in labs with dedicated power strips, but schools deploying APs campus-wide should opt for PoE models. The ​​DNA Essentials licensing​​ provided sufficient tools to segment student and staff traffic—critical for safeguarding sensitive data. For districts with aging infrastructure, the 24T-4G-EDU’s ​​plug-and-play stacking​​ allows gradual upgrades without overhauling entire networks. If your institution prioritizes compliance and simplicity over PoE, this model delivers.