Cisco C9400-LC-48XS= Line Card: How Does It Address Hyperscale Data Center Demands?

​​Overview of the C9400-LC-48XS=​​

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9400-LC-48XS=​​ is a 48-port line card engineered for the Catalyst 9400 Series modular chassis, targeting ​​hyperscale data centers​​, ​​cloud service providers​​, and high-performance enterprise cores. Designed for ​​25G/10G multi-speed environments​​, it combines high-density connectivity with ​​Cisco’s intent-based networking (IBN)​​ to automate traffic prioritization and threat mitigation.

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 48x ​​10/25G SFP28 ports​​ + 6x ​​100G QSFP28 uplinks​​.
• ​​Performance​​: ​​6.4 Tbps per slot throughput​​ when paired with a C9400-SUP-1XL/Y supervisor engine.
• ​​Flexibility​​: Supports ​​breakout configurations​​ (e.g., 4x25G or 4x10G per 100G uplink) for adaptive bandwidth allocation.
• ​​Security​​: ​​Cisco Trustworthy Systems​​ with hardware-based encryption (MACsec), secure boot, and integration with ​​Cisco DNA Center​​ for zero-trust segmentation.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: ​​Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)​​ reduces power consumption by up to 30% during low utilization.

​​Addressing Critical User Concerns​​

​​Q: Can this line card support both 10G and 25G devices simultaneously?​​
Yes. The ​​auto-negotiating SFP28 ports​​ dynamically adjust between 10G and 25G speeds, allowing mixed deployments without re-cabling.

​​Q: How does it handle east-west traffic in virtualized environments?​​
The 100G uplinks and ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Automation​​ enable low-latency, high-throughput communication between virtual machines or containers.

​​Q: Is it compatible with existing Catalyst 9400 chassis?​​
Yes, but requires a compatible supervisor engine (e.g., SUP-1XL/Y) and Cisco IOS XE 17.6.1 or later for full feature support.

​​Q: What about scalability for growing data centers?​​
The ​​breakout capability​​ transforms a single 100G uplink into 4x25G or 4x10G links, optimizing port utilization as server densities increase.

​​Procurement and Licensing via itmall.sale​​

For enterprises prioritizing streamlined procurement, the C9400-LC-48XS= is available through itmall.sale, offering:

• ​​Pre-validated chassis bundles​​ (line card + supervisor + power supplies).
• ​​License migration services​​ for upgrading from Network Essentials to Advantage.
• ​​Custom support contracts​​ with 99.999% uptime SLAs.

​​Why It’s a Strategic Investment for Future-Proof Networks​​

Having deployed Catalyst 9400 line cards in cloud provider environments, the C9400-LC-48XS= stands out for ​​eliminating bottlenecks in AI/ML workloads​​ where 25G server connectivity is critical. While initial costs are steep, the ability to mix 10G and 25G devices reduces forklift upgrades, and the 100G uplinks ensure headroom for NVMe-over-Fabrics or storage replication. For organizations balancing legacy infrastructure with hyperscale demands, this line card delivers a pragmatic bridge—maximizing ROI without compromising automation capabilities.