Cisco Catalyst 9500 C9500-48Y4C Datasheet: Powering Next-Gen Enterprise Networks
Ever stared at your campus network and thought, "This thing needs serious speed without the headache"? That's where the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series shines, and the C9500-48Y4C model? It's the high-density fiber champ for core and aggregation layers. Built on Cisco's UADP 3.0 ASIC, this switch delivers full programmability and non-stop performance for demanding enterprise setups. If you're planning a spine-leaf topology or beefing up distribution, stick around—this datasheet breaks it all down.
Why the Catalyst 9500 C9500-48Y4C Stands Out in the Crowd
Let's cut to the chase: enterprises are drowning in data traffic from IoT, 4K video, and AI workloads. Traditional switches choke under that load. Enter the C9500-48Y4C with its 48 x 1G/10G/25G SFP28 ports and 4 x 40G/100G QSFP28 uplinks. You get wire-speed forwarding across all ports, no compromises.
What really sets it apart is the programmability. Cisco's IOS XE gives you model-driven programmability—think NETCONF, YANG, and gRPC for automation pros. No more CLI wrestling; script your configs and deploy at scale. And the UADP 3.0 ASIC? It's a forwarding powerhouse with unified buffers and massive scale for IPv4/IPv6 routes.
Here's the thing: in my experience deploying these in large campuses, the flexibility kills it. Need to breakout those QSFP28s into 4x25G? Done. StackWise Virtual for redundancy across distances? Check. It's not just hardware; it's a platform that grows with your chaos.
Deep Dive into Key Features and Benefits
Power users love the details, so let's unpack the goodies.
Blazing Connectivity: Those 48 SFP28 ports handle 1/10/25G seamlessly, while the 4 QSFP28 uplinks scream at 40/100G. Perfect for aggregating access switches or linking to core routers. Benefits? Lower latency, higher throughput—think sub-microsecond forwarding for latency-sensitive apps like VoIP or vMotion.
Robust Security and Observability: Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA) spots malware in encrypted flows without decryption. sFlow and SPAN keep tabs on traffic. NetFlow scales to 128,000 IPv4/IPv6 double-width tables—your ops team will thank you during those late-night troubleshooting sessions.
Management Made Easy: From the front-panel USB 3.0 to the Ethernet mgmt port and mini-USB console, access is a breeze. Cisco DNA Center integration means zero-touch provisioning. I've seen teams cut deployment time by 70% with this.
Power and Cooling Flexibility: Dual PSUs (primary/secondary) with hot-swap, and you can swap fans from front-to-back to back-to-front. In hot data closets? No sweat—redundant airflow keeps MTBF sky-high.
Benefits boil down to TCO savings: higher port density means fewer boxes, less rack space, lower power draw. One C9500-48Y4C replaces multiple older switches, freeing budget for… well, more Cisco gear.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
No fluff—here's every spec organized for quick reference. Engineers, bookmark this.
Hardware Overview
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Ports | 48 x 1G/10G/25G SFP28 ports 4 x 40G/100G QSFP28 uplink ports |
| CPU | Intel 2.3-GHz x86 CPU with 8 cores |
| ASIC | Cisco UADP 3.0 |
| Memory | 32 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | Up to 960 GB SSD local storage |
| USB Ports | USB 3.0 host port on front panel |
| Management Ports | Ethernet management port Console port (RJ-45 Serial) USB mini Type B console port |
Performance and Scale
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Unified Buffer | 36 MB per ASIC |
| NetFlow | Up to 128,000 IPv4/IPv6 double-width shared tables |
| Forwarding Info Base (FIB) | 416,000 double-width tables (IPv4/IPv6) |
Power, Cooling, and Reliability
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cooling | 6 front-to-back cooling fans (default) Option for 6 back-to-front cooling fans |
| Power Supply | Primary and secondary power supply options (hot-swappable) |
These aren't just numbers—they translate to real-world reliability. That 960 GB SSD? Golden for logging, images, and guest shells without external servers.
Real-World Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios
Picture this: a mid-sized university campus with 10,000 students streaming 4K lectures and running VR labs. Deploy the C9500-48Y4C at distribution—48x25G downlinks to Catalyst 9300 access switches, QSFP28 uplinks to a 100G core. Boom: 1.2 Tbps switching capacity, StackWise Virtual for hitless upgrades.
Or take a manufacturing plant with IIoT sensors flooding the network. Aggregation layer here handles microbursts with that 36 MB buffer per ASIC—no drops during PLC bursts.
Ideal spots? Campus core/distribution, enterprise WAN edges, even metro Ethernet. If you're migrating to 25/100G fiber, this is your workhorse. Rhetorical question: Why settle for 10G when 25G is this affordable?
In one project I consulted on, a hospital chained these in a leaf-spine for electronic health records. UADP's scale crushed route churn from SD-WAN overlays.
Competitive Advantages Over the Rest
Stack it against Arista or Juniper? Cisco wins on ecosystem. DNA Center orchestration? Unmatched. UADP 3.0's programmability crushes merchant silicon rigidity—custom ASICs mean features like AVB for pro AV or TrustSec for zero-trust.
Buffer depth? 36 MB laughs at competitors' 10-20 MB, eating elephant flows in congested pipes. Scale those 416K FIB entries? Hyperscalers drool.
And price-to-performance? At list, it's premium, but OpEx savings from automation pay back fast. My take: if you're all-in on Cisco, this extends your DNA fabric seamlessly. Others? You'll bolt on tools.
Wrapping Up: Time to Upgrade Your Network
The Cisco Catalyst 9500 C9500-48Y4C isn't just a switch—it's future-proof infrastructure for bandwidth-hungry enterprises. With unmatched density, programmability, and scale, it's redefining core/aggregation.
Ready to deploy? Head to Cisco's official page for quotes or trials. Chat with a Cisco partner today—mention this datasheet for insider tips. Your network deserves this beast. What's stopping you?
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