What Is the Cisco 88-LC1-36EH=? High-Density 25/100G Flexibility for Adaptive Networks
Product Overview
The Cisco 88-LC1-36EH= is a high-density line card engineered for the Catalyst 9600 Series, offering 36 ports of flexible 25G and 100G connectivity. Designed for environments requiring scalable east-west traffic flow, this module bridges the gap between legacy 10G infrastructure and next-gen 100G demands, making it ideal for data centers, cloud providers, and large enterprises.
Technical Specifications
- Port Configuration: 36 x QSFP28 ports supporting 25G, 100G, or breakout modes (e.g., 4x25G or 4x10G) for granular scalability.
- Performance: 3.6 Tbps non-blocking throughput with Cisco’s UADP 4.0 ASIC, enabling deep buffering for bursty workloads like big data analytics.
- Compatibility: Optimized for Catalyst 9600 chassis, with backward compatibility for mixed-speed deployments.
- Security: MACsec-256 encryption on all ports, ensuring compliance for regulated sectors like healthcare and finance.
Primary Use Cases
1. Hyperscale Data Centers
Supports leaf-spine architectures with 100G spine links and 25G server-facing ports, minimizing oversubscription in AI/ML clusters.
2. Media Production Networks
Handles uncompressed 8K video workflows with consistent latency, paired with Cisco QoS Hierarchical Policing for traffic prioritization.
3. Hybrid Cloud Gateways
Facilitates high-speed connections between on-premises infrastructure and public clouds (AWS, Azure), with Cisco Cloud ACI integration for unified policy management.
Differentiators from Competing Solutions
- Breakout Versatility: Single 100G port splits into 4x25G or 4x10G links, eliminating the need for separate access-layer switches.
- Energy Efficiency: Cisco’s PowerWise Dynamic Power Sharing allocates unused power to high-priority ports, reducing total energy costs by up to 25%.
- Automation: Pre-integrated with Cisco DNA Center, enabling zero-touch provisioning and predictive analytics for capacity planning.
Procurement and Scalability
For enterprises prioritizing simplified purchasing, the [“88-LC1-36EH=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers pre-validated Catalyst 9600 bundles, including multi-year Cisco DNA Advantage licenses for advanced telemetry. itmall.sale also provides global logistics support, ensuring compliance with regional data residency requirements.
Why This Module Delivers Long-Term Value
The 88-LC1-36EH= isn’t just about raw speed—it’s about enabling networks to evolve without disruptive overhauls. In my experience, its hybrid port flexibility is a game-changer for organizations juggling budget constraints and exponential data growth. For teams managing cloud migrations or AI-driven workloads, this line card reduces operational friction by serving as both a high-speed backbone and a legacy bridge. If your goal is to future-proof without sacrificing today’s ROI, this module deserves a spot in your infrastructure roadmap.