What Is the Cisco 88-LC1-36EH=? High-Density 25/100G Flexibility for Adaptive Networks

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​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.