What Is the C9300-48H-1A Switch? High-Density PoE+ and DNA Essentials Licensing

Overview of the C9300-48H-1A

The ​​Cisco Catalyst C9300-48H-1A​​ is a high-port-density switch designed for environments requiring extensive Power over Ethernet (PoE+) support and scalable uplinks. Part of the Catalyst 9300 Series, this model targets enterprises, campuses, and IoT deployments needing to power and connect hundreds of devices efficiently.

Core Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Configuration​​:
  • 48x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports + 4x10G SFP+ uplinks.
  • ​​740W PoE+ budget​​, supporting ​​up to 30W per port​​ (IEEE 802.3at) for devices like IP cameras, wireless APs, and digital signage.
• ​​Performance​​: ​​1.6 Tbps non-blocking switching capacity​​ ensures seamless traffic handling for bandwidth-heavy applications.
• ​​Stacking​​: Uses ​​Cisco StackWise-480​​ to combine up to 8 switches into a single logical unit with 480Gbps per-stack bandwidth.

Licensing and Software Features

• ​​Cisco DNA Essentials​​: Pre-installed licensing enables basic automation, device provisioning, and ​​Cisco SD-Access​​ fundamentals.
• ​​Upgrade Path​​: Supports transition to DNA Advantage for advanced analytics, ​​Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA)​​, and AI-driven network insights.

Target Use Cases

• ​​Large-Scale IP Surveillance​​: Powers and connects dozens of ​​4K IP cameras​​ across campuses or industrial sites.
• ​​Enterprise Wireless Backbone​​: Supports high-density ​​Wi-Fi 6/6E deployments​​ in office towers or conference centers.
• ​​Smart Retail​​: Manages POS systems, digital kiosks, and inventory tracking sensors.

Addressing Key User Questions

​​Q: How does the 48H-1A differ from the 24H-EDU or 24UX models?​​
A: The 48H-1A offers ​​double the port density​​ (48 vs. 24) but lacks Multi-Gig support. Unlike EDU models, it’s not education-specific and ships with DNA Essentials instead of EDU licensing.

​​Q: Can the 740W PoE+ budget be expanded?​​
A: No—the total PoE+ capacity is fixed, but power allocation adjusts dynamically based on connected devices.

​​Q: Is the switch compatible with older PoE devices?​​
A: Yes—backward compatibility with ​​802.3af (15.4W per port)​​ ensures support for legacy IP phones and APs.

Procurement and Availability

The C9300-48H-1A is sold through Cisco’s authorized partners. For verified pricing and licensing terms, ​​“C9300-48H-1A” is available via itmall.sale​​.

Final Analysis

The C9300-48H-1A is a workhorse for organizations prioritizing port density over Multi-Gig speeds. Its ability to power and manage hundreds of endpoints makes it ideal for sprawling IoT or surveillance deployments. While the lack of Multi-Gig may limit future-proofing, its DNA Essentials foundation provides a cost-effective entry point into Cisco’s software-defined ecosystem. For IT teams managing large-scale, device-heavy environments, this switch offers a pragmatic balance of scale and simplicity—provided PoE++ isn’t a near-term requirement.