Cisco C9200-24P-A vs C9200-48P-A Switches: A Comparative Analysis

Introduction

The Cisco Catalyst 9200 series switches are like the smart brains of a business's network, helping all the devices, like computers and printers, talk to each other and share information. They're like the traffic controllers of the internet world, making sure data gets to the right place at the right time. These switches are super important for keeping businesses running smoothly because they help prevent bottlenecks and slowdowns in the network. Let us compare two popular options from Cisco: the C9200-24P-A and the C9200-48P-A switches. These switches are part of the Cisco Catalyst 9200 series, known for their advanced features and performance. By understanding the differences between these models, businesses can make an informed decision based on their specific requirements.

Whether you're managing a small office network or a large enterprise environment, this C9200-24P-A vs C9200-48P-A switch article will help you choose the best fit for your networking needs. In this modern age where businesses rely heavily on technology, having the right switches, like those from the Cisco Catalyst 9200 series, can make all the difference in keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. Let's dive into the comparative analysis to discover which switch is the right choice for your organization.

Overview of Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches

Cisco Catalyst 9200 series switches represent a significant advancement in network technology, designed to meet the evolving demands of modern digital businesses. Offering a range of models designed to meet different organizational needs, these switches provide a solid foundation for building strong and scalable network infrastructures. 

Product Details of the Cisco Catalyst 9200 series switches

The Catalyst 9200 series has the following highlights:

• Up to 48 PoE+ ports - FRU and redundant power supply, fans, and modular uplinks 
• Flexible downlink options with data or PoE+ 
• Optional backplane stacking supports stacking bandwidth up to 160 Gbps 
• UADP 2.0 Mini with integrated CPU provides optimized scale and cost structure.
• Improved security with AES-128 MACsec encryption, policy-based segmentation, and trustworthy systems.
• Layer 3 capabilities such as OSPF, EIGRP, ISIS, RIP, and routed access.
• Full Flexible NetFlow for advanced network monitoring. 
• Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). 
• PnP enabled. A simple, secure, unified, and integrated product to facilitate new branch or campus device rollouts or changes to an existing network.
• The ASIC supports programmable pipelines and micro-engines, as well as template-based configuration of Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding, ACLs, and QoS entries.

Key Features of Cisco C9200-24P-A and Cisco C9200-48P-A

Table 1 outlines the key differences between the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches:

• Port Density: The C9200-48P-A offers double the port density compared to the C9200-24P-A, making it suitable for larger networks with more devices.
• Power Budget: With a higher PoE budget of 780W, the C9200-48P-A can support more PoE devices simultaneously compared to the C9200-24P-A.
• Dimensions and Weight: While both switches have similar dimensions, the C9200-48P-A is slightly heavier due to its increased port count and power capacity.

Network Modules

Cisco 9200 switches offer versatile network module options to enhance connectivity and functionality. These modules include various uplink options such as SFP, SFP+, and SPF28 ports, enabling flexible deployment in diverse networking environments. Additionally, expansion modules allow for additional interfaces, enhancing scalability and customization capabilities to meet evolving business needs.

Table 2 lists the differences between the C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches below:

Modular Uplinks

The modular uplink options provide flexibility for organizations to expand their network capabilities according to their specific requirements, ensuring scalability and future-proofing for evolving networking needs.

Below is a comparison table highlighting the modular uplinks of the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches:

Power Supplies

The Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches support two field-replaceable power sources. Each switch comes with a default power supply. A second, similar power supply can be purchased or added later. The second power source can offer redundancy or extra power to PoE+ ports as required. The comparison in Table 3 helps businesses understand the power capabilities of each switch variant, aiding in decision-making based on power requirements and redundancy needs.

Smart PoE+

• By enabling IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30W per port) on Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches, deployments using Cisco IP phones, Aironet wireless access points, or other PoE+-compliant end devices can lower their total cost of ownership. PoE+ eliminates the requirement for wall power for PoE-enabled devices, reducing the cost of electrical wiring and circuits in IP phone and WLAN deployments. Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches provide dynamic PoE+ power allocation and can scale up to 1440W of power.
• Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches support perpetual PoE, which maintains PoE+ power throughout switch reloads. This is crucial for essential endpoints like medical devices and IoT endpoints like PoE-powered lighting to avoid disruption during switch reset.
• Fast PoE allows for immediate power delivery to endpoints without waiting for the operating system to fully load, reducing startup time.

Stacking Options

Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switch types can be stacked to create a single virtual switch with up to 384 access ports. This allows for a single management and control plane. These stacking options highlight the similarities between the C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches, enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate them into their network infrastructure for enhanced scalability and management capabilities.

The comparison table 4 lists the stacking options of the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches:

Read more: Cisco Catalyst 9400 Vs 9500: Exploring The Differences

Fan

Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches additionally have dual fans and redundancy. C9200 Series switches offer redundancy with two fans. The C9200 SKUs feature field-replaceable fan units, while the C9200L SKUs have fixed fan units. Table 7 lists the fan module's part number. 

Table 5 highlights the similarities between the C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches, enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate them into their network infrastructure for enhanced scalability and management capabilities.

Performance and Scalability

Table 6 focuses on the performance specifications of the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches:

Bandwidth Specifications

The maximum data transfer rate that the switch supports is referred to in its bandwidth specifications, which show how well it can manage network traffic. Both the C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches offer a switching capacity of 176 Gbps and a forwarding rate of 130.95 Mpps, ensuring smooth and reliable data transmission. Additionally, with a stacking bandwidth of 160 Gbps using StackWise-160 technology, these switches enable scalable and high-performance networking solutions for various deployment scenarios. 

Table 7 focuses on the bandwidth specifications of the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches:

Software

Cisco IOS XE

Cisco IOS XE Software revolutionizes network configuration, operation, and monitoring by automating network processes. Cisco's automation solution is open, standards-based, and expandable throughout the network device's lifecycle. The many automation mechanisms are described here.

• Automated device provisioning automates software image upgrades and configuration file installation on Cisco Catalyst switches during initial network deployment. Cisco offers turnkey solutions such as Plug and Play and Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) for easy and automated deployment.
• Modern network switches, including the Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series, include API-driven configuration. It offers a variety of automation features and open APIs over NETCONF and RESTCONF, utilizing YANG data models. This allows external solutions, both off the shelf and custom made, to automatically provide network resources.
• Granular visibility allows model-driven telemetry to send data from a switch to a destination. Data streams are identified by subscribing to a data set in a YANG model. The subscription data is streamed to the destination at predetermined intervals. Additionally, Cisco IOS XE supports the push model. It enables near-real-time network monitoring, allowing for early discovery and resolution of issues. Meraki cloud monitoring is also accessible.
• Seamless software upgrades and patching improves OS resilience. Cisco IOS XE on Catalyst 9200 Series switches enables cold patching with reboot to address significant defects and security issues in between maintenance releases. This capability allows you to add patches without waiting for the next maintenance release. Cold patching needs the switch to be rebooted for the modifications to take effect.
• Cisco Trust Anchor Technologies ensures a safe basis for their products. Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches provide hardware and software authenticity assurance, promoting supply chain confidence and mitigating man-in-the-middle attacks on software and firmware. Trust Anchor capabilities include image signing, Secure Boot, and the Cisco Trust Anchor module.

Cloud Security

Umbrella Integration: Managed service providers can now host the Cisco Umbrella agent directly on Catalyst 9200 series switches. Businesses may easily configure DNS filtering policies to protect BYOD, IoT, and corporate users from accessing harmful or unsuitable websites, without relying on MSPs to enforce them. This allows trusted apps to contact the cloud directly, optimizing bandwidth utilization. Each device requires a DNA Advantage license and an umbrella license.

Full Flexible NetFlow (FNF)

Cisco IOS FNF is the next-generation flow visibility technology. It optimizes network architecture, lowers operating costs, enhances capacity planning, and detects security incidents with greater flexibility and scalability. Catalyst 9200 Series switches support up to 16,000 flow entries over 48-port, 24-port, 12-port, and 8-port variants.

Where to Buy?

When considering where to purchase Cisco 9200 switches like the C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A, it's crucial to ensure authenticity and reliability. One option is to buy directly from Cisco's authorized partners, ensuring genuine products and expert support. Additionally, online retailers like Amazon, CDW, and Newegg offer convenient purchasing options, often with competitive pricing and discounts. To further ensure a satisfactory buying experience and great deals, customers can visit ORM Systems, make informed decisions and find trusted vendors offering the best deals on Cisco 9200 switches.

Contact us now and get a discounted price.

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Final Thoughts

In summary, the choice between the Cisco C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches depends on your specific networking requirements, including port density, power budget, and scalability. By considering factors such as price, features, and where to buy from authorized sources, you can make an informed decision to optimize your network infrastructure for performance and reliability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between PoE and PoE+?
A. PoE (Power over Ethernet) provides power and data transmission over a single Ethernet cable, typically used for low-power devices like IP phones and access points. PoE+ offers higher power levels, enabling support for devices with greater power requirements.
Q. Can I mix and match different models of Cisco Catalyst 9200 switches in a stack?
A. Yes, Cisco Catalyst 9200 switches support mixed stacking, allowing you to stack different models within the same series for increased flexibility and scalability.
Q. Are Cisco Catalyst 9200 switches suitable for small businesses?
A. Yes, Cisco Catalyst 9200 switches offer a range of models with varying port counts and features, making them suitable for small to large businesses. The C9200-24P-A and C9200-48P-A switches are ideal for small to medium-sized networks with their PoE capabilities and advanced features.