United States
Q
What is the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series is a cloud-ready, stackable enterprise switch platform delivering high-performance Layer 2/3 connectivity with built-in advanced security and programmability powered by Cisco IOS XE.
Q
What are the key performance and capacity features of the Catalyst 9300?
A
Catalyst 9300 switches offer up to 160 Gbps of stacking bandwidth, 176 Gbps of switching capacity per slot, wire-rate 10/25/40/100 Gbps uplinks, and support for wire-speed IPv4/IPv6 forwarding.
Q
How does StackWise-480 technology work on Cisco Catalyst 9300?
A
StackWise-480 links up to eight Catalyst 9300 switches into a single logical unit with 480 Gbps bidirectional stack bandwidth, enabling unified management, redundant backplane, and hitless software upgrades.
Q
What Power over Ethernet (PoE) options are available?
A
Catalyst 9300 switches support PoE, PoE+ (802.3at), and UPOE (60 W per port) across 24- and 48-port models, delivering power prioritization, scheduling, and budget management for VoIP, cameras, and wireless APs.
Q
Which Cisco software and licensing models apply to the 9300 Series?
A
Cisco IOS XE runs the Catalyst 9300, with licensing tiers of Network Essentials and Network Advantage, plus optional DNA subscriptions for automation, analytics, security, and SD-Access capabilities.
Q
What advanced security features does the Catalyst 9300 provide?
A
Catalyst 9300 includes Cisco TrustSec, MACsec encryption, Control Plane Protection, secure boot, and runtime monitoring to deliver hardware-accelerated authentication, segmentation, and threat mitigation.
Q
How is the Cisco Catalyst 9300 managed and automated?
A
You can manage Catalyst 9300 switches via Cisco DNA Center, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, CLI/REST API, or Web UI, enabling policy-based provisioning, software image management, and intent-based networking.
Q
What uplink modules and transceiver options are supported?
A
Catalyst 9300 supports modular uplink slots with 1x1G, 1x10G, 4x10G, 2x40G, and 2x100G options, plus SFP/SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, QSFP28, and Cisco compatible optics for flexible connectivity.
Q
How does Catalyst 9300 ensure high availability?
A
High availability is achieved through dual redundant power supplies, StackWise-480 redundancy, Graceful Insertion and Removal (GIR), nonstop forwarding, and in-service software upgrades (ISSU).
Q
What is the maximum stacking capability of Catalyst 9300 switches?
A
You can stack up to eight Catalyst 9300 switches with StackWise-480, creating a unified switching fabric up to 384 ports and delivering up to 480 Gbps of stack throughput.
Q
Which use cases are ideal for Catalyst 9300 deployment?
A
Catalyst 9300 is ideal for campus access, branch edge, IoT convergence, wireless backhaul, and secure digital workplaces requiring scalable, secure, and programmable LAN infrastructure.
Q
How energy efficient are the Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches?
A
Catalyst 9300 switches comply with Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az), feature variable-speed fans, internal power redundancy, and advanced PoE power management to minimize operational costs.
Q
What warranty and support options are available?
A
Cisco offers a limited lifetime warranty for Catalyst 9300 hardware with next-business-day replacement, plus optional Cisco Smart Net Total Care for 24/7 technical support and software upgrades.
Q
Can I upgrade from Catalyst 3850 to 9300, and what is the process?
A
Yes, Cisco offers a Smart Net Total Care trade-in program for Catalyst 3850 to 9300 migration; upgrade involves exchanging chassis and migrating configurations via CLI or DNA Center automation.
Q
How do I configure VLANs and QoS on a Catalyst 9300 switch?
A
Use Cisco IOS XE CLI or DNA Center to define VLANs with ‘vlan’ commands, assign ports, and apply QoS policies with class-maps, policy-maps, and service-policies for traffic prioritization.
Q
What differences exist between Catalyst 9300 and Catalyst 9400 Series?
A
Catalyst 9300 is a fixed, stackable access switch series, while Catalyst 9400 is a modular chassis platform for higher-density deployments; both run IOS XE but target different scalability needs.
