Q
What is the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series Switch is a modular chassis switch built for enterprise campus and data center aggregation, offering high performance, scalable connectivity, advanced security, and cloud-driven automation on Cisco IOS XE.
Q
What are the key features of the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
Key features of the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch include up to 25.6 Tbps fabric capacity, full Layer 2/3 services, StackWise Virtual redundancy, MACsec encryption, advanced QoS, and seamless integration with Cisco DNA Center.
Q
Which use cases does the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch support?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch supports enterprise campus cores, data center aggregation, edge routing, and multicloud connectivity, delivering high availability, security segmentation, and programmable automation for digital transformation projects.
Q
What port densities are available on the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switches offer flexible line cards with up to 48 ports of 1/10/25 GbE or 12 ports of 40/100 GbE, allowing customers to scale bandwidth per network segmentation and traffic demands.
Q
What is the maximum throughput of the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch delivers up to 25.6 Tbps of switching capacity per chassis and supports up to 19.2 Tbps in a dual-supervisor StackWise Virtual topology for high-performance aggregation.
Q
How does the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch ensure high availability?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch ensures high availability through dual-redundant supervisors, hot-swappable line cards and power supplies, StackWise Virtual clustering, and nonstop forwarding with stateful switchover.
Q
What power options are available for the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch supports diverse power configurations, including redundant AC and DC power supplies, field-replaceable power modules, and intelligent PoE/PoE+ options for edge device connectivity.
Q
Which security features are integrated in the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
Integrated security in the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch includes MACsec encryption, secure boot, Cisco Trust Anchor, segmentation via TrustSec, advanced threat defense, and programmability for policy enforcement.
Q
How is the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch managed via Cisco DNA Center?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch integrates with Cisco DNA Center for centralized provisioning, policy-based automation, telemetry insights, and assurance workflows, enabling zero-touch deployment and simplified operations.
Q
What stacking technology does the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch use?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch uses StackWise Virtual technology to logically unify two switches into a single 1+1 redundant system, offering 19.2 Tbps of cross-chassis fabric capacity and simplified management.
Q
Which software platforms run on the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch runs Cisco IOS XE software, providing modularity, programmability, advanced network services, model-driven telemetry, and support for Cisco SD-Access and multicloud architectures.
Q
How can I migrate to the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch from legacy platforms?
A
You can migrate to the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch using plug-and-play line card compatibility, Cisco DNA Center templates, and network assessment tools for seamless transition from legacy Catalyst or Nexus switches.
Q
Is the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch compatible with existing network infrastructure?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch offers backward compatibility with Nexus and Catalyst platforms via industry-standard protocols, unified management APIs, and flexible connectivity options for seamless infrastructure integration.
Q
What licensing model applies to the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch uses Cisco DNA subscriptions—Essentials, Advantage, and Premier—covering features such as automation, analytics, security, and assurance, alongside traditional Network Essentials and Network Advantage licenses.
Q
What warranty and support options are available for the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
Cisco offers a limited lifetime hardware warranty for the Catalyst 9600 Switch, with optional Smart Net Total Care services for 24×7 technical support, OS updates, advanced hardware replacement, and onsite assistance.
Q
How energy-efficient is the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch features Energy Efficient Ethernet, programmable PoE scheduling, and optimized power supplies that reduce operational costs and environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
Q
How does the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch support network segmentation?
A
The Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switch supports network segmentation with VRF, VXLAN, Cisco TrustSec, and policy-based group access, enabling scalable, secure multi-tenant and microsegmentation architectures.