
Cisco C9300-48UXM-A Switch
The C9300-48UXM-A is a 48-port UPOE (12x mGig 10G, 36x 2.5G) Layer 3 switch with modular uplinks. It supports StackWise-480 stacking and 490W of PoE, with Network Advantage.
Overview
The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series is Cisco's lead stackable enterprise access platform in the Catalyst 9000 family, built on the UADP 2.0 ASIC for investment protection and high-density stacking. The modular-uplink C9300 takes a field-installable network module for 1G, multigigabit, 10G, 25G, or 40G uplinks, and Cisco positions it as the successor to the end-of-sale Catalyst 3850. The C9300-48UXM-A is the 48-port mixed-multigigabit UPOE configuration, combining a dozen 10G-capable ports with 36 ports up to 2.5G, at the Network Advantage tier, which separates it from the otherwise-identical Network Essentials C9300-48UXM-E. Network Advantage unlocks full dynamic routing and policy-based segmentation. Three field-replaceable fans and dual power supplies keep it serviceable in always-on deployments.
Technical Details
The Cisco Catalyst C9300-48UXM-A is a Layer 3 managed 1U rackmount access switch with 48 multigigabit Cisco UPOE ports, of which 12 run at up to 10G and 36 run at up to 2.5G, plus a modular uplink slot, running Cisco IOS XE with the perpetual Network Advantage license. Switching capacity is 580 Gbps and forwarding rate is 431.54 Mpps. All 48 access ports deliver Cisco UPOE at up to 60 W per port; the PoE budget is 490 W with the default 1100 W power supply and up to 2880 W with dual 1900 W power supplies, enough for all 48 ports at the full 60 W. It supports Cisco StackWise-480 data stacking of up to eight members at 480 Gbps, plus Cisco StackPower. It powers multigigabit endpoints such as Wi-Fi 6 access points.
Enterprise Network
Corporate Campus
Healthcare
Best For
The C9300-48UXM-A suits a dense access layer where a subset of endpoints need 10G and the rest need 2.5G, all with high UPOE power, such as a mix of high-end and mainstream Wi-Fi 6 access points, with StackWise-480 stacking. With dual 1900 W power supplies the 2880 W budget covers all 48 ports at 60 W, and actual device counts depend on each powered device's power draw. The Network Advantage license fits sites running full dynamic routing, BGP, or SGT-based segmentation.
Not suitable if:
- you need all 48 ports at 10G, since only 12 ports run at up to 10G and 36 run at up to 2.5G; the Catalyst 9300X provides all-10G
- you need UPOE+ at 90 W per port, since these ports deliver Cisco UPOE at up to 60 W; the Catalyst 9300X provides UPOE+
- your endpoints are only 1G, since the standard-Gigabit C9300-48U covers that
- you only need basic Layer 2 switching, since the base Network Essentials tier would be sufficient
C9300-48UXM-A Specifications
| Class & Licensing | |
|---|---|
| License Tier | Network Advantage |
| License Detail / MTBF | Network Advantage; MTBF 202,160 hours |
| Ports & Uplinks | |
| PoE Budget | 490 W (default single 1100 W PSU); up to 2880 W with dual 1900 W PSUs |
| Port Speed | Multigigabit |
| Uplink Configuration | Modular uplinks (1G/10G/25G/40G network modules) |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Stacking | StackWise-480 |
| Switching Capacity | 580 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 431.54 Mpps |
| MAC Table | 32,000 entries |
| Stacking Bandwidth | 480 Gbps |
| Max Stack Members | 8 |
| IPv4 Routes | 32,000 (24,000 direct, 8,000 indirect) |
| Hardware & Memory | |
| DRAM | 8 GB |
| ASIC | UADP 2.0 |
| Flash | 16 GB |
| Power & Thermal | |
| Power Input / PSU | 1100 W AC (PWR-C1-1100WAC-P) default, 100-240 VAC auto-ranging |
| Redundant PSU | Yes (1+1; ships with one, second optional) |
| Cooling | Redundant fans (3 field-replaceable) |
| Physical & Environmental | |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.5 x 19.1 in (4.4 x 44.5 x 48.5 cm) |
| Weight | 20.50 lbs (9.34 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 23 to 113 °F (-5 to 45 °C), up to 5000 ft (1500 m) |
| Operating System | Cisco IOS XE |
| Software | |
| Routing Protocols | OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS, RIP, HSRP, VRRP, PIM (incl. BIDIR), MSDP, PBR |
Part Number Decode
- C9300 — C9300 is the platform prefix, identifying the modular-uplink Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series.
- 48 — 48 is the port count, indicating 48 access ports.
- UXM — UXM is the port-type marker, indicating Cisco UPOE with mixed multigigabit tiers, 12 ports up to 10G and 36 up to 2.5G, at up to 60 W.
- A — A is the license suffix for the perpetual Network Advantage tier.
FAQ
How much PoE power does the Cisco Catalyst C9300-48UXM-A provide?
The Cisco Catalyst C9300-48UXM-A delivers Cisco UPOE at up to 60 W per port on all 48 multigigabit access ports. With the default 1100 W power supply the PoE budget is 490 W, and dual 1900 W power supplies scale it to 2880 W, which is enough for all 48 ports to draw the full 60 W at once (48 x 60 W = 2880 W). The budget, together with the installed power supplies, determines how many devices draw full power simultaneously.
What uplink options does the C9300-48UXM-A support?
The C9300-48UXM-A has a modular uplink slot rather than fixed uplink ports. It accepts a Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series network module, with options spanning 4x 1G, 4x multigigabit, 8x 10G, 2x 25G, and 2x 40G; Catalyst 3850 network modules are also compatible. The network module is ordered separately. Specific transceiver compatibility should be verified against the manufacturer's transceiver compatibility matrix at tmgmatrix.cisco.com. Transceivers are sold separately.
How many C9300-48UXM-A switches can you stack?
The C9300-48UXM-A supports Cisco StackWise-480 data stacking of up to eight members at 480 Gbps of stack bandwidth, and Cisco StackPower for shared power and power redundancy across the stack. It stacks with other C9300 models, including mixed stacks with C9300X, and does not stack with C9300L, Catalyst 9200, or other series. StackWise and StackPower cables are ordered separately.
What is the difference between the C9300-48UXM-A and the C9300-48UN-A?
Both are 48-port multigigabit UPOE modular-uplink switches at the Network Advantage tier that deliver up to 60 W per port, and they differ in port-speed layout. On the 48UXM-A the ports are mixed, 12 up to 10G and 36 up to 2.5G, with 580 Gbps of switching capacity. On the 48UN-A all 48 ports run at up to 5G uniformly, with 640 Gbps of switching capacity. Choose the 48UXM when some ports need 10G and the 48UN for uniform 5G access.
What is the difference between the C9300-48UXM-A and the C9300-48UXM-E?
The two switches are identical hardware and differ only in license tier. The -E model ships with perpetual Network Essentials, which covers Layer 2 plus basic routed access such as static routing, RIP, EIGRP stub, OSPF for up to 1,000 routes, PBR, PIM stub multicast, and VRRP. The -A model ships with perpetual Network Advantage, which adds full OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS, HSRP, VRF, VXLAN, LISP, and SGT segmentation. SD-Access is enabled by the term-based Cisco Catalyst subscription rather than the perpetual tier.
Does the C9300-48UXM-A require a subscription to operate?
No. The switch runs on its included perpetual base license indefinitely. Under Cisco's ordering model, new switch orders include a term-based Cisco DNA or Cisco Catalyst software subscription of the same tier as the network license; that subscription unlocks Cisco Catalyst Center and cloud-managed features. When the subscription term ends, the switch continues operating on the perpetual base license capabilities after a reload.
Does the Cisco Catalyst 9300 replace an older switch?
Yes. Cisco's migration guidance positions the Catalyst 9300 as the successor to the end-of-sale Catalyst 3850. Migrating from a 3850 to the C9300-48UXM-A moves the access layer to Cisco IOS XE, StackWise-480 stacking, StackPower, and mixed-multigigabit UPOE, and existing Catalyst 3850 network modules remain compatible with the 9300.
Is the C9300-48UXM-A still current, and where is its lifecycle status published?
Network Devices Inc. sells the C9300-48UXM-A as current, new, factory-sealed stock. Cisco publishes End-of-Sale and End-of-Life status for every Catalyst 9300 Series part number on its official End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices page for the series, which is the authoritative source for a specific SKU. Buyers standardizing on a platform for a multi-year refresh should confirm the current status there before ordering.
What condition is the C9300-48UXM-A sold in, and what warranty applies?
The C9300-48UXM-A is sold new and factory-sealed. It is covered by a Network Devices Inc. one-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.