Cisco C9300X-24Y-E Switch
The Cisco Catalyst C9300X-24Y-E is a 24-port 25G/10G/1G SFP28 Layer 3 managed switch with modular uplinks to 100G. It supports StackWise-1T stacking, with Network Essentials.
Overview
The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series is Cisco's lead stackable enterprise access platform in the Catalyst 9000 family. The C9300X is its high-performance member, built on the UADP 2.0sec ASIC, which adds 100G line-rate hardware IPsec (an HSEC license key is required to enable it), and Cisco positions it as a successor to the end-of-sale Catalyst 3850. The C9300X-24Y-E is the 24-port 25G SFP28 fiber configuration at the Network Essentials tier, aimed at dense high-speed fiber aggregation rather than copper endpoint access, and its tier separates it from the otherwise-identical Network Advantage C9300X-24Y-A. Network Essentials covers Layer 2 switching with routed access for a single-tier campus design. Three field-replaceable fans and dual power supplies keep it serviceable in always-on deployments.
Technical Details
The Cisco Catalyst C9300X-24Y-E is a Layer 3 managed 1U rackmount switch with 24 25G SFP28 fiber ports and a modular uplink slot, running Cisco IOS XE with the perpetual Network Essentials license. Switching capacity is 2,000 Gbps and forwarding rate is 1488 Mpps. The access ports are fiber SFP28 and carry no Power over Ethernet. It supports Cisco StackWise-1T data stacking of up to eight members at 1 Tbps, plus Cisco StackPower+. It aggregates 25G fiber links from downstream switches and high-speed fiber-attached hosts in campus and branch networks.
Enterprise Network
Corporate Campus
Branch Office
Best For
The C9300X-24Y-E suits dense high-speed fiber aggregation, connecting 25G fiber links from downstream switches and fiber-attached hosts with StackWise-1T stacking and 100G-capable uplinks. Its SFP28 ports run at 25G, and the Network Essentials license fits sites whose routing stays within static routes, RIP, or a small OSPF footprint.
Not suitable if:
- you need copper access ports, since these are 25G SFP28 fiber ports; the C9300X-48TX provides 10G copper
- you need to power endpoints over Ethernet, since fiber SFP28 ports carry no PoE; the C9300X-48HX provides UPOE+
- you need fewer 25G ports at a smaller footprint, since the C9300X-12Y provides 12
- you need full dynamic routing, BGP, or SGT-based segmentation, since those require the Network Advantage tier on the C9300X-24Y-A
C9300X-24Y-E-NEW Specifications
| Class & Licensing | |
|---|---|
| License Tier | Network Essentials |
| License Detail / MTBF | Network Essentials; MTBF 249,350 hours |
| Ports & Uplinks | |
| Port Speed | 25G |
| Uplink Configuration | Modular uplinks (10G/25G/40G/100G network modules) |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Stacking | StackWise-1T |
| Switching Capacity | 2,000 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 1488 Mpps |
| MAC Table | 32,000 entries |
| Stacking Bandwidth | 1 Tbps |
| Max Stack Members | 8 |
| IPv4 Routes | 39,000 (24,000 direct, 15,000 indirect) |
| Hardware & Memory | |
| DRAM | 16 GB |
| ASIC | UADP 2.0sec |
| Flash | 16 GB |
| Power & Thermal | |
| Power Input / PSU | 715 W AC (PWR-C1-715WAC-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 17.6 in (4.4 x 44.5 x 44.7 cm) |
| Weight | 16.2 lbs (7.35 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 | RIP, OSPF (Routed Access, 1000-route limit), EIGRP Stub, PBR, VRRP, PIM Stub Multicast |
Part Number Decode
- C9300X — C9300X is the platform prefix, identifying the high-performance modular-uplink Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series.
- 24 — 24 is the port count, indicating 24 access ports.
- Y — Y is the port-type marker, indicating 25G SFP28 fiber ports with no Power over Ethernet.
- E — E is the license suffix for the perpetual Network Essentials tier.
FAQ
What kind of ports does the Cisco Catalyst C9300X-24Y-E have?
The Cisco Catalyst C9300X-24Y-E has 24 25G SFP28 fiber access ports, intended for high-speed fiber aggregation rather than copper endpoint connectivity. Because they are fiber SFP28 ports, they carry no Power over Ethernet and cannot power wireless access points, IP phones, or IP cameras. For copper multigigabit access, the C9300X-48TX is the data model and the C9300X-48HX adds UPOE+.
What transceivers do the ports on the C9300X-24Y-E use?
The C9300X-24Y-E has 24 SFP28 access ports that run at 25G and also accept 10G and 1G optics, plus a modular uplink slot that scales to 100G. Specific transceiver compatibility should be verified against the manufacturer's transceiver compatibility matrix at tmgmatrix.cisco.com. Transceivers are sold separately.
How many C9300X-24Y-E switches can you stack?
The C9300X-24Y-E supports Cisco StackWise-1T data stacking of up to eight members at 1 Tbps of stack bandwidth, plus Cisco StackPower+ for shared power across the stack. It can also stack with modular Catalyst 9300 switches, in which case the data stack runs at the lower StackWise-480 speed. StackWise and StackPower cables are ordered separately.
What is the difference between the C9300X-24Y-E and the C9300X-12Y-E?
The two switches are the same 25G SFP28 fiber platform, license tier, and stacking, and differ in fiber-port count and throughput. The 24Y-E has 24 25G ports with 2,000 Gbps of switching capacity and a 1488 Mpps forwarding rate. The 12Y-E has 12 25G ports with 1,000 Gbps of switching capacity and a 744.04 Mpps forwarding rate. Choose the 24Y for denser 25G fiber aggregation.
What is the difference between the C9300X-24Y-E and the C9300X-24Y-A?
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 and 100G IPsec (with an HSEC key) are enabled separately from the perpetual tier.
Does the C9300X-24Y-E 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 9300X replace an older switch?
Yes. Cisco's migration guidance positions the Catalyst 9300X as a successor to the end-of-sale Catalyst 3850. Migrating to the C9300X-24Y-E moves the aggregation layer to Cisco IOS XE, StackWise-1T stacking, 25G fiber ports, and 100G-capable uplinks with the Network Essentials feature set.
Is the C9300X-24Y-E still current, and where is its lifecycle status published?
Network Devices Inc. sells the C9300X-24Y-E 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 C9300X-24Y-E sold in, and what warranty applies?
The C9300X-24Y-E is sold new and factory-sealed. It is covered by a Network Devices Inc. one-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
