Cisco C9300X-48HX-A Switch 48-Port 10G/mGig Copper UPOE+
The C9300X-48HX-A is a 48-port UPOE+ Multigigabit 10G Layer 3 switch with modular uplinks to 100G. It supports StackWise-1T stacking and 590W of PoE, with Network Advantage.
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-48HX-A is the 48-port UPOE+ multigigabit configuration at the Network Advantage tier, pairing 10G-capable copper ports with 90 W per-port power, and its tier separates it from the otherwise-identical Network Essentials C9300X-48HX-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 C9300X-48HX-A is a Layer 3 managed 1U rackmount access switch with 48 multigigabit UPOE+ ports running at up to 10G and a modular uplink slot, running Cisco IOS XE with the perpetual Network Advantage license. Switching capacity is 1,760 Gbps and forwarding rate is 1309 Mpps. All 48 access ports deliver Cisco UPOE+ at up to 90 W per port; the PoE budget is 590 W with the default 1100 W power supply and up to 3290 W with dual 1900 W power supplies, which powers about 36 ports at the full 90 W. It supports Cisco StackWise-1T data stacking of up to eight members at 1 Tbps, plus Cisco StackPower+. It powers the highest-draw endpoints such as multi-radio access points and pan-tilt-zoom cameras.
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Healthcare
Education
Best For
The C9300X-48HX-A suits a dense, demanding access layer that connects the highest-draw, high-throughput endpoints such as multi-radio Wi-Fi 6 access points and pan-tilt-zoom cameras, where each port may need up to 10G and up to 90 W, with StackWise-1T stacking and 100G-capable uplinks. Its dual 1900 W supply budget of 3290 W powers about 36 ports at the full 90 W, so where every one of the 48 ports must draw maximum UPOE+, plan power accordingly. The Network Advantage license fits sites running full dynamic routing, BGP, or SGT-based segmentation.
Not suitable if:
- you need all 48 ports drawing the full 90 W at once, since the 3290 W dual-supply budget powers about 36 ports at 90 W
- your endpoints need only PoE+ or standard UPOE, since a C9300 or C9300L PoE model covers those without the UPOE+ headroom
- your endpoints are only 1G, since the multigigabit UPOE+ capability would be underused
- you only need basic Layer 2 switching, since the base Network Essentials tier would be sufficient
C9300X-48HX-A-NEW Specifications
| Class & Licensing | |
|---|---|
| License Tier | Network Advantage |
| License Detail / MTBF | Network Advantage; MTBF 185,420 hours |
| Ports & Uplinks | |
| PoE Budget | 590 W (default single 1100 W PSU); up to 3290 W with dual 1900 W PSUs |
| Port Speed | Multigigabit |
| Uplink Configuration | Modular uplinks (10G/25G/40G/100G network modules) |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Stacking | StackWise-1T |
| Switching Capacity | 1,760 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 1309 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 | 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 in (4.4 x 44.5 x 48.3 cm) |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.62 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
- C9300X — C9300X is the platform prefix, identifying the high-performance modular-uplink Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series.
- 48 — 48 is the port count, indicating 48 access ports.
- HX — HX is the port-type marker, indicating Cisco UPOE+ multigigabit ports at up to 90 W and up to 10G.
- A — A is the license suffix for the perpetual Network Advantage tier.
FAQ
How much PoE power does the Cisco Catalyst C9300X-48HX-A provide?
The Cisco Catalyst C9300X-48HX-A delivers Cisco UPOE+ at up to 90 W per port on all 48 multigigabit access ports. With the default 1100 W power supply the PoE budget is 590 W, and dual 1900 W power supplies raise it to 3290 W. Because 48 ports at 90 W would require 4320 W, the 3290 W ceiling powers about 36 ports at the full 90 W, so the budget rather than the port count sets how many devices draw maximum power. Most deployments mix lower-draw devices, so real port coverage is higher.
How fast are the access ports on the C9300X-48HX-A?
All 48 access ports on the C9300X-48HX-A are multigigabit and run at up to 10G, auto-negotiating 100M, 1G, 2.5G, 5G, and 10G over structured copper, and each also delivers Cisco UPOE+ at up to 90 W. Switching capacity is 1,760 Gbps. The modular uplink slot adds 10G, 25G, 40G, or 100G options.
What uplink options does the C9300X-48HX-A support?
The C9300X-48HX-A has a modular uplink slot that takes a Cisco Catalyst 9300X network module, with options spanning 8x 10G, 8x 25G, 2x 100G, and 4x 100G, so uplinks can scale to 100G. 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 C9300X-48HX-A switches can you stack?
The C9300X-48HX-A 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-48HX-A and the C9300X-48HX-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 and 100G IPsec (with an HSEC key) are enabled separately from the perpetual tier.
Does the C9300X-48HX-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 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-48HX-A moves the access layer to Cisco IOS XE, StackWise-1T stacking, UPOE+ power, and 100G-capable uplinks with the Network Advantage feature set.
Is the C9300X-48HX-A still current, and where is its lifecycle status published?
Network Devices Inc. sells the C9300X-48HX-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 C9300X-48HX-A sold in, and what warranty applies?
The C9300X-48HX-A is sold new and factory-sealed. It is covered by a Network Devices Inc. one-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
