The Cisco Catalyst C9500-48Y4C-A is a high-density campus core switch. Featuring 48x 25G SFP28 ports, 4x 100G uplinks, and Network Advantage, it delivers 3.2 Tbps bandwidth, advanced BGP routing, and SD-Access capabilities for large enterprise aggregation.
Quick Specs:
· Downlinks: 48 x 1/10/25G SFP28 (Fiber)
· Uplinks: 4 x 40/100G QSFP28 (Fiber)
· Throughput: Up to 3.2 Tbps
· Software: Cisco IOS XE Network Advantage
· High Availability: StackWise Virtual support
· Form Factor: 1RU Rack-mountable
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Cisco Catalyst C9500-48Y4C-A is the industry-leading, high-density 25G/100G fixed enterprise core and aggregation switch. Built to act as the backbone of the intent-based network, it is powered by the highly programmable Cisco UADP 3.0 ASIC, enabling organizations to handle the explosive growth of IoT endpoints, Wi-Fi 6/6E traffic, and multi-cloud applications without compromising performance. By packing 48 ports of 25-Gigabit Ethernet and four 100-Gigabit uplinks into a compact 1-Rack-Unit (1RU) chassis, this switch offers unprecedented space efficiency and up to 3.2 Tbps of non-blocking switching capacity. Bundled with the premier Network Advantage software license, the C9500-48Y4C-A is fully equipped for Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), providing full Layer 3 routing, micro-segmentation, and automated provisioning to simplify the most complex campus networks.
Key Features & Business Benefits
Extreme High-Density Port Scaling: Maximize your Main Distribution Frame (MDF) real estate. Connect up to 48 access-layer switches at 25G speeds while utilizing four 100G QSFP28 uplinks to ensure a zero-bottleneck connection to the data center or enterprise spine.
Premium Routing & SD-Access Ready: The included Network Advantage (-A) license unlocks enterprise-grade features such as BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, VRF, and VXLAN. It serves flawlessly as an SD-Access Control Plane or Border Node.
Hardware-Based MACsec-256 Encryption: Protect sensitive corporate communications at wire speed. The switch supports 256-bit IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption across all ports, ensuring data integrity across the entire aggregation layer.
StackWise Virtual for Supreme Resiliency: Simplify spanning tree protocols and boost network uptime. Cisco StackWise Virtual allows two C9500-48Y4C-A switches to be clustered into a single logical entity, enabling Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF) and Stateful Switchover (SSO).
Robust Telemetry & Visibility: Leverage Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA) and NetFlow to gain deep, real-time insights into network traffic patterns and detect advanced malware hidden within encrypted packets.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Details for C9500-48Y4C-A
Product Series
Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series
Downlink Ports
48 x 1/10/25-Gbps SFP28
Uplink Ports
4 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28
Software License
Cisco IOS XE Network Advantage (Perpetual)
Switching Capacity
Up to 3.2 Tbps
Forwarding Rate
Up to 1 Bpps (Billion packets per second)
MAC Addresses
Up to 82,000
IPv4 Routing Entries
Up to 212,000
ASIC Processor
Cisco UADP 3.0
Power Supplies
Dual redundant hot-swappable (e.g., 650W AC)
Cooling
5 hot-swappable redundant fans
Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.73 x 17.5 x 18.0 in. (4.4 x 44.5 x 45.7 cm)
Ideal Application Scenarios
Large Campus Aggregation: The perfect high-density aggregation point to consolidate 10G and 25G fiber uplinks from hundreds of Catalyst 9200/9300 access switches distributed across university campuses or large office parks.
Compact Enterprise Core: For mid-sized enterprises, the 3.2 Tbps capacity and robust Layer 3 capabilities allow this switch to function as a highly resilient, standalone 1RU network core.
SD-Access Fabric Border Node: Utilize the Network Advantage license to deploy the switch as a secure border node, managing traffic routing between your automated Cisco DNA fabric and external networks (like the internet or data center).
Supported Accessories & Optics
Ensure maximum reliability and 25G/100G performance by pairing your C9500-48Y4C-A with authentic Cisco transceivers and components: SFP-10/25G-CSR-S: 10/25G dual-rate SFP28 transceivers for robust aggregation links. QSFP-100G-SR4-S: 100GBASE-SR4 transceivers for ultra-high-speed core uplinks. C9K-PWR-650WAC-R / F: 650W AC Power Supply (Order two for power redundancy). FAN-T4-R: Catalyst 9500 Type 4 Fan Tray (5 required per chassis). C9500-ACC-KIT-19I=: Standard 19-inch rack mount accessory kit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the primary difference between the C9500-24Y4C-A and C9500-48Y4C-A?
A1: The C9500-48Y4C-A offers double the downlink port density (48 ports of 25G SFP28 compared to 24 ports). Consequently, it also features a higher system switching capacity (3.2 Tbps vs. 2.0 Tbps), making it suited for larger, denser network environments.
Q2: Are the 25G SFP28 ports backwards compatible with my existing 10G network?
A2: Yes, absolutely. The 48 SFP28 slots are natively designed for 25G, but they fully support backwards compatibility with standard 10G SFP+ and 1G SFP transceivers. This allows for a seamless, phased upgrade of your access layer.
Q3: Can I run BGP and VXLAN on this switch?
A3: Yes. Because this model ends in “-A” (Network Advantage), it comes fully equipped with the advanced routing feature set, which includes BGP, full OSPF, VRF, IS-IS, and VXLAN capabilities.
Q4: Do I need a Cisco DNA subscription to use this switch?
A4: When purchasing new Catalyst 9500 hardware, attaching a 3, 5, or 7-year Cisco DNA Advantage subscription is typically required. However, the underlying Network Advantage software license is perpetual and will continue to function even if the DNA subscription expires.
Q5: Can I link two of these switches together for redundancy?
A5: Yes. The C9500-48Y4C-A fully supports Cisco StackWise Virtual (SV). By connecting two switches together using standard 100G or 25G DAC/fiber cables, they operate as a single logical core switch, eliminating Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) loops and maximizing uptime.
