Product Overview
The Catalyst 9500 Series represents a family of high-performance enterprise campus core and aggregation switches designed for modern digital networks. These switches deliver scalable throughput, advanced Layer 2/3 services, deep programmability, and robust security tailored for demanding campus environments, data centers, and hybrid work architectures. They support advanced routing, virtualization, and automation features, making them suitable for mission-critical deployments requiring high reliability and operational flexibility.
Key Features
High Performance & Scalability
-
Multi-Terabit Switching Capacity:
Certain models exceed 12.8 Tbps full duplex, providing industry-leading forwarding performance and large packet buffers. -
Broad Port Options:
Support for high-density 10/25/50/100/200/400 GbE interfaces enables flexible deployment in core and aggregation layers. -
ASIC-Driven Architecture:
Specialized ASICs deliver wire-speed throughput with large MAC, routing, and multicast tables to handle extensive network scales.
Built-In Resilience & High Availability
-
Virtual Stacking:
Multi-chassis virtual switching enhances redundancy and eliminates single points of failure. -
Nonstop Forwarding & Stateful Switchover:
Maintains uninterrupted forwarding and supports incremental software patching. -
Redundant Power & Cooling:
Multiple hot-swappable power supplies and fan modules ensure continued operation under load.
Advanced Software & Automation
-
Modular Operating System:
Offers model-driven programmability, streaming telemetry, on-box scripting, and API-based management. -
Automation & Integration:
Supports NETCONF, RESTCONF, gNMI, and YANG data models for integration with automation frameworks. -
Cloud-Ready Management:
Enables monitoring and operation through cloud dashboards for enhanced visibility and control.
Enterprise-Grade Security
-
MACsec & Encrypted Links:
Hardware-accelerated encryption ensures secure link traffic across campus or WAN links. -
Dual-Stack IPv4/IPv6 Support:
Facilitates migration to IPv6 alongside traditional IPv4 routing.
Typical Applications
- Campus core and distribution layers
- Data center aggregation
- Hybrid cloud connectivity
- Secure enterprise edge
Full Model Lineup
| Model | Description |
|---|---|
| C9500-16X | 16× 10 GbE routing switch |
| C9500-24Y4C | 24× 25 GbE + 4× 100 GbE |
| C9500-48Y4C | 48× 25 GbE + 4× 100 GbE |
| C9500-32C | 32× 100 GbE |
| C9500-32QC | 32× 40 GbE / 16× 100 GbE |
| C9500X-28C8D | 28× 40/100 GbE + 8× 400 GbE |
| C9500X-60L4D | 60× 10/25/50 GbE + 4× 400 GbE |
| C9500-24C | 24× 10 GbE + uplinks |
| C9500-48C | 48× 10 GbE + uplinks |
| C9500-16QC | 16× 40/100 GbE |
| C9500-24Q | 24× 40 GbE |
| C9500-32Q | 32× 40 GbE |
| C9500-48Y | 48× 25 GbE |
| C9500X-16X | 16× 10/25 GbE |
| C9500X-24Y4Q | 24× 25 GbE + 4× 100 GbE |
| C9500X-32YC | 32× 25 GbE + 4× 100 GbE |
| C9500X-40X | 40× 10/25 GbE |
| C9500X-48X | 48× 10/25 GbE |
| C9500X-24Q4C | 24× 40 GbE + 4× 100 GbE |
| C9500X-32Q8D | 32× 40 GbE + 8× 100 GbE |
Technical Highlights
| Feature | Capability |
|---|---|
| Switching Capacity | Up to 12.8 Tbps (high-end models) |
| Forwarding Rate | Up to 8 Bpps |
| MAC Addresses | Up to 256,000 |
| IPv4 Routes | Up to 2,000,000 |
| IPv6 Routes | Up to 1,000,000 |
| VLANs | 4,094 |
Software & Programmability
- Modular OS with on-box automation and incremental patching
- API support: NETCONF, RESTCONF, gNMI
- Model-driven streaming telemetry for real-time monitoring
Security & Availability
- Hardware-accelerated MACsec encryption (256-bit AES-GCM)
- Virtual stacking for multi-chassis redundancy
- Nonstop forwarding / stateful switchover for uninterrupted operations
Management & Monitoring
- Web-based graphical interface for configuration and status
- Cloud-enabled dashboards for remote monitoring