C9500-12Q-E – 12x40G QSFP+ Ports – 48x10G Breakout Mapping
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C9500-12Q-E Description
C9500-12Q-E is a Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series fixed core and aggregation switch for 40G campus aggregation, ordered with Network Essentials for deployments that need a compact Catalyst 9000-family aggregation platform. Cisco official documentation identifies the C9500-12Q-E orderable PID with twelve 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports and two power supply slots, and the C9500-12Q hardware profile supports breakout planning from native 40G ports to up to forty-eight 10G interfaces with breakout cables.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
C9500-12Q-E |
|
Product type |
Fixed core and aggregation switch |
|
Network license |
Network Essentials |
|
Downlink ports |
12 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ |
|
Breakout mapping |
12 native 40G ports to 48 configurable 10G ports with breakout cables |
|
Switching capacity |
960 Gbps |
|
Forwarding rate |
720 Mpps |
|
Default power supply |
PWR-C4-950WAC-R 950W AC |
|
Power supply slots |
2 |
|
Power supply options |
950W AC or 950W DC |
|
Rack units |
1 RU |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 |
Product Performance
Key Features
The -E orderable PID maps the 12-port C9500-12Q hardware to Network Essentials and Cisco DNA Essential subscription choices.
Cisco documentation identifies C9500-12Q with twelve 40G QSFP+ ports, giving buyers a compact fiber aggregation option without a modular chassis.
Cisco maps each native 40G port to four 10G interfaces, so cable planning and port labels should follow the C9500-12Q breakout table.
The chassis has two power supply slots and supports internal AC or DC power supplies, which lets the BOM reflect the required redundancy plan.
The C9500-12Q hardware uses a 1RU chassis with the same published depth and weight as the related C9500-24Q and 40X models.
Cisco release notes list Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 as the introductory release for C9500-12Q-E, giving operations teams a baseline for image planning.
Application Scenarios
C9500-12Q-E fits campus core or distribution designs that need a fixed Catalyst 9500 switch with twelve native 40G QSFP+ links instead of a higher-density C9500-24Q model.
The SKU is useful when selected 40G ports must be split into groups of 10G interfaces during a phased fiber migration or downstream switch refresh.
Procurement teams can align this PID with Network Essentials policies when the design does not require the Network Advantage order profile used by C9500-12Q-A.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C9500-12Q-E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Product type |
Fixed core and aggregation switch |
Fixed core and aggregation switch |
Fixed core and aggregation switch |
|
Network license |
Network Essentials |
Network Advantage |
Network Essentials |
|
Default power supply |
PWR-C4-950WAC-R 950W AC |
PWR-C4-950WAC-R 950W AC |
PWR-C4-950WAC-R 950W AC |
|
Native 40G QSFP+ ports |
12 |
12 |
24 |
|
Configurable 10G breakout ports |
Up to 48 |
Up to 48 |
Up to 96 |
|
Switching capacity |
960 Gbps |
960 Gbps |
1920 Gbps |
|
Forwarding rate |
720 Mpps |
720 Mpps |
1440 Mpps |
|
Power supply slots |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Introductory release |
Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 |
Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 |
Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.5.1a |
- In a C9500-12Q-E vs C9500-12Q-A comparison, the hardware port count and performance are the same, while the licensing difference is Network Essentials versus Network Advantage.
- For C9500-12Q-E vs C9500-24Q-E, the key difference is native 40G density: C9500-12Q-E has 12 QSFP+ ports and up to 48 breakout 10G ports, while C9500-24Q-E doubles those port counts.
- Which model to choose should be tied to two table facts: the required network license tier and the number of native 40G ports in the approved design.
Selection Guide
1. Match the Essentials feature standard
Select C9500-12Q-E when the deployment requires the 12-port 40G Catalyst 9500 hardware profile with Network Essentials licensing.
2. Keep the port plan within 12 QSFP+ links
Stay with this SKU when twelve native 40G ports, or the mapped forty-eight 10G breakout interfaces, cover the aggregation requirement.
3. Move to C9500-12Q-A for Advantage licensing
Quote C9500-12Q-A only when the same hardware profile must be ordered with Network Advantage and Cisco DNA Advantage choices.
4. Move to C9500-24Q-E for higher 40G density
Review C9500-24Q-E when the project needs 24 native 40G QSFP+ ports or up to 96 configurable 10G breakout interfaces in the same Catalyst 9500 family.
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Exact PID |
Confirm C9500-12Q-E rather than C9500-12Q-A |
The suffix sets the default network license level |
|
Subscription term |
Select the correct Cisco DNA Essential or Catalyst Software Essentials term |
Cisco ordering guidance lists term options for C9500-12Q Essentials orders |
|
40G port plan |
Count the required native QSFP+ links |
C9500-12Q-E provides twelve 40G ports |
|
Breakout cabling |
Map each breakout 40G port to its four 10G interfaces |
Cisco publishes specific C9500-12Q breakout numbering |
|
Power design |
Confirm AC or DC power supply choice and whether a second PSU is needed |
The switch has two internal power supply slots |
|
Power cords |
Select the country-specific AC power cord when AC power is used |
Cisco ordering lists power cable selection as part of configuration |
|
Software baseline |
Check the target Cisco IOS XE image against the platform requirement |
Cisco lists Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 as the introductory release |
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
PWR-C4-950WAC-R |
950W AC power supply module for supported Catalyst 9500 switches |
|
PWR-C4-950WDC-R |
950W DC power supply module for supported Catalyst 9500 switches |
|
FAN-T4-R= |
Type 4 front-to-back cooling fan for C9500-12Q and related Catalyst 9500 models |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C9500-12Q-E | Product type | Fixed core and aggregation switch |
| Network license | Network Essentials | DNA Essentials term SKUs | C9500-DNA-L-E-3Y, C9500-DNA-L-E-5Y, C9500-DNA-L-E-7Y |
| Downlink ports | 12 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports | Supported modules | Standard 12 x 40G QSFP+ modules |
| Breakout mapping | 40G ports can map to four 10G ports with breakout cables | Maximum 10G breakout ports | 48 configurable 10G ports |
| Switching capacity | 960 Gbps | Forwarding rate | 720 Mpps |
| Power supply slots | 2 | Power supply options | 950W AC or 950W DC |
| Fan module | FAN-T4-R= | Fan airflow | Front-to-back |
| Rack units | 1 RU | Dimensions | 1.73 x 17.5 x 21.5 in. (4.4 x 44.5 x 56.7 cm) |
| Weight | 25.75 lb (11.68 kg) with 2 power supplies and built-in fan | Input voltage | 115 to 230 VAC |
| Operating temperature | 32 deg F to 104 deg F (0 deg C to 40 deg C) | Operating altitude | Up to 6000 ft (1800 m) |
| Acoustic noise | No greater than 70.4 LwAd dB | Minimum software release | Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.6.1 |
Get More Information
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