C9500-32C-A – 32×40/100G QSFP28 Ports – 96×10/25G Breakout – Network Advantage
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C9500-32C-A Description
The C9500-32C-A is a Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series fixed core and aggregation switch with Network Advantage licensing for 100G campus cores and small data center aggregation. The switch has 32 QSFP28 ports that run at 40G or 100G, up to 96 breakout interfaces at 10G or 25G, 6.4 Tbps of switching capacity, 2 Bpps of forwarding and 82,000 MAC address entries. The switch does not support C9500-NM-8X or C9500-NM-2Q network modules, so the 32 fixed ports are its only port capacity.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
C9500-32C-A |
|
Product type |
High-performance fixed core and aggregation switch |
|
Network license |
Network Advantage |
|
Port configuration |
32 x 40G/100G QSFP28 ports |
|
Breakout support |
Up to 96 x 10G or 25G breakout ports |
|
Switching capacity |
Up to 6.4 Tbps |
|
Forwarding rate |
Up to 2 Bpps |
|
DRAM and flash |
16 GB DRAM and 16 GB flash |
|
Default power supply |
C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R 1600W AC |
|
Power supply slots |
2 |
|
Power supply options |
C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R and C9K-PWR-1600WDC-R |
|
Fan modules |
C9K-T2-FANTRAY, up to 5 fans |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a |
Product Performance
Key Features
The -A suffix adds BGP, IS-IS, VXLAN, TrustSec and StackWise Virtual to the Layer 2 and OSPF base of Network Essentials, which matters when the switch sits at the routed core.
All 32 QSFP28 ports run at 100G or 40G, so a fully populated 100G aggregation layer needs no trade-off between port count and speed.
Breakout on 24 of the ports yields up to 96 interfaces at 10G or 25G. Each broken-out port needs its own cable and optic plan.
Switching capacity and forwarding rate are double those of the C9500-32QC-A, and the 82,000-entry MAC table and 256,000 IPv4 routes are shared with the rest of the UADP 3.0 group.
Two supply slots take C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R or C9K-PWR-1600WDC-R. AC input runs 90 to 140 VAC or 180 to 264 VAC, and DC input runs -40 to -72 VDC.
The switch uses the C9K-T2-FANTRAY with up to five fans, a different tray from the C9K-T1-FANTRAY on the 650W-supply Catalyst 9500 models.
Application Scenarios
In a campus core, the switch terminates 100G links from building distribution switches and runs BGP, IS-IS and VXLAN from its Network Advantage license.
A small data center can use the switch as a spine, with 100G ports facing the leaf layer and breakout ports that reach 10G or 25G equipment.
Where a row of servers connects at 10G or 25G, breakout on the QSFP28 ports gives one switch up to 96 server-facing interfaces alongside its native 100G uplinks.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C9500-32C-A | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Port configuration |
32 x 40G/100G QSFP28 |
32 x 40G/100G QSFP28 |
32 x 40G QSFP+ or up to 16 x 100G QSFP28 |
|
Breakout support |
Up to 96 x 10G/25G |
Up to 96 x 10G/25G |
Not published |
|
Network module support |
Not supported |
Not supported |
Not supported |
|
Switching capacity |
Up to 6.4 Tbps |
Up to 6.4 Tbps |
Up to 3.2 Tbps |
|
Forwarding rate |
Up to 2 Bpps |
Up to 2 Bpps |
Up to 1 Bpps |
|
MAC addresses |
Up to 82,000 |
Up to 82,000 |
Up to 82,000 |
|
Network license |
Network Advantage |
Network Essentials |
Network Advantage |
|
Default power supply |
C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R 1600W AC |
C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R 1600W AC |
C9K-PWR-650WAC-R 650W AC |
|
Fan modules |
C9K-T2-FANTRAY, up to 5 fans |
C9K-T2-FANTRAY, up to 5 fans |
C9K-T1-FANTRAY, up to 4 fans |
C9500-32C-A and C9500-32QC-A are both Network Advantage switches with 32 QSFP28 ports, but C9500-32C-A runs all 32 ports at 100G on 6.4 Tbps and 2 Bpps, while C9500-32QC-A reaches 100G on only 16 ports, or 24 x 40G plus 4 x 100G, on 3.2 Tbps and 1 Bpps. Designs that fan 40G/100G ports out to 10G or 25G need C9500-32C-A, the only one of the two with listed breakout, up to 96 interfaces. It also takes 1600W C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R supplies and C9K-T2-FANTRAY, where C9500-32QC-A uses 650W supplies and C9K-T1-FANTRAY. Where Layer 2 and routed access with OSPF up to 1,000 routes are enough, C9500-32C-E is the same hardware on Network Essentials.
Ordering Checklist
- Subscription and Smart Account: Add a term-based Catalyst Software Subscription or Cisco DNA subscription at the Advantage tier, and name the Smart Account it is placed under. The subscription must match the Network Advantage license on this switch, and the order cannot be completed without a Smart Account.
- Second power supply: The configurator preselects a second supply; C9500-SPS-NONE removes it. Supplies are C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R or the 1600W DC option. A second supply is added unless removed explicitly.
- Power cord: Select a power cord for each supply ordered. The configuration cannot be completed without one.
- RFID: Choose C9500-RFID or C9500-RFID-NONE on the order. RFID cannot be added after the switch ships.
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
1600W AC power supply supported on C9500-32C-A | |
|
1600W DC power supply supported on C9500-32C-A | |
|
C9K-T2-FANTRAY |
Fan tray supported on C9500-32C-A with up to five fans |
|
19-inch rack mount accessory kit for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series High-End switches | |
|
C9500-ACCKITH-23I= |
23-inch rack mount accessory kit for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series High-End switches |
C9500-32C-A Switch Front Panel
|
1 |
32 40G/100G QSFP28 ports |
5 |
RFID (Optional) |
|
2 |
Ethernet management port |
6 |
Console port (RJ-45 Serial) |
|
3 |
Reset button |
7 |
USB 3.0 host port |
|
4 |
USB mini Type B console port |
– |
C9500-32C-A Switch Rear Panel
The switch rear panel includes StackWise connectors, StackPower or XPS connectors, ports, fan modules, and power supply modules.
|
1 |
Power supply modules |
7 |
Fan 3 |
|
2 |
Fan modules |
8 |
Fan 2 |
|
3 |
Grounding pad |
9 |
Fan 1 |
|
4 |
SATA SSD module |
10 |
Fan 0 |
|
5 |
PSU 1 |
11 |
PSU 0 |
|
6 |
Fan 4 |
– |
– |
Components Delivered in the Shipping Box
The shipping box contains the model of the switch you ordered and other components needed for installation. Some components are optional, depending on your order.
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C9500-32C-A | Product type | High-performance fixed core and aggregation switch |
| Network license | Network Advantage | Minimum software release | Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a |
| Total ports | 32 x 40G/100G QSFP28 ports | Breakout support | Up to 96 x 10G or 25G breakout ports |
| Switching capacity | Up to 6.4 Tbps | Forwarding rate | Up to 2 Bpps |
| DRAM | 16 GB | Flash | 16 GB |
| Power supply slots | 2 | Power supply options | C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R, C9K-PWR-1600WDC-R |
| AC input voltage | 90 to 140 VAC and 180 to 264 VAC with C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R | DC input voltage | -40 to -72 VDC with C9K-PWR-1600WDC-R |
| Heat dissipation | 3,631 BTU/hr with C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R; 3,709 BTU/hr with C9K-PWR-1600WDC-R | Fan modules | C9K-T2-FANTRAY, up to 5 fans |
| Acoustic noise | No greater than 77 LwAd dB | Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.5 x 21.2 in. (4.4 x 44.5 x 56.8 cm) |
| Rack units | 1 RU |
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
-
Does C9500-32C-A support StackWise Virtual?
-
What does Network Advantage on C9500-32C-A include?
-
What is the output of each C9K-PWR-1600WAC-R on 110 V input in C9500-32C-A?
-
How many ASICs does C9500-32C-A use, and how much buffer does each one have?
-
What do the Core and NAT SDM templates mean for C9500-32C-A?
-
Can C9500-32C-A run TrustSec SGT and MPLS at the same time?
-
Does C9500-32C-A run MACsec-256 at line rate on 100G ports?
-
At what packet size does C9500-32C-A reach line rate?
-
How many switches can join a StackWise Virtual pair with C9500-32C-A?
-
Which SSD PIDs can be installed in C9500-32C-A?
Warranty
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