Does SSO on C9500X-28C8D-A require StackWise Virtual?

Yes. SSO on Catalyst 9500X switches requires StackWise Virtual, and C9500X-28C8D-A is a Catalyst 9500X switch. The -A suffix fixes the license tier at Network Advantage, and the 1RU chassis ships with one 1500W supply installed in its two power supply slots.

Which license tier does C9500X-28C8D-A carry?

C9500X-28C8D-A carries Network Advantage, fixed by the -A suffix. The order still needs a Cisco DNA Advantage subscription at the same tier, selected as C9500X-DNA-A-3Y, C9500X-DNA-A-5Y or C9500X-DNA-A-7Y for a 3-year, 5-year or 7-year term.

Does C9500X-28C8D-A support ISSU, and from which release?

Yes, ISSU is supported on C9500X-28C8D-A from IOS XE 17.12.1. SSO on the 9500X requires StackWise Virtual, so a rolling upgrade starts from a StackWise Virtual pair. Network Advantage is built into the -A suffix, and the pair must run IOS XE 17.12.1 or later before ISSU can be used.

What license is needed to enable IPsec on C9500X-28C8D-A?

IPsec on C9500X-28C8D-A requires HSECK9, a Smart Licensing authorization code obtained in Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM). Without HSECK9, IPsec cannot be turned on. The code is a one-time install that persists across reloads and configuration erase, and it is available for the Catalyst 9500X family.

Which breakout port counts does C9500X-28C8D-A list for 10/25G links?

With breakout cables C9500X-28C8D-A lists 88 x 10/25G ports on a single standalone switch, and 120 are hardware capable. The 36 native 40/100G ports are counted separately. The 120-port figure is not shipping yet, so plan the cabling around the 88-port count.

How are ACL entries shared on C9500X-28C8D-A, and can the limit be raised?

The default is 8,000 IPv4 and 4,000 IPv6 entries each for security, QoS and PBR, drawn from one shared pool on a first come, first served basis. A custom template raises the limit to 11,000 IPv4 and 5,000 IPv6. Object-group ACLs apply ingress only on the 9500X.

Is Flexible NetFlow on C9500X-28C8D-A hardware-based, and from which release?

No. Flexible NetFlow on the 9500X is software-based and holds up to 2M entries. It requires IOS XE 17.8.1 or later on C9500X-28C8D-A. The datasheet lists the 2M entries as sampled NetFlow in the default template, so size flow collection around that table.

What is the maximum operating temperature of C9500X-28C8D-A with C9500X-FAN-1U-F fans?

The limit is 35°C at sea level with C9500X-FAN-1U-F fans, dropping to 30°C at 1,800 m. With C9500X-FAN-1U-R the datasheet allows 45°C, while the hardware installation guide lists 40°C, so size cooling for 40°C. The two documents disagree only on the front-to-back fan.

What rack depth and weight should I allow for C9500X-28C8D-A?

Allow 21.8 in of depth including the fan tray handles, in a chassis that is 17.5 in wide. With two power supplies and the fans installed it weighs 29.27 lb (13.28 kg). Leave room at the front for the fan handles when choosing a rack with a shallow door.

Can C9K-F1-SSD drives be fitted in C9500X-28C8D-A?

No. C9500X-28C8D-A takes the C9K-F3 series SSDs, offered as 240 GB, 480 GB and 960 GB M.2 SATA drives, and the C9K-F1 series is not the option for this model. The drive is optional, so order it with the switch only when local storage is required.

Which console and management ports does C9500X-28C8D-A have?

C9500X-28C8D-A has a USB Type-C console on the front panel and an RJ-45 console. It also has an RJ-45 management port and a USB 3.0 host port. The front panel carries a reset button and the optional passive RFID tag, which must be chosen when the order is placed.

C9500X-28C8D-A – 28×40/100G QSFP28 – 8x400G QSFP-DD – Network Advantage

Name: C9500X-28C8D-A - Cisco 28x100G 8x400G Catalyst 9500X Switch
Brand: Cisco
SKU: C9500X-28C8D-A
Price: 38286.00 USD
Availability: BackOrder
Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)

Brand: Cisco Category: Catalyst 9500 Switches Model: C9500X-28C8D-A

Rated 4.33 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings

4.33 reviews11 Questions

List Price: ~~$126,144.23~~ 70% OFF

$38,286.00

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C9500X-28C8D-A Description

The C9500X-28C8D-A is a Cisco Catalyst 9500X Series fixed core and aggregation switch for campus core and data center spine layers. The switch has 28 40/100G QSFP28 ports, 8 40/100/200/400G QSFP-DD ports, 12 Tbps of switching capacity and 8 Bpps of forwarding rate in a 1RU chassis, and the -A suffix carries Network Advantage. SSO on Catalyst 9500X switches requires StackWise Virtual, and the two power supply slots ship with one 1500W supply installed.

Quick Specs

Parameter	Specification
Product ID	C9500X-28C8D-A
Product type	Fixed core and aggregation switch
Network license	Network Advantage
QSFP28 ports	28 x 40G/100G QSFP28
QSFP-DD ports	8 x 40G/100G/200G/400G QSFP-DD
Breakout support	Odd-numbered QSFP28 ports and all QSFP-DD ports
Switching capacity	Up to 12 Tbps
Forwarding rate	8 Bpps
Power supply slots	2 slots
Default power supply	C9K-PWR-1500WAC 1500W AC
Fan modules	6 field-replaceable fan modules
Minimum software release	Cisco IOS XE Cupertino 17.7.1

Product Performance

Switching Capacity

Forwarding Rate

Fixed 100G or Higher Port Layout

Key Features

28 QSFP28 Ports For 40G And 100G

The QSFP28 block carries 40G or 100G optics and cables on every port. Odd-numbered ports also support breakout cables for lower-speed links.

Eight QSFP-DD Ports Up To 400G

The QSFP-DD ports take 40G, 100G, 200G and 400G modules, so core-facing links can move to 400G without a modular chassis. All eight support breakout.

Built-In Network Advantage License

The license tier is fixed by the suffix, and the matching Cisco DNA Advantage subscriptions come in 3-year, 5-year and 7-year terms.

Silicon One Q200 Forwarding

The Q200 ASIC provides up to 12 Tbps of switching capacity and 8 Bpps of forwarding rate, with 32 GB of DRAM and 32 GB of flash.

Mixed AC And DC Power

Two supply slots accept C9K-PWR-1500WAC and C9K-PWR-1500WDC in any combination. A single supply must sit in slot 1, and a second supply adds redundancy.

Fans With A Fixed Airflow Direction

Six field-replaceable fans run front-to-back by default, and C9500X-FAN-1U-F reverses the airflow. All six fans must share one direction.

Application Scenarios

Campus Core With 400G Links

At the center of a large campus, the switch joins distribution pairs over 100G QSFP28 links and uses its QSFP-DD ports for 400G links between core nodes.

Data Center Spine Aggregation

A data center that is growing past one row can place the switch as a spine, with 100G QSFP28 ports facing leaf switches and 12 Tbps of switching capacity behind them.

Building Distribution Consolidation

A campus building block that has outgrown 10G distribution switches can land its access uplinks on the QSFP28 ports and break out odd-numbered ports into lower-speed links.

Product Comparison

Parameter	C9500X-28C8D-A	C9500X-28C8D-E	C9500X-60L4D-A
40/100G QSFP28 ports	28	28	0
10/25/50G SFP56 ports	0	0	60
40/100/200/400G QSFP-DD ports	8	8	4
Switching capacity	Up to 12 Tbps	Up to 12 Tbps	Up to 9.2 Tbps
Forwarding rate	8 Bpps	8 Bpps	8 Bpps
ASIC	Cisco Silicon One Q200	Cisco Silicon One Q200	Cisco Silicon One Q200
DRAM	32 GB	32 GB	32 GB
Network license	Network Advantage	Network Essentials	Network Advantage
Breakout cable support	Odd-numbered QSFP28 ports and all QSFP-DD ports	Odd-numbered QSFP28 ports and all QSFP-DD ports	QSFP-DD ports only

C9500X-28C8D-A carries Network Advantage, while C9500X-28C8D-E has the same 28 QSFP28 ports, 8 QSFP-DD ports and 12 Tbps of switching capacity under Network Essentials, so the license tier is the only hardware-neutral difference between them. A project whose feature plan stays within Essentials moves to C9500X-28C8D-E with a C9500X-DNA-E subscription. Where the access-facing links are 10G, 25G or 50G rather than 40G or 100G, C9500X-60L4D-A offers 60 SFP56 ports and 4 QSFP-DD ports at up to 9.2 Tbps instead of 12 Tbps. The ordering table lists C9500X-60L4D-A only with Network Advantage, so it has no Essentials variant.

Ordering Checklist

Subscription term: Select C9500X-DNA-A-3Y, C9500X-DNA-A-5Y or C9500X-DNA-A-7Y. The subscription tier must match the Network Advantage license built into the -A suffix.
Second power supply: The switch ships with one supply; a second C9K-PWR-1500WAC or C9K-PWR-1500WDC can be added now or later, and an empty slot keeps the PWR-C6-BLANK cover. A single supply must sit in slot 1, and the chassis has no power redundancy without the second one.
Fan airflow: Choose C9500X-FAN-1U-R (front-to-back, default) or C9500X-FAN-1U-F (back-to-front) for all six fans. Mixed fan airflow directions in one chassis are not supported.
RFID option: Choose C9500X-RFID or C9500-RFID-NONE, because RFID cannot be added after the order is placed.
Power cord: Select a cord with the C21 inlet connector, or NO-POWER-CORD. The C9500X power supplies use C21, which differs from the C221 connector on other Catalyst 9500 models.

Optional Add-ons

Model	Description
C9K-PWR-1500WAC	1500W AC power supply for Cisco Catalyst 9500X switches
C9K-PWR-1500WDC	1500W DC power supply for Cisco Catalyst 9500X switches
C9500X-FAN-1U-R	Catalyst 9500X front-to-back cooling fan, maximum 6 per switch
C9500X-FAN-1U-F	Catalyst 9500X back-to-front cooling fan, maximum 6 per switch
C9500X-ACCKIT-19I=	19-inch rack mount accessory kit for Cisco Catalyst 9500X switches
C9500X-ACCKIT-23I=	23-inch rack mount accessory kit for Cisco Catalyst 9500X switches
C9500X-4PTH-KIT=	Four-point mounting extension rails and brackets for Cisco Catalyst 9500X switches
C9K-F3-SSD-240GB	240 GB pluggable SSD storage for Catalyst 9500X
C9K-F3-SSD-480GB	480 GB pluggable SSD storage for Catalyst 9500X
C9K-F3-SSD-960GB	960 GB pluggable SSD storage for Catalyst 9500X

Specifications

Parameter	Specification	Parameter	Specification
Product ID	C9500X-28C8D-A	Product type	Fixed core and aggregation switch
Base PID	C9500X-28C8D-A	Network license	Network Advantage
ASIC	Cisco Silicon One Q200	QSFP28 ports	28 x 40G/100G QSFP28
QSFP-DD ports	8 x 40G/100G/200G/400G QSFP-DD	Breakout support	Odd-numbered QSFP28 ports and all QSFP-DD ports
Network modules	C9500-NM-8X and C9500-NM-2Q are not supported on C9500X-28C8D-A	Switching capacity	Up to 12 Tbps
Forwarding rate	8 Bpps	DRAM	32 GB
Flash	32 GB	Power supply slots	2 slots
Power supply options	C9K-PWR-1500WAC, C9K-PWR-1500WDC	Power supply mix	Two AC, two DC, AC-DC, one AC, or one DC power supply
AC input voltage	90 to 264 VAC	Fan modules	6 field-replaceable fan modules
Airflow options	C9500X-FAN-1U-R or C9500X-FAN-1U-F; all six fans must use the same airflow type	Rack units	1 RU
Dimensions	1.73 x 17.5 x 21.8 in. (4.4 x 44.5 x 55.4 cm)	Weight	13.28 kg (29.27 lb), chassis with 2 power supplies and built-in fan
Operating altitude	Up to 6000 ft (1800 m)	Operating temperature	0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) with C9500X-FAN-1U-R fans
Acoustic noise	No greater than 68.7 LwAd dB with C9500X-FAN-1U-R fans	BTU output	4,034 BTU/hr with AC or DC PSU
Minimum software release	Cisco IOS XE Cupertino 17.7.1

Quality Certifications

Customer Reviews

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4.3

Rated 4.33 out of 5

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Nancy Wallace

Posted on 19/03/2026

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Rated 4 out of 5

4.0

Delivery window was accurate. We could schedule our installation team in advance. Would have liked a tracking update sooner, but the product is great.

Olivia Clark

Posted on 28/02/2026

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Rated 4 out of 5

4.0

Our purchasing department added Layer23 to their approved vendor list.

Henry Porter

Posted on 04/02/2026

Verified Buyer

Rated 5 out of 5

5.0

Smooth experience all around. Layer23 has my repeat business.

Questions & Answers

Does SSO on C9500X-28C8D-A require StackWise Virtual?
Yes. SSO on Catalyst 9500X switches requires StackWise Virtual, and C9500X-28C8D-A is a Catalyst 9500X switch. The -A suffix fixes the license tier at Network Advantage, and the 1RU chassis ships with one 1500W supply installed in its two power supply slots.
Which license tier does C9500X-28C8D-A carry?
C9500X-28C8D-A carries Network Advantage, fixed by the -A suffix. The order still needs a Cisco DNA Advantage subscription at the same tier, selected as C9500X-DNA-A-3Y, C9500X-DNA-A-5Y or C9500X-DNA-A-7Y for a 3-year, 5-year or 7-year term.
Does C9500X-28C8D-A support ISSU, and from which release?
Yes, ISSU is supported on C9500X-28C8D-A from IOS XE 17.12.1. SSO on the 9500X requires StackWise Virtual, so a rolling upgrade starts from a StackWise Virtual pair. Network Advantage is built into the -A suffix, and the pair must run IOS XE 17.12.1 or later before ISSU can be used.
What license is needed to enable IPsec on C9500X-28C8D-A?
IPsec on C9500X-28C8D-A requires HSECK9, a Smart Licensing authorization code obtained in Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM). Without HSECK9, IPsec cannot be turned on. The code is a one-time install that persists across reloads and configuration erase, and it is available for the Catalyst 9500X family.
Which breakout port counts does C9500X-28C8D-A list for 10/25G links?
With breakout cables C9500X-28C8D-A lists 88 x 10/25G ports on a single standalone switch, and 120 are hardware capable. The 36 native 40/100G ports are counted separately. The 120-port figure is not shipping yet, so plan the cabling around the 88-port count.
How are ACL entries shared on C9500X-28C8D-A, and can the limit be raised?
The default is 8,000 IPv4 and 4,000 IPv6 entries each for security, QoS and PBR, drawn from one shared pool on a first come, first served basis. A custom template raises the limit to 11,000 IPv4 and 5,000 IPv6. Object-group ACLs apply ingress only on the 9500X.
Is Flexible NetFlow on C9500X-28C8D-A hardware-based, and from which release?
No. Flexible NetFlow on the 9500X is software-based and holds up to 2M entries. It requires IOS XE 17.8.1 or later on C9500X-28C8D-A. The datasheet lists the 2M entries as sampled NetFlow in the default template, so size flow collection around that table.
What is the maximum operating temperature of C9500X-28C8D-A with C9500X-FAN-1U-F fans?
The limit is 35°C at sea level with C9500X-FAN-1U-F fans, dropping to 30°C at 1,800 m. With C9500X-FAN-1U-R the datasheet allows 45°C, while the hardware installation guide lists 40°C, so size cooling for 40°C. The two documents disagree only on the front-to-back fan.
What rack depth and weight should I allow for C9500X-28C8D-A?
Allow 21.8 in of depth including the fan tray handles, in a chassis that is 17.5 in wide. With two power supplies and the fans installed it weighs 29.27 lb (13.28 kg). Leave room at the front for the fan handles when choosing a rack with a shallow door.
Can C9K-F1-SSD drives be fitted in C9500X-28C8D-A?
No. C9500X-28C8D-A takes the C9K-F3 series SSDs, offered as 240 GB, 480 GB and 960 GB M.2 SATA drives, and the C9K-F1 series is not the option for this model. The drive is optional, so order it with the switch only when local storage is required.
Which console and management ports does C9500X-28C8D-A have?
C9500X-28C8D-A has a USB Type-C console on the front panel and an RJ-45 console. It also has an RJ-45 management port and a USB 3.0 host port. The front panel carries a reset button and the optional passive RFID tag, which must be chosen when the order is placed.

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C9500X-28C8D-A Datasheet

C9500X-28C8D-A – 28×40/100G QSFP28 – 8x400G QSFP-DD – Network Advantage

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C9500X-28C8D-A Description

Quick Specs

Product Performance

Key Features

Application Scenarios

Product Comparison

Ordering Checklist

Optional Add-ons

Specifications

Quality Certifications

Customer Reviews

Questions & Answers

Does SSO on C9500X-28C8D-A require StackWise Virtual?

Which license tier does C9500X-28C8D-A carry?

Does C9500X-28C8D-A support ISSU, and from which release?

What license is needed to enable IPsec on C9500X-28C8D-A?

Which breakout port counts does C9500X-28C8D-A list for 10/25G links?

How are ACL entries shared on C9500X-28C8D-A, and can the limit be raised?

Is Flexible NetFlow on C9500X-28C8D-A hardware-based, and from which release?

What is the maximum operating temperature of C9500X-28C8D-A with C9500X-FAN-1U-F fans?

What rack depth and weight should I allow for C9500X-28C8D-A?

Can C9K-F1-SSD drives be fitted in C9500X-28C8D-A?

Which console and management ports does C9500X-28C8D-A have?

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