Cisco switch comparison

C9300-48P-A vs C9300L-48P-4X-A

A key difference between Cisco C9300-48P-A and C9300L-48P-4X-A is Access / Downlink Ports: C9300-48P-A — 48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ copper ports; C9300L-48P-4X-A — 48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ RJ-45. They also differ in Uplink Interfaces (Modular uplink bay; network module ordered separately vs 4 x 1/10G SFP+) and Maximum Uplink Speed (40 Gbps vs 10 Gbps). Consider how access / downlink ports affects the deployment, then review the remaining differences before choosing the exact Product ID. The table below shows 69 specifications available for both models. Confirm licenses, accessories, power supplies and regional suffixes before ordering.

2models compared
69specs shown for every model
31differences found
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At-a-glance comparison

Key performance and configuration differences

Start with the differences that have the greatest effect on capacity, connectivity, software, power and deployment fit.

Access / Downlink Ports
C9300-48P-A

48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ copper ports

C9300L-48P-4X-A

48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ RJ-45

Uplink Interfaces
C9300-48P-A

Modular uplink bay; network module ordered separately

C9300L-48P-4X-A

4 x 1/10G SFP+

Maximum Uplink Speed
C9300-48P-A

40 Gbps

C9300L-48P-4X-A

10 Gbps

Switching Capacity (Standalone)
C9300-48P-A

256 Gbps

C9300L-48P-4X-A

176 Gbps

Switching Capacity (Stacked)
C9300-48P-A

736 Gbps

C9300L-48P-4X-A

496 Gbps

Forwarding Rate (Standalone)
C9300-48P-A

190.47 Mpps

C9300L-48P-4X-A

130.95 Mpps

Buying decision

How to choose between C9300-48P-A and C9300L-48P-4X-A

Review the differences in this order to identify the model that best fits the intended deployment.

  1. 01

    Ports and uplinks

    Match access media, port count and speed first, then confirm that the uplink design fits the distribution layer.

  2. 02

    PoE and power

    Total the power required by connected devices and verify the PoE standard, budget, power supplies and redundancy.

  3. 03

    Performance and software

    Compare forwarding, stacking and scale in the intended topology, then confirm the license tier and software release.

Before ordering Confirm the exact Product ID, license tier, power supplies, accessories and regional requirements.
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Detailed comparison

Full specification comparison

Comparison parameter
Product ID C9300-48P-AC9300L-48P-4X-A
Product and ordering
Product TypeDifferent C9300-48P-A Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series modular-uplink stackable access switch C9300L-48P-4X-A Cisco Catalyst 9300L Series fixed-uplink stackable access switch
Form Factor C9300-48P-A 1RU C9300L-48P-4X-A 1RU
Switch Role C9300-48P-A Campus access switch C9300L-48P-4X-A Campus access switch
Network License C9300-48P-A Network Advantage C9300L-48P-4X-A Network Advantage
Configuration, licensing and management
Management Model C9300-48P-A Cisco Catalyst Center, WebUI, CLI, NETCONF, RESTCONF and SNMP C9300L-48P-4X-A Cisco Catalyst Center, WebUI, CLI, NETCONF, RESTCONF and SNMP
Ports and interfaces
Downlink Port Count C9300-48P-A 48 C9300L-48P-4X-A 48
Access / Downlink PortsDifferent C9300-48P-A 48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ copper ports C9300L-48P-4X-A 48 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ RJ-45
Downlink Type C9300-48P-A 1G PoE+ RJ-45 C9300L-48P-4X-A 1G PoE+ RJ-45
Uplink InterfacesDifferent C9300-48P-A Modular uplink bay; network module ordered separately C9300L-48P-4X-A 4 x 1/10G SFP+
Maximum Uplink SpeedDifferent C9300-48P-A 40 Gbps C9300L-48P-4X-A 10 Gbps
Supported Network ModulesDifferent C9300-48P-A C9300-NM-4G, C9300-NM-4M, C9300-NM-8X, C9300-NM-2Q, or C9300-NM-2Y C9300L-48P-4X-A Not applicable
Management PortsDifferent C9300-48P-A 10/100/1000 Ethernet management, RJ-45 console, and USB mini-Type B console C9300L-48P-4X-A 1 x 10/100/1000BASE-T dedicated management port
Console Ports C9300-48P-A 1 x RJ-45; 1 x USB Mini-B console C9300L-48P-4X-A 1 x RJ-45; 1 x USB Mini-B console
USB Ports C9300-48P-A 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A host port C9300L-48P-4X-A 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A host port
PoE-capable Ports C9300-48P-A 48 C9300L-48P-4X-A 48
Connector TypesDifferent C9300-48P-A RJ-45 10/100/1000BASE-T copper access ports C9300L-48P-4X-A RJ-45; SFP/SFP+/SFP28/QSFP; USB
Total System PortsDifferent C9300-48P-A 56 C9300L-48P-4X-A 52
Performance and scale
Switching Capacity (Standalone)Different C9300-48P-A 256 Gbps C9300L-48P-4X-A 176 Gbps
Switching Capacity (Stacked)Different C9300-48P-A 736 Gbps C9300L-48P-4X-A 496 Gbps
Forwarding Rate (Standalone)Different C9300-48P-A 190.47 Mpps C9300L-48P-4X-A 130.95 Mpps
Forwarding Rate (Stacked)Different C9300-48P-A 547.62 Mpps C9300L-48P-4X-A 369.05 Mpps
MAC Address Scale C9300-48P-A 32,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 32,000
IPv4 Route Scale C9300-48P-A 32,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 32,000
IPv6 Route Scale C9300-48P-A 16,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 16,000
Multicast Route Scale C9300-48P-A 8,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 8,000
VLAN Scale C9300-48P-A 4,094 C9300L-48P-4X-A 4,094
ACL Scale C9300-48P-A 5,120 C9300L-48P-4X-A 5,120
QoS Scale C9300-48P-A 5,120 C9300L-48P-4X-A 5,120
Packet Buffer C9300-48P-A 16 MB C9300L-48P-4X-A 16 MB
Jumbo Frame Size C9300-48P-A 9,198 bytes C9300L-48P-4X-A 9,198 bytes
Flexible NetFlow Entries C9300-48P-A 64,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 64,000
Switched Virtual Interfaces C9300-48P-A 1,000 C9300L-48P-4X-A 1,000
PoE and power
PoE Support C9300-48P-A PoE/PoE+ C9300L-48P-4X-A PoE/PoE+
PoE StandardDifferent C9300-48P-A IEEE 802.3at PoE+ C9300L-48P-4X-A IEEE 802.3af / 802.3at
Default PoE BudgetDifferent C9300-48P-A 437 W C9300L-48P-4X-A 505 W
Maximum PoE BudgetDifferent C9300-48P-A Up to 1,440 W C9300L-48P-4X-A 1,440 W
Default Power SupplyDifferent C9300-48P-A PWR-C1-715WAC-P, 715W AC C9300L-48P-4X-A PWR-C1-715WAC-P
Power Supply Slots C9300-48P-A 2 C9300L-48P-4X-A 2
Power Supply OptionsDifferent C9300-48P-A 715W default; 1100W AC upgrade; second power-supply slot supported C9300L-48P-4X-A 350W, 715W, 1100W and supported 1900W AC/HVDC power supplies
Maximum System PowerDifferent C9300-48P-A 128 W C9300L-48P-4X-A 94.13 W
AC Input Voltage C9300-48P-A 100 to 240 V C9300L-48P-4X-A 100 to 240 V
AC Input Frequency C9300-48P-A 47 to 63 Hz C9300L-48P-4X-A 47 to 63 Hz
Power Input Type C9300-48P-A AC input; supported AC/HVDC options depend on power-supply model C9300L-48P-4X-A AC input; supported AC/HVDC options depend on power-supply model
Heat DissipationDifferent C9300-48P-A 2,440 BTU/h C9300L-48P-4X-A 321 BTU/h
Power Redundancy C9300-48P-A Dual redundant field-replaceable power supplies C9300L-48P-4X-A Dual redundant field-replaceable power supplies
Stacking and resiliency
Stacking TechnologyDifferent C9300-48P-A StackWise-480 C9300L-48P-4X-A StackWise-320
Stack BandwidthDifferent C9300-48P-A 480 Gbps C9300L-48P-4X-A 320 Gbps
Maximum Stack MembersDifferent C9300-48P-A Up to 8 C9300L-48P-4X-A 8
StackPowerDifferent C9300-48P-A Cisco StackPower C9300L-48P-4X-A Not applicable
Fan Modules C9300-48P-A 3 field-replaceable fans with N+1 redundancy C9300L-48P-4X-A 3 field-replaceable fans with N+1 redundancy
Memory and software
Operating System C9300-48P-A Cisco IOS XE C9300L-48P-4X-A Cisco IOS XE
Minimum Software ReleaseDifferent C9300-48P-A Cisco IOS XE 16.5.1a C9300L-48P-4X-A Cisco IOS XE 16.11.1c
DRAM C9300-48P-A 8 GB C9300L-48P-4X-A 8 GB
Flash Memory C9300-48P-A 16 GB C9300L-48P-4X-A 16 GB
CPU C9300-48P-A x86 CPU complex C9300L-48P-4X-A x86 CPU complex
Physical and environmental
Dimensions (H × W × D)Different C9300-48P-A 43.942 × 444.5 × 449.58 mm C9300L-48P-4X-A 44 × 445 × 449 mm
WeightDifferent C9300-48P-A 7.589 kg C9300L-48P-4X-A 7.03 kg
Operating Temperature C9300-48P-A -5 to 45 °C; -5 to 40 °C C9300L-48P-4X-A -5 to 45 °C; -5 to 40 °C
Storage Temperature C9300-48P-A -40 to 70 °C C9300L-48P-4X-A -40 to 70 °C
Operating Humidity C9300-48P-A 5% to 90% C9300L-48P-4X-A 5% to 90%
Operating Altitude C9300-48P-A Up to 3,048 m C9300L-48P-4X-A Up to 3,048 m
MTBFDifferent C9300-48P-A 277,770 hours C9300L-48P-4X-A 309,020 hours
Warranty C9300-48P-A Cisco Enhanced Limited Lifetime hardware warranty (E-LLW) C9300L-48P-4X-A Cisco Enhanced Limited Lifetime hardware warranty (E-LLW)
Acoustic RatingDifferent C9300-48P-A 45 dB LpA typical; 48 dB LpA maximum C9300L-48P-4X-A LpA 44 dBA typical; 47 dBA maximum (ISO 7779/9296, 25°C)
Environmental ComplianceDifferent C9300-48P-A RoHS 5 C9300L-48P-4X-A RoHS compliant
Safety CertificationsDifferent C9300-48P-A UL 60950-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1, EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, AS/NZS 60950.1 C9300L-48P-4X-A UL/CSA 60950-1; EN/IEC 60950-1
EMC CertificationsDifferent C9300-48P-A FCC Part 15, EN 55032 Class A, CISPR 32 Class A, ICES-003 Class A C9300L-48P-4X-A FCC Part 15 Class A; EN 55032 Class A; CISPR 32 Class A
Mounting C9300-48P-A 19-inch rack mount C9300L-48P-4X-A 19-inch rack mount
Airflow C9300-48P-A Front-to-back airflow C9300L-48P-4X-A Front-to-back airflow

“Not listed” means that no confirmed value is currently available for that model and parameter.

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