Guide
Catalyst 9350 and 9550 – Cisco's smart switches
The C9350 and C9550 are Cisco's new Smart Switches: the same hardware can be managed locally or from the Meraki dashboard. Here is what they are, how they differ from the Catalyst 9300 and 9500, and when they fit.
Side by side
Comparison
| Feature | Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE+ (Network Essentials) C9300-48P-E | Catalyst 9350 48-port PoE+ 30 W C9350-48P | Catalyst 9500 48× 25G + 4× 100G (Network Essentials) C9500-48Y4C-E | Catalyst 9550 48× 25/50G + 4× 100G + 2× 400G C9550-48L4CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ports | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| PoE budget (W) | 437 | 625 | – | – |
| Uplink | Network module selected separately (C9300-NM-…) | Network module selected separately (C9350-NM-…) | 4× 40/100G | 4× 40/100G or 2× 400G |
| Performance | – | – | 3.2 Tbit/s switching capacity | Up to 3.2 Tbit/s switching capacity |
| Management | CLI, Catalyst Center | – | CLI, Catalyst Center | – |
| Licence | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials or Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – Network Advantage models (-A) require Catalyst Advantage. Choose it on the product page or in the quote basket | – | Subscription (Catalyst Advantage) required at purchase – choose it on the product page or in the quote basket | – |
| Our price |
Our price
€7,167
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€7,850
excl. VAT
|
Our price
€27,536
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€29,826
excl. VAT
|
| Add |
All prices are maximum prices – the quote is never higher, and often lower for larger volumes. Prices are excl. VAT, shipping extra. How the maximum price works
Short answer
The C9350 is a stackable access switch and the C9550 a fixed switch for core and aggregation. Both run Cisco IOS XE and can be managed from the Meraki dashboard or locally. Choose the C9350 instead of the Catalyst 9300 when you want a high PoE budget, multigigabit and a choice of management; choose the C9550 or Catalyst 9500 in the network core.
What is the C9350?
The C9350 comes with 24 or 48 ports: 1G with or without PoE, PoE+ (30 W), UPOE (60 W), multigigabit with UPOE+ (90 W) and fibre models. The uplinks are on a replaceable network module that is ordered separately.
- C9350-NM-8Y: eight 25G/10G/1G ports or four 50G
- C9350-NM-2C: two 100G/40G
- C9350-NM-4C: four 100G/40G (certain models only)
- Stacking: StackWise-1.6T with up to eight switches
- PoE budget: up to 4,320 W on the largest models
Read more: Uplink modules · PoE – is there enough power?
What is the C9550?
The C9550 is a fixed switch for core and aggregation. The 24L4CD and 48L4CD have 24 and 48 ports for 50/25/10/1G and uplinks for 100G or 400G, the 32C has 32 ports for 100/40G, and the 96L4D has 96 ports for 50/25/10/1G plus four 400G. The switches can be paired with StackWise Virtual.
How are they managed?
The C9350 can be managed fully from the Meraki dashboard, with local configuration and cloud monitoring, or with Catalyst Center. For the C9550 the Meraki dashboard is available today; according to Cisco, Catalyst Center support comes in a later release. If you want to manage the network core locally with Catalyst Center today, the Catalyst 9500 is the safe choice.
Read more: Meraki or Catalyst?
Can they be mixed with the Catalyst 9300?
The C9350 only stacks with other C9350 switches at the same licence level. According to the data sheet, the stacking and StackPower cables from the Catalyst 9300 do not fit, so plan for new cables if you extend an existing 9300 stack with the C9350.
How are they licensed?
Cisco states that the C9350 and C9550 are licensed through a Cisco Networking Subscription or an Enterprise Agreement. Which licence fits depends on the management and features you need – we include the right licence in the quote.
Read more: How Cisco licensing works
Conclusion
How we would choose
What fits when?
Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE+ (Network Essentials)
Established access switch for locally managed networks, compatible with existing 9300 stacks.
Catalyst 9350 48-port PoE+ 30 W
New access switch where you want to choose between the Meraki cloud and local management.
Catalyst 9550 48× 25/50G + 4× 100G + 2× 400G
Core or aggregation with 25/50G towards the access layer and 100G or 400G uplinks.
Frequently asked questions
Questions we often get
Is the uplink module included with the C9350?
No, the base switch ships without a network module. We add the right module in the quote if you are unsure which one fits.
Can the C9550 be managed with Catalyst Center?
According to Cisco's data sheet, this comes in a later release. Today the C9550 is managed from the Meraki dashboard.
Can the C9350 be stacked with the Catalyst 9300?
No. The C9350 only stacks with other C9350 switches, and the stacking cables from the Catalyst 9300 do not fit.