Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches

The Catalyst 9000 family at a glance

9200 or 9300? The 9200 is the branch and midsize-campus access switch with lower stacking bandwidth and fewer high-power PoE options. The 9300 adds 90 W UPOE+ and a much wider choice of 60 W UPOE models (on the 9200, Cisco lists 60 W UPOE only on the C9200CX mGig model), 25G and 100G network modules, StackPower and the extra scale Cisco positions for larger campuses. For new access projects, compare the 9300 with the C9350 Smart Switch, which Cisco sells under a single part number per model "regardless of region or management preference".

Licences you must buy with Catalyst 9000

Cisco's ordering guides make the software subscription part of the hardware order, so we quote both together:

• Catalyst 9200, 9300 and 9500: the Network Essentials (-E) or Network Advantage (-A) licence is perpetual and built into the hardware part number. Cisco adds: "Both Network Stack licenses and Cisco DNA or Catalyst software subscription licenses are mandatory at the time of purchase". You choose a Cisco DNA (-DNA-) or Cisco Catalyst (-DNX-) subscription of the same tier for 3, 5 or 7 years (5 years is Cisco's default).
• DNA or Catalyst? Cisco says the Catalyst subscription (DNX) "includes base software and now hardware support", while DNA "includes base support for software only".
• Smart Switches (C9350, C9550, C9610): a Cisco Networking Subscription switching licence per device, Essentials or Advantage, sized by switch class. Cisco states a minimum of 36 months for a new C9350 subscription, with support for hardware and software included.
• Cisco Networking Subscription for Catalyst 9000: Cisco also offers it for "All generations of Catalyst 9000 series switches", except some end-of-life models such as the C9500-12Q, C9500-16X, C9500-24Q and C9500-40X in a new purchase.
• Smart Account: Cisco's Catalyst 9300 ordering guide says "As with all Catalyst 9000 family switches, Smart Accounts are mandatory". We can set up or link your Cisco Smart Account as part of the quote.

When you add a Catalyst 9000 switch to the basket, the configurator asks for the subscription tier and term. Licence-only renewals are handled on softwarelicensing.uk (opens in a new tab).

Catalyst 9000 models and part numbers

Press Add next to a part number to put it in your basket. Where a subscription or support option goes with the hardware, you choose it in the same step and it goes into your basket with the hardware. Part numbers come from the vendor; we confirm each line, quantity and term when we quote.

What you order with it

Subscription and support part numbers for the hardware above. We confirm the right tier, term and quantity at quote.

Cisco Networking Subscription: Cisco Switching Essentials / Advantage, Access Tier 1, Medium (up to 24 port)

Cisco Networking Subscription: Cisco Switching Essentials / Advantage, Access Tier 1, Large (48 port)

Cisco Networking Subscription: Cisco Switching Advantage, Core Fixed (Medium / Large / XL)

Cisco Networking Subscription: Cisco Switching Advantage License Core Modular

Cloud-managed Catalyst and Meraki

The Catalyst 9200L, 9200CX and 9300 models ending -M run in the Meraki dashboard and are on our sister store: see cloud managed Catalyst (opens in a new tab). For the decision between the two, see Meraki vs Catalyst (opens in a new tab). The switches on this page are managed on premises, from the CLI or Cisco Catalyst Center.

Warranty

Cisco's Catalyst 9200 and Catalyst 9500 data sheets each give the series an Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW) with next-business-day delivery of replacement hardware where available and 90 days of 8x5 Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) support; the exact wording is quoted on the Catalyst 9200 and Catalyst 9500 pages. These are Cisco's terms, not ours; support options beyond them are confirmed at quote.

How to order

How ordering works. Press Add next to a part number and it goes into your basket; where the hardware needs a subscription, you pick the tier and term in the same step. Add accessories, then View basket and Request a quote. We check every line, quantity and term against your plans and come back with a personalised quote by email. Nothing is charged online. We can also design, supply, stage, install and configure the switches as a project, with the scope confirmed at quote (see network installation).

Vendor sources

• Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches Ordering Guide (updated 21 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab)
• Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches Data Sheet (opens in a new tab)
• Cisco Smart Switches page (opens in a new tab)
• Cisco C9550 Series Smart Switches Data Sheet (opens in a new tab)
• Cisco Networking Subscription Data Sheet (updated 1 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab)
• Cisco C9610 Series Smart Switches Data Sheet (opens in a new tab)