C9400-LC-48UX Cisco Catalyst 9400 48 Ports Switch

Cisco C9400-LC-48UX 48-Port UPoE 10GE Expansion Module

The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX module is an advanced expansion component designed to enhance Catalyst 9400 Series switches with high-density multi-gigabit ports and robust UPoE capabilities. This hardware module ensures exceptional reliability, flexible connectivity, and optimized power delivery, making it ideal for modern enterprise infrastructures requiring bandwidth scalability and secure data transmission.

General Information

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Number: C9400-LC-48UX
• Category: Modular Network Switch Component
• Total Ports: 48 UPoE-enabled Ethernet Ports

Technical Specifications

This expansion module delivers exceptional performance through multi-gigabit technology, advanced protocol support, and intelligent power delivery. It is engineered to boost switching capacity and efficiency across enterprise-grade networks.

Hardware & Design Attributes

• Form Factor: Plug-in Catalyst 9400 Module
• Network Subtype: 10-Gigabit Ethernet
• Port Configuration:
  • 24 × 100/1000/2.5G/5G/10GBase-T UPoE RJ-45
  • 24 × 10/100/1000Base-T UPoE RJ-45
• Jumbo Frames Supported: Up to 9198 bytes
• Power Technology: Cisco UPOE (Universal Power over Ethernet)
• Operational Power Usage: 240 watts

Advanced Features & Functional Enhancements

• Link Aggregation with PAgP and LACP
• Support for Precision Time Protocol (PTP)
• TrustSec Security Capabilities
• Energy-Efficient Ethernet Optimization
• High-performance traffic management for converged networks

Industry Compliance & Protocol Standards

• IEEE 802.3z
• IEEE 802.3ab
• IEEE 802.3af
• IEEE 802.3x
• IEEE 802.3ad (LACP)
• IEEE 802.1AE
• IEEE 802.1AS
• IEEE 802.3at
• IEEE 802.3az
• IEEE 802.3bz

Available Interfaces

• 24 × 100/1000/2.5G/5G/10GBase-T UPoE RJ-45 Connections
• 24 × 1000Base-T UPoE RJ-45 Ethernet Ports

Key Benefits of These Interfaces

• Multi-gigabit performance for high-bandwidth applications
• Enhanced UPoE power delivery for demanding IoT and access devices
• Reliable data transfer with secure protocol integration
• Support for flexible wiring topologies and scalable designs

Key Performance Enhancements

• High throughput for bandwidth-intensive environments
• Advanced traffic handling for minimized latency
• Improved packet forwarding efficiency
• Seamless integration with Catalyst 9400 chassis configurations

Cisco C9400-LC-48UX 48-Port UPoE 10GE Expansion Module

The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX 48-Port UPoE 10GE Expansion Module represents an advanced line card option within the Catalyst 9400 modular switch platform, engineered to deliver high-density connectivity, superior power delivery, and elevated throughput capabilities for enterprise networks that require scalable and trustworthy performance. This module occupies a central role within large campus LAN environments, supporting midsize and large organizations demanding robust access layer features, multi-rate capabilities, and enhanced security mechanisms integrated directly at the hardware level. Through its design, the C9400-LC-48UX expands the switching architecture of the Catalyst 9400 chassis, ensuring uninterrupted service, redundancy, and simplified expansion without requiring a full infrastructure overhaul.

Advanced Multi-Gigabit Architecture for Enterprise Environments

The multi-rate nature of the C9400-LC-48UX enables compatibility with a broad variety of devices, ranging from modern Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points to high-performance workstations, IoT devices, and collaboration endpoints. By supporting both UPoE and 10-Gigabit Ethernet technology, the module aligns with evolving network demands while providing flexibility through support for various data rate transitions. Organizations benefit significantly from the ability to grow bandwidth capacity organically without disruptive upgrades or system reconfiguration. The module’s underlying hardware facilitates highly consistent throughput, optimized latency, and minimized packet loss, ensuring superior performance for high-volume and time-sensitive applications.

Importance of Multi-Gigabit Access for Modern Deployments

Modern work environments increasingly rely on multi-gigabit access to accommodate escalating traffic loads generated by cloud-hosted business applications, multimedia workloads, immersive collaboration technologies, and real-time analytics. The C9400-LC-48UX provides a solution that ensures future-proof readiness, reducing the risk of bottlenecks even as devices increase their bandwidth requirements. With 48 ports designed to deliver reliable and consistent performance, enterprises can seamlessly add modern Wi-Fi access points or power-intensive IoT systems without worrying about cabling limitations or hardware constraints.

Industry Shifts Driving Multi-Gigabit Adoption

Industries such as healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, and government sectors are experiencing sustained increases in network utilization due to cloud transformations and the surge of remote and hybrid work models. Wireless technologies now form the backbone of user and sensor connectivity, driving demand for line-rate multi-gigabit capacity at the access layer. The C9400-LC-48UX supports these evolving industry requirements by enabling consistent performance for bandwidth-intensive operations including medical imaging transfers, financial data analysis, digital classroom content distribution, and high-speed industrial automation interfaces.

Enhanced UPoE Support for High-Power Devices

The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX distinguishes itself with Universal Power over Ethernet (UPoE) support across all forty-eight ports, enabling power delivery far beyond standard PoE and PoE+ capabilities. UPoE allows the module to supply up to 60 watts per port, which significantly broadens the range of supported connected devices. With this level of power distribution, deployments become more streamlined, reducing the dependency on external power outlets and lowering the complexity of installation projects.

Applications Enabled by UPoE Technology

UPoE has become increasingly important in networks where diverse endpoint types operate as part of an integrated infrastructure. Devices such as high-resolution IP cameras, multi-radio wireless access points, smart lighting, environmental control sensors, IP phones, thin clients, and digital signage systems can depend on stable power delivered through Ethernet. The C9400-LC-48UX facilitates simplified wiring schemes that contribute to faster deployment and more organized data center and wiring closet infrastructure, effectively reducing operational costs. This also enhances energy efficiency since centralized power management allows administrators to monitor consumption patterns and automate operational schedules.

Advancing Smart Building Capabilities with UPoE

Modern smart buildings rely heavily on network-powered systems that interconnect environmental, security, and audiovisual technologies. The C9400-LC-48UX establishes the power and data foundation necessary to run PoE-driven blinds, IoT sensors, climate control equipment, badge-based security systems, advanced lighting arrays, and digital communication panels. The result is a flexible and efficient building ecosystem capable of delivering improved sustainability, automation, and dynamic resource allocation. By supporting these functions at the access layer, the module equips networks to evolve toward intelligent, energy-responsive facility architectures.

High-Performance Switching Fabric Integration

Being designed for the Catalyst 9400 series chassis, the C9400-LC-48UX integrates seamlessly into a high-performance switching fabric that supports substantial bandwidth scaling, redundancy, and uninterrupted operations. The high throughput capacity ensures that each port maintains exceptional performance even under heavy traffic conditions. Data flows between line cards and supervisors are efficiently handled by the switch fabric, ensuring optimal resource availability and stable operation across large-scale networks.

Dynamic Routing Support and Scalability

The module complements the Catalyst 9400 system’s full suite of routing capabilities. It supports advanced routing protocols, hardware-based enforcement of security policies, access control lists, segmentation technologies, and multicast capabilities essential for complex enterprise infrastructures. The scalability of the Catalyst 9400 platform ensures that organizations can add multiple C9400-LC-48UX line cards to increase port density and expand network capabilities incrementally as workload demands grow.

Operational Reliability through Redundancy

Within a modular chassis environment, redundancy is a crucial requirement. The Catalyst 9400 platform supports redundant supervisor modules, power supplies, fans, and fabric modules, ensuring continuous network uptime. The C9400-LC-48UX benefits from this architecture by contributing to a resilient access layer where hardware failures do not disrupt ongoing operations. This reliability is vital for industries requiring always-on network connectivity, such as healthcare, finance, transportation, and government operations.

Importance of Uptime in Mission-Critical Environments

Organizations relying on uninterrupted connectivity benefit greatly from the Catalyst 9400 system’s architecture. The C9400-LC-48UX provides the physical interface connectivity required to ensure that devices remain active and operational even when hardware components in the chassis are replaced or updated. High availability features ensure seamless switching fabric communication, supporting networks that demand exceptional resilience.

Security Capabilities Embedded into the Hardware

With cyber threats growing increasingly sophisticated, having strong security capabilities integrated directly at the hardware level has become paramount. The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX assists network administrators in implementing strict, reliable security measures that safeguard the data plane, control plane, and management plane. Hardware-based MACsec, role-based access controls, and encrypted traffic processing provide enhanced protection against unauthorized access and malicious activity.

MACsec Encryption for Sensitive Communications

The support for MACsec encryption allows organizations to secure traffic across the access layer, which is especially critical in high-security environments such as government facilities or financial institutions. With built-in encryption capabilities, data traveling between endpoints and the switching infrastructure gains protection against interception or manipulation. This reduces risk in applications involving confidential transactions, sensitive communications, or proprietary workflows.

Policy Enforcement through Hardware Acceleration

Security policies applied at the hardware level reduce latency and promote efficient processing. The C9400-LC-48UX enhances this by ensuring that ACLs, segmentation rules, micro-segmentation strategies, and identity-based network access controls are evaluated and executed without introducing delays. This is particularly beneficial for networks handling high numbers of concurrent sessions or performing extensive multilayer filtering.

Energy Efficiency and Intelligent Resource Management

Energy efficiency continues to be a central goal for modern IT ecosystems. The C9400-LC-48UX not only delivers advanced power capabilities but also maximizes energy savings through intelligent power distribution and resource monitoring. Enterprises benefit from reduced power consumption during low-demand periods, smarter allocation of power resources, and optimized hardware utilization that helps extend the lifespan of connected devices.

Dynamic Power Allocation Benefits

The UPoE features integrated into the line card support dynamic power allocation across all ports. This ensures that only the necessary amount of power is delivered to each device at any moment, cutting down on unnecessary power draw. Administrators can leverage Cisco management tools to monitor real-time consumption data and adjust configurations to meet efficiency goals.

Environmental Advantages in Corporate Networks

The module contributes significantly to corporate sustainability efforts. Through centralized power management and energy-aware operation modes, enterprises achieve measurable reductions in resource usage. These environmental and cost benefits extend to cooling systems, as optimized power consumption generates less heat output in network closets and data centers.

Simplified Management and Comprehensive Visibility

One of the core strengths of the Cisco C9400-LC-48UX lies in its alignment with the management ecosystem of the Catalyst 9400 platform. Administrators gain access to extensive insights, customizable dashboards, and automated provisioning tools. This reduces the workload placed on IT staff while optimizing network visibility and control.

Automation and Zero-Touch Provisioning

Cisco DNA Center and related management tools empower administrators to automate configurations, deploy updates, and enforce policies across the entire infrastructure. The C9400-LC-48UX benefits from these capabilities by enabling rapid scaling and uniform implementation of network-wide standards. Zero-touch provisioning ensures newly deployed line cards and ports are brought online with minimal manual input, accelerating deployment timelines significantly.

Role of the C9400-LC-48UX within the Catalyst 9400 Series

This line card functions as a building block for creating scalable, resilient access layer foundations. It fits seamlessly into the Catalyst 9400 chassis, offering predictable high performance and unparalleled flexibility. By combining high port density, strong security, UPoE support, and simplified management, the module contributes to long-term network stability and scalability.

Availability and Use Cases across Diverse Industries

The C9400-LC-48UX serves a wide variety of industry-specific applications. Large campuses utilize the module for unified device connectivity and power delivery, while smart buildings depend on its UPoE capabilities to activate intelligent systems. Universities rely on multi-gigabit performance to support both wired and wireless learning environments, and enterprise offices require its throughput capacity to facilitate cloud collaboration tools. Its versatility makes it an ideal solution across nearly every industry relying on stable and scalable connectivity.

Deployment Flexibility and Reduced Infrastructure Overhead

The modularity of the Catalyst 9400 platform allows organizations to expand gradually as their requirements change. With the C9400-LC-48UX, new deployments require minimal physical upgrades since existing cabling infrastructure remains fully compatible. This reduces overall costs and avoids operational disruptions commonly associated with large-scale network upgrades.

Support for Modern Wireless Architectures

The module’s multi-gigabit capabilities make it especially valuable for supporting Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points that generate large volumes of traffic. As wireless demands continue to grow, the C9400-LC-48UX ensures that wired access infrastructure does not impede performance.

Future-Proof Design for Long-Term Network Investments

The Cisco C9400-LC-48UX is built with a forward-looking design philosophy focused on extending the lifespan of enterprise networks. With multi-rate compatibility, UPoE support, advanced security, and highly scalable architecture, it empowers organizations to adapt to advancements in technologies such as Wi-Fi 7, cloud-native services, IoT expansions, and AI-driven applications. The module’s integration into the Catalyst 9400 switching family ensures continuous evolution without forcing disruptive infrastructure replacements.