SX550X-24F-K9-NA Cisco 10G SFP+ Stackable Managed Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco SX550X-24F-K9-NA is a high-performance managed switch designed for modern enterprise and data-intensive networks. Built to deliver reliable 10Gbps connectivity, this stackable switch ensures scalability, security, and simplified IT management for growing businesses.

General Specifications

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Number: SX550X-24F-K9-NA
• Device Category: Managed Network Switch
• Form Factor: 1RU Rack-Mountable
• Connectivity: Wired Ethernet
• Maximum Data Rate: 10 Gbps
• Networking Protocol: Gigabit Ethernet
• Status Monitoring: LED Indicators

Hardware Performance

• Processor Architecture: ARM-based Processor
• Installed RAM: 512 MB
• Flash Storage: 256 MB
• Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF): 433,149 Hours

Supported Networking Standards

• IEEE 802.1ab / 802.1u / 802.1ad / 802.1ae
• IEEE 802.1D, 802.1W, 802.1S

Advanced Switching Capabilities

Layer Support

This Cisco managed switch supports both Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, enabling efficient traffic control, enhanced routing, and optimized data flow across enterprise infrastructures.

Uplink & Stacking Options

• 4 × 10G Copper/SFP+ Combo Uplink Ports
• Advanced stacking for seamless scalability

Power & Reliability

• Power Supply Type: Internal Power Supply
• Input Voltage: 100–240V, 47–63 Hz
• Designed for high availability and operational stability

Security & Traffic Management Features

• Robust network security with SSL encryption
• Authentication via RADIUS and TACACS+
• Advanced Layer 3 traffic handling and IPv6 readiness
• Network-wide automatic voice deployment
• Investment protection with long-term reliability

Routing & Management Protocols

• Routing: IPv4, IPv6, CIDR, VRRP, RIPv2, Policy-Based Routing (PBR)
• Remote Management: SNMP, TFTP, HTTPS, HTTP, Syslog, DHCP, RMON

Networking Performance

• MAC Address Table: Supports up to 32,000 entries
• Jumbo Frames: Up to 9000 bytes for improved throughput
• Power over Ethernet (PoE): Not Supported

Ports & Interfaces

Built-in Interfaces

• 24 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ Ports
• 4 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet 10GBASE-T Copper Ports (Combo with SFP+)
• 1 × Gigabit Ethernet Management Port
• RJ-45 Console Port
• USB Type-A Port

Core Architecture and Hardware Specifications

At its foundation, the SX550X-24F-K9-NA is built for performance and reliability. The hardware specifications define its capability envelope, making it suitable for demanding environments where uptime and throughput are non-negotiable.

Port Configuration and Connectivity

The SX550X-24F-K9-NA switch's primary identity is its 24 SFP+ ports. Each port supports data rates of 1Gbps or 10Gbps, providing unparalleled flexibility in connecting to existing 1Gigabit infrastructure or new 10Gigabit servers, storage arrays, and uplinks. The use of SFP+ technology means organizations can choose the optimal transceiver—copper for short runs, multi-mode fiber for campus backbones, or long-reach single-mode fiber—tailoring the physical layer to exact distance and budget requirements.

Uplink and Expansion Capabilities

Beyond the 24 primary ports, the switch includes additional connectivity options such as a dedicated 1Gbps RJ-45 management port and console port. While fixed in its SFP+ count, its design inherently supports high-speed uplinks to core switches or routers via 10G fiber, ensuring no bottleneck in aggregated traffic flowing to the network core.

Power and Cooling Design

Engineered for continuous operation, the switch features a robust internal power supply and a fan-cooled design optimized for noise efficiency in wiring closets and small data rooms. Its power consumption profile is carefully managed, offering energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) features to reduce operational costs.

Performance and Throughput Metrics

With a switching capacity of up to 480 Gbps and a forwarding rate of 357 Mpps, the SX550X-24F ensures wire-speed performance on all ports simultaneously, even under full-duplex operation. This non-blocking architecture is essential for handling the combined load of virtualized servers, large file transfers, and real-time backup traffic without introducing latency.

Advanced Software and Management Features

The true value of a managed switch lies in its software intelligence. The Cisco SX550X-24F-K9-NA SX550X Series runs a sophisticated, yet intuitive, operating system that brings enterprise-class network control within reach.

Unified Management and Control Planes

Administrators can manage the switch through multiple avenues: a feature-rich web-based graphical interface (GUI) for day-to-day tasks, a command-line interface (CLI) for granular control and scripting, and support for SNMP v1/v2c/v3 for integration into centralized network management systems like Cisco Prime or third-party platforms. This multi-faceted approach accommodates both novice network managers and seasoned engineers.

Stacking Technology: Cisco FlexStack

A cornerstone feature is Cisco FlexStack technology. Up to eight SX550X switches can be stacked together using dedicated high-bandwidth stacking cables, creating a single, unified logical switch. This simplifies management (one IP address for the entire stack), enhances resilience with cross-stack link aggregation, and enables hitless, single-command firmware upgrades across the stack, dramatically reducing maintenance windows.

Comprehensive Security Posture

In an era of heightened cyber threats, the switch provides a layered security model. It functions as a network enforcement point, allowing policies defined at the core to be implemented at the access edge.

Access Control and Authentication

Support for IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication, MAC-based authentication, and web authentication ensures that only authorized users and devices can access the network. Integration with RADIUS and TACACS+ servers allows for centralized credential management and detailed audit logs.

Threat Mitigation and Network Integrity

Features like DHCP snooping, IP Source Guard, and Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) work in concert to prevent common layer-2 attacks such as ARP spoofing and DHCP starvation. ACLs (Access Control Lists) can be deployed to filter traffic based on IP address, protocol, or port, providing granular control over east-west traffic within the network.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The versatility of the SX550X-24F-K9-NA allows it to serve as a keystone in various network topologies, adapting to the specific performance and scalability needs of different organizations.

High-Density Server Access and Data Center Aggregation

In server rooms or small data centers, the switch is ideal for connecting rack-mounted servers—whether physical or hosting virtual machines—to the network. The 10Gbps links eliminate I/O bottlenecks for SAN/NAS access, live migrations in hypervisor environments (e.g., vMotion), and clustered applications. Its low latency is critical for these performance-sensitive operations.

Virtualization and Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) Support

The switch excels in virtualized environments by supporting features like jumbo frames (up to 9KB MTU) to improve the efficiency of large data flows common in storage protocols (iSCSI, NFS) and VM traffic. Its QoS capabilities can prioritize vSphere or Hyper-V management traffic, ensuring stability of the virtualization platform itself.

Backbone for Bandwidth-Intensive Workgroups

For creative studios, engineering firms, or scientific research departments that regularly work with massive files (4K/8K video, CAD models, genomic data), this switch provides the necessary backbone. It aggregates traffic from multiple 1Gigabit access switches, providing a clean, high-speed 10G uplink to the core, preventing creative workflows from being hampered by network delays.

Medium Business Core or Large Branch Aggregation

For a growing medium-sized business, a stack of SX550X switches can form a resilient and powerful core, connecting all access layers, wireless controllers, and WAN routers. In a large enterprise branch office, it aggregates all local services—voice, data, wireless, and local servers—providing a high-performance gateway back to the corporate headquarters via 10G WAN links.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Management

Effective traffic prioritization is what separates a mere data pipe from an intelligent business network. The SX550X-24F implements sophisticated QoS mechanisms to ensure critical applications receive the bandwidth and low latency they require.

Rate Limiting and Policing

Ingress and egress rate limiting (policing and shaping) allows administrators to control bandwidth consumption on a per-port or per-queue basis. This is essential for preventing a single user or server from monopolizing the uplink and for enforcing service level agreements (SLAs).

Reliability, High Availability, and Scalability

Network downtime translates directly to lost productivity and revenue. This switch category is designed with features that maximize uptime and facilitate seamless growth.

Hardware and Software Resilience

Beyond the redundant power capability (with an optional external RPS), the switch offers software resilience through features like Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) for sub-50ms failover in ring topologies. Its non-blocking architecture prevents internal congestion from causing failures.

Stacking as a High-Availability Strategy

The FlexStack feature is not just for management simplification; it's a high-availability strategy. A stack can withstand the failure of a single unit, with traffic automatically re-routed through remaining stack members. Master redundancy within the stack ensures control plane continuity.

Graceful Upgrades and Multi-Version Support

The stacking software supports multi-version compatibility, allowing a new switch with a newer firmware version to join an existing stack seamlessly. This facilitates rolling upgrades without taking the entire network stack offline.

Interoperability and Ecosystem Integration

No switch operates in a vacuum. The SX550X-24F is designed to interoperate within broader Cisco and multi-vendor ecosystems.

Cisco Business and Catalyst Ecosystem

While part of the Cisco Business product line, its feature set and management paradigms ensure smooth interoperability with higher-end Catalyst switches upstream. It can be discovered and monitored by Cisco DNA Center for simplified, intent-based management when part of a broader Cisco infrastructure.

Standards Compliance and Multi-Vendor Compatibility

Full compliance with IEEE standards (802.1, 802.3) ensures trouble-free operation with network interface cards (NICs), storage devices, and network attached storage (NAS) from any vendor. This avoids vendor lock-in for edge devices while delivering Cisco's renowned management and reliability.