C9600-LC-24C= Cisco 24-Ports Switch

Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series Line Card

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= is a high-capacity line card engineered for the Catalyst 9600 Series chassis, delivering enterprise-grade switching performance for large-scale campus core and aggregation deployments. Designed as a plug-in module, this 24-port switch card enables ultra-fast data transmission while maintaining reliability, scalability, and advanced security controls across mission-critical networks.

General Product Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / Part Number: C9600-LC-24C=
• Device Category: Modular Switch Line Card
• Total Ports: 24 High-Speed Interfaces

Port and Interface Details

• 24 x 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 ports
• Backward compatibility with 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28
• Optimized for high-density fiber connectivity
• Ideal for uplinks, aggregation layers, and core switching

Supported IEEE Standards

• IEEE 802.3 for Ethernet networking
• IEEE 802.3z for Gigabit Ethernet over fiber
• IEEE 802.3ab for twisted-pair Gigabit Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3x for flow control

Integrated Security Features

• IPv6 support for next-generation networking
• Access Control List (ACL) enforcement for traffic filtering
• MACsec for secure Layer 2 encryption
• Enhanced monitoring and policy-based management

Physical Dimensions

• Width: 15 inches
• Depth: 15.7 inches
• Height: 1.7 inches

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

• Campus core and distribution layer switching
• High-speed aggregation for access switches
• Enterprise backbone connectivity
• Data-heavy environments requiring 100G performance

Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series Line Card

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series 24 Ports Switch is designed as a high-capacity line card that integrates seamlessly into the modular Cisco Catalyst 9600 chassis-based switching platform. This category represents enterprise-grade core and aggregation switching components engineered to support large-scale campus networks, service provider edge deployments, and mission-critical infrastructures. The 24-port configuration focuses on high-density fiber connectivity while maintaining consistent performance, resiliency, and scalability across evolving network environments. As part of the Catalyst 9600 family, this line card aligns with Cisco’s intent-based networking vision, delivering predictable forwarding behavior and advanced telemetry support.

The Catalyst 9600 Series is positioned as a next-generation core switch platform, and the C9600-LC-24C= line card plays a critical role in expanding port density while preserving system-wide throughput. Built to operate within the Catalyst 9600 chassis, the line card leverages centralized power, cooling, and control plane resources, ensuring efficient utilization and simplified lifecycle management. The modular nature of this category allows enterprises to scale their networks incrementally, adapting to increased bandwidth demands without replacing the entire switching infrastructure.

High-Density 24-Port Switching Capabilities

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= provides twenty-four high-speed ports that are optimized for fiber-based uplinks and aggregation scenarios. These ports are designed to support consistent data rates, low latency forwarding, and high availability, making them suitable for connecting distribution switches, data center interconnects, or high-performance access layers. The port density offered by this line card helps reduce the number of physical modules required in the chassis, which in turn optimizes slot utilization and improves overall system efficiency.

In enterprise core networks, the 24-port configuration supports streamlined aggregation of multiple access or distribution layers. This design minimizes oversubscription while maintaining deterministic traffic flows across the switching fabric. The C9600-LC-24C= category emphasizes reliability and sustained throughput, enabling organizations to deploy large-scale networks that can handle bandwidth-intensive applications such as real-time collaboration, video streaming, and cloud-based workloads.

Modular Design and Chassis Integration

The Catalyst 9600 Series modular design allows the C9600-LC-24C= to integrate into a centralized switching architecture where control and data planes are optimized for performance and redundancy. This category benefits from a separation of forwarding resources and management intelligence, enabling high availability and simplified upgrades. The line card draws power and cooling from the chassis, reducing the complexity of individual modules while ensuring consistent operational conditions.

Chassis-based deployment enhances fault tolerance by allowing redundant supervisors, power supplies, and fabric modules to operate in tandem. The C9600-LC-24C= inherits these benefits, ensuring that port-level connectivity remains stable even during component failures or maintenance activities. This category is particularly relevant for organizations that require non-stop forwarding and predictable uptime, such as financial institutions, healthcare networks, and large educational campuses.

Scalability for Growing Network Demands

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= category is built with scalability as a core principle. As bandwidth requirements increase, additional line cards can be deployed within the same chassis, expanding port capacity without disrupting existing services. This approach supports long-term investment protection and aligns with modern network design strategies that prioritize modular growth over complete hardware replacement.

Scalability extends beyond physical ports, encompassing forwarding capacity, policy enforcement, and telemetry. The Catalyst 9600 architecture ensures that each line card contributes to a unified switching fabric capable of handling large routing tables, advanced security policies, and dynamic traffic patterns. The C9600-LC-24C= thus serves as a foundational component in scalable enterprise and service provider networks.

Advanced Switching Performance and Throughput

Performance is a defining characteristic of the Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series 24 Ports Switch category. The line card is engineered to deliver high throughput with minimal latency, ensuring that data packets are processed efficiently across the network core. This performance consistency is essential for latency-sensitive applications and large-scale deployments where even minor delays can impact user experience and operational efficiency.

The Catalyst 9600 switching fabric is designed to handle massive traffic volumes while maintaining predictable forwarding behavior. The C9600-LC-24C= contributes to this capability by offering robust port-level performance that aligns with the overall system architecture. This category supports enterprise requirements for deterministic networking, enabling IT teams to design networks with confidence in sustained performance under peak loads.

Low Latency and Deterministic Forwarding

Low latency is critical in modern networks that support voice, video, and real-time analytics. The C9600-LC-24C= category emphasizes deterministic forwarding, ensuring that traffic flows remain consistent regardless of network congestion. This capability is particularly valuable in core and aggregation layers, where traffic from multiple sources converges and requires efficient handling.

Deterministic forwarding also supports advanced quality of service strategies, allowing administrators to prioritize critical applications without compromising overall throughput. The line card’s integration with the Catalyst 9600 platform ensures that these policies are enforced consistently across all ports and modules.

Enterprise-Grade Reliability and High Availability

Reliability is a cornerstone of the Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series category. Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments, this line card supports high availability features that minimize downtime and ensure uninterrupted connectivity. The modular chassis architecture allows for redundant components and hot-swappable modules, reducing the impact of hardware failures on network operations.

High availability is further enhanced by the Catalyst 9600’s ability to perform in-service software upgrades and maintenance tasks without disrupting traffic. The C9600-LC-24C= benefits from these capabilities, making it suitable for environments where downtime is unacceptable. This category aligns with enterprise standards for resilience, ensuring consistent service delivery across critical business functions.

Fault Tolerance and Redundancy Support

The C9600-LC-24C= is designed to operate within a fault-tolerant system that includes redundant supervisors, power supplies, and fabric modules. This redundancy ensures that a single point of failure does not compromise network connectivity. In the event of a component failure, traffic can be rerouted seamlessly, preserving service continuity.

Such fault tolerance is essential for large-scale deployments where network downtime can result in significant operational and financial impact. The Catalyst 9600 Series category addresses these concerns by providing a robust platform that supports continuous uptime and rapid recovery.

Security Integration and Policy Enforcement

Security is an integral aspect of the Cisco C9600-LC-24C= category, reflecting the growing need for secure core and aggregation networks. The line card integrates with the Catalyst 9600 platform’s comprehensive security framework, enabling advanced threat detection, access control, and policy enforcement at scale. This approach ensures that security is embedded into the network infrastructure rather than treated as an add-on.

The category supports segmentation and policy-based access controls that help organizations protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. By enforcing security policies directly at the switching layer, the C9600-LC-24C= helps reduce attack surfaces and improve overall network posture.

Secure Segmentation and Traffic Isolation

Secure segmentation is a key feature of the Catalyst 9600 Series, allowing administrators to isolate traffic flows and enforce access policies across different network segments. The C9600-LC-24C= supports these capabilities by providing consistent enforcement across its ports, ensuring that security policies are applied uniformly throughout the core network.

This level of segmentation is particularly valuable in environments with diverse user groups, applications, and compliance requirements. The line card’s integration with centralized policy management simplifies administration while maintaining strong security controls.

Automation, Telemetry, and Network Visibility

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series category aligns with modern network management practices that emphasize automation and visibility. The line card supports advanced telemetry and monitoring capabilities, enabling real-time insights into network performance, traffic patterns, and resource utilization. This visibility allows IT teams to proactively identify issues and optimize network operations.

Automation support reduces manual configuration efforts and minimizes the risk of human error. By integrating with Cisco’s intent-based networking solutions, the C9600-LC-24C= enables policy-driven automation that adapts to changing business requirements. This category supports the transition toward more intelligent and responsive network infrastructures.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco C9600-LC-24C= Catalyst 9600 Series 24 Ports Switch category is suited for a wide range of deployment scenarios, including enterprise campus cores, large-scale aggregation layers, and service provider environments. Its high port density, performance, and reliability make it an ideal choice for organizations that require robust and scalable networking solutions.

In campus networks, the line card supports aggregation of multiple access layers, ensuring consistent connectivity across buildings and departments. In service provider contexts, it enables high-capacity interconnections and efficient traffic management. The versatility of this category reflects its design as a foundational component of modern network architectures.

Enterprise Core and Aggregation Networks

Within enterprise environments, the C9600-LC-24C= serves as a key building block for core and aggregation layers. Its ability to handle high traffic volumes and enforce policies consistently supports complex network topologies and diverse application requirements.

This category is particularly relevant for organizations undergoing digital transformation, where increased reliance on cloud services, collaboration tools, and data analytics demands a resilient and high-performance network core.