C9300L-24T-4G-A Cisco Catalyst 24 Ports Switch Uplink Manageable Layer 3 Network Advantage

Overview of Cisco Catalyst Enterprise-Grade Switch 

The Cisco Catalyst 9300L-24T-4G-A Network Advantage switch is engineered to deliver dependable Layer 3 switching for modern enterprise environments. Designed as part of the Catalyst 9300L family, this managed switch supports advanced routing, high availability, and simplified operations, making it suitable for campus networks, branch offices, and growing IT infrastructures that demand resilience and performance.

General Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: C9300L-24T-4G-A
• Product Type: Network Switch

Available Interfaces

• 24 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports for end-user and device connections
• 4 x 1000Base-X SFP uplink ports for fiber-based backbone links
• 1 x dedicated stacking interface for scalable deployments
• 1 x RJ-45 management port for out-of-band administration
• Console port for direct configuration access
• USB 2.0 port for storage and system maintenance

Physical and Environmental Characteristics

• Standard rack-mount design for enterprise installations
• Optimized airflow for continuous operation
• Durable chassis suitable for 24/7 network uptime

Supported Routing Protocols

• Dynamic routing with OSPF, OSPFv3, IS-IS, and EIGRP
• Legacy and modern RIP variants including RIP-1, RIP-2, and RIPng
• High availability protocols such as HSRP and VRRP
• Multicast routing support with PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, and MSDP
• Policy-Based Routing (PBR) for granular traffic control

Benefits of Switch Stacking

• Unified configuration and monitoring across multiple devices
• Improved fault tolerance with shared control plane
• Simplified expansion as network demand increases

Remote Management Protocols

• SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3 for monitoring and alerts
• RMON 1 and RMON 2 for detailed traffic analysis
• CLI access for precise configuration control
• NETCONF and RESTCONF for automation workflows
• gRPC and YANG models for software-defined networking environments

Operational Advantages

• Stable Layer 3 switching for mission-critical applications
• Redundancy protocols that minimize downtime
• Secure management channels for administrative access

Common Deployment Scenarios

• Enterprise campus access and distribution layers
• Branch office core switching
• High-availability networks requiring advanced routing
• IPv6-ready infrastructures and hybrid environments

Cisco Catalyst 9300L Series Managed Switching Architecture

The Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A Catalyst 9300L Network Advantage 24 Ports Managed Switch belongs to the enterprise-grade Catalyst 9300L family, a series engineered to deliver scalable access-layer switching for modern digital networks. This category focuses on high-performance managed switches designed to serve as the foundation for secure, resilient, and software-defined enterprise infrastructures. The Catalyst 9300L platform emphasizes simplified operations, predictable performance, and long-term investment protection through advanced hardware design and Cisco IOS XE software integration.

Within this category, the Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A model is positioned as a fixed-access switch optimized for organizations that require reliable Layer 2 and Layer 3 services, consistent throughput, and advanced network services without unnecessary complexity. It is tailored for branch offices, campus edge deployments, educational institutions, healthcare networks, and mid-to-large enterprise environments that demand uninterrupted connectivity and centralized control.

Fixed Access Switching for Enterprise Networks

The Catalyst 9300L category represents Cisco’s evolution of fixed access switching, combining traditional Ethernet switching with modern programmability and automation. These switches are designed to operate at the access layer while seamlessly integrating with aggregation and core layers. The C9300L-24T-4G-A model, with its 24 data ports and 4 uplink interfaces, supports structured cabling designs and hierarchical network topologies.

Unlike unmanaged or basic smart switches, this category emphasizes full lifecycle management, granular policy enforcement, and deep network visibility. Administrators gain the ability to configure, monitor, and optimize traffic flows using enterprise-grade tools, ensuring predictable performance even under heavy workloads.

Hardware Platform and Port Configuration

The Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A switch features twenty-four fixed 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports designed for connecting end-user devices such as desktop computers, printers, IP phones, access points, and industrial endpoints. These ports provide consistent throughput and low latency, ensuring reliable access for business-critical applications. The inclusion of four Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports enables flexible connectivity to upstream switches or routers, supporting redundant paths and high-availability designs.

This category of switches is built on purpose-designed ASICs that optimize forwarding performance while maintaining energy efficiency. The hardware architecture is engineered to handle simultaneous data streams without packet loss, making it suitable for environments with high device density and sustained traffic loads.

Uplink Flexibility and Network Expansion

The four integrated uplink ports in the C9300L-24T-4G-A model allow network architects to design scalable topologies without requiring additional modules. These uplinks support high-speed inter-switch communication and facilitate smooth expansion as network demands grow. By supporting link aggregation and redundancy protocols, the switch ensures continuous connectivity even during link failures or maintenance activities.

Network Advantage Licensing and Software Capabilities

The Network Advantage license associated with the Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A places this category in the premium tier of Cisco access switching. This licensing level unlocks advanced Layer 3 routing features, enhanced security services, and comprehensive network intelligence. It enables organizations to implement sophisticated traffic management policies while maintaining centralized visibility and control.

Network Advantage licensing is particularly relevant for enterprises transitioning toward software-defined networking models. It supports advanced routing protocols, segmentation, and automation features that reduce operational complexity and improve overall network agility.

Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Services

This category supports a full suite of Layer 2 switching features, including VLAN segmentation, trunking, and spanning tree enhancements, which are essential for maintaining loop-free and efficient network designs. At the Layer 3 level, the C9300L-24T-4G-A supports static and dynamic routing, enabling the switch to participate actively in network path selection and traffic optimization.

The integration of routing capabilities at the access layer reduces reliance on centralized routers, lowers latency, and improves resiliency. This approach is particularly beneficial in distributed campus networks where local traffic processing enhances performance and fault tolerance.

Support for Modern Routing Protocols

Within this category, the Cisco Catalyst 9300L Network Advantage models support widely adopted routing protocols that enable dynamic path selection and fast convergence. These capabilities allow the switch to adapt quickly to network changes, ensuring minimal disruption to end users. The result is a more responsive and resilient network that aligns with enterprise uptime requirements.

Security-Driven Access Layer Design

Security is a defining characteristic of the Cisco Catalyst 9300L managed switch category. The C9300L-24T-4G-A is designed to enforce security policies at the point of access, preventing unauthorized devices and threats from propagating through the network. This approach aligns with zero-trust networking principles, where every connection is authenticated and monitored.

The switch integrates with Cisco’s broader security ecosystem, allowing administrators to define consistent access policies across wired and wireless environments. By embedding security into the switching fabric, this category reduces the risk of lateral movement by malicious actors.

Identity-Based Network Access Control

Identity-aware networking is a core feature of the Catalyst 9300L category. The C9300L-24T-4G-A supports authentication mechanisms that verify user and device identities before granting network access. These mechanisms ensure that only authorized endpoints can connect, and that their access is limited to appropriate network resources.

By applying policies dynamically based on identity, role, or device type, organizations can simplify network segmentation and improve compliance with internal and regulatory requirements.

Threat Detection and Mitigation Capabilities

This category includes integrated features that help detect abnormal traffic patterns and potential security incidents. By monitoring flows at the access layer, the switch can identify anomalies early and assist in containment. These capabilities contribute to a proactive security posture that minimizes the impact of threats.

Performance, Reliability, and Availability

The Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A Catalyst 9300L switch category is engineered for continuous operation in demanding enterprise environments. High availability is achieved through redundant design principles, advanced software features, and rigorous hardware validation. These switches are built to deliver consistent performance over extended operational lifecycles.

Performance characteristics include wire-speed forwarding, low-latency switching, and predictable behavior under peak loads. This reliability makes the category suitable for latency-sensitive applications such as voice, video, and real-time collaboration platforms.

Resilient Design for Business Continuity

Within this category, features such as fast failover, link redundancy, and rapid convergence protocols ensure that network disruptions are minimized. The C9300L-24T-4G-A is designed to recover quickly from faults, maintaining service availability for connected devices and applications.

This resilience is essential for organizations that depend on constant network access to support daily operations, customer engagement, and digital services.

Integration with Cisco IOS XE and Automation

The Cisco C9300L-24T-4G-A runs on Cisco IOS XE, a modular and programmable operating system that underpins the entire Catalyst 9000 family. This software platform enables advanced automation, telemetry, and programmability, transforming the switch from a static device into a dynamic component of the digital network.

The category emphasizes simplified operations through centralized management and API-driven automation, reducing the time and effort required to deploy and maintain network services.

Programmability and API Support

Programmability is a defining attribute of the Catalyst 9300L category. The C9300L-24T-4G-A supports open APIs and standard data models that allow integration with orchestration tools and custom applications. This flexibility enables organizations to automate repetitive tasks, enforce consistency, and respond rapidly to changing requirements.

By leveraging automation, network teams can reduce human error and improve overall operational efficiency.

Telemetry and Network Visibility

Streaming telemetry capabilities provide real-time insights into network performance and device health. This category of switches continuously exports operational data, enabling proactive monitoring and faster troubleshooting. Enhanced visibility allows administrators to make informed decisions and optimize network resources effectively.

Scalability  

The Cisco Catalyst 9300L managed switch category is designed with scalability in mind. The C9300L-24T-4G-A supports network growth through flexible uplink options, advanced routing capabilities, and software-driven feature expansion. This ensures that organizations can adapt their networks without frequent hardware replacements.

Long-term investment protection is reinforced by Cisco’s commitment to ongoing software updates and feature enhancements. The Catalyst 9300L platform evolves alongside emerging technologies, ensuring relevance over extended deployment periods.

Support for Software-Defined Access

This category aligns with Cisco’s software-defined access strategy, enabling policy-based automation and consistent user experiences. The C9300L-24T-4G-A integrates with centralized controllers to deliver simplified network segmentation and unified policy enforcement.

Such integration allows enterprises to scale operations while maintaining control and security across diverse environments.