C9400-LC-48S Cisco Series Line Card Switch (48 Ports)

Cisco C9400-LC-48S Catalyst 9400 Series 48-Port Line Card 

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S is a high-performance line card engineered for the Catalyst 9400 Series modular chassis, designed to deliver resilient, scalable, and secure networking capabilities for enterprise infrastructures. This advanced switching component supports a broad range of connectivity requirements, offering enhanced throughput, robust architecture, and seamless integration within modern digital ecosystems.

General Information and Core Features

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: C9400-LC-48S
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable
• Compatibility: Catalyst 9400 Series modular chassis
• Design: High-density network expansion module

 Technical Specification

• Device Type: 48-Port Switch Module
• Module Structure: Plug-In component for seamless integration
• Switching Throughput: Supports high-speed data transfer for enterprise environments
• Operational Excellence: Enhances existing network backbones with superior performance

Port Networking Advantages

• Port Count: 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
• Versatile Connectivity: Suitable for flexible device integration
• High-Bandwidth Support: Improves throughput for modern business applications
• Optimized Aggregation: Ideal for access-layer and distribution-layer deployments

Power Over Ethernet Capabilities

• PoE Type: UPOE+
• Extended Power Delivery: Supports devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras
• Efficient Energy Management: Helps reduce operational costs and simplifies power distribution

Expanded Capabilities and Functional Benefits

Supporting resilient network architecture, this line card ensures smooth scaling for organizations aiming to expand their digital operations with minimal downtime. Its enhanced switching backbone ensures improved packet handling and reduced latency in high-demand environments.

Performance and Reliability Enhancements

• Designed to support continuous operation and enterprise-level workloads
• High-density port configuration ensures future-ready connectivity
• Advanced security features integrate with Catalyst 9400 infrastructure
• Supports automation, virtualization, and SD-Access functionality

Integration and Deployment Flexibility

• Fits seamlessly into Catalyst 9400 modular chassis
• Ideal for modernizing legacy architectures
• Ensures compatibility with scalable network topologies
• Supports centralized management through Cisco DNA Center

Cisco C9400-LC-48S Catalyst 48-Port Line Card Switch

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S Catalyst 9400 Series 48-Port Line Card Switch represents an advanced modular switching platform engineered for modern enterprise infrastructures that depend on scalable optical connectivity, resilient system architecture, and flexible network segmentation. This line card is developed to support contemporary digital transformation priorities, enabling high-density fiber deployments, deeper network visibility, and seamless traffic optimization across diverse operational environments. Within the Catalyst 9400 ecosystem, the module acts as a critical building block for advanced campus networks, delivering substantial bandwidth capacity, improved forwarding efficiency, and intelligent software-defined functionality through Cisco IOS XE. The design aligns with multi-layered enterprise requirements, offering enhanced throughput, low latency, and stable convergence that ensures consistency across complex traffic scenarios and multi-domain network architectures.

High-Density Fiber Infrastructure Capabilities

At the core of the Cisco C9400-LC-48S module is its ability to support forty-eight SFP interfaces, enabling dense optical aggregation crucial for large buildings, data-intensive organizations, and distributed enterprise campuses. The optical-focused structure of the line card allows extensive use of fiber-based uplinks, supporting growing demands for bandwidth-driven workflows such as large database transfers, multimedia distribution, real-time application delivery, high-traffic departmental networks, and diverse cross-campus communication segments. The alignment of hardware and software allows administrators to integrate scalable fiber topologies into existing environments without major reconfiguration. This makes the module a flexible solution for organizations expanding their fiber footprint while requiring smooth migration from older infrastructures. Each port is engineered for optimal optical performance, supporting a full range of SFP technologies such as short-range optics, long-range optics, digital optical monitoring compatibility, and varied wavelength support for extensive indoor and outdoor deployments across large distributed environments.

Advanced Throughput and Network Performance Optimization

The line card is designed to deliver high-bandwidth forwarding performance, ensuring minimal delays and optimal packet handling during heavy workloads. The architecture supports evolving enterprise demands where data traffic is continuous and unpredictable. With increasing reliance on cloud-based operations, storage applications, virtual environments, and unified communications, this module ensures consistency and smooth data flow. The internal forwarding engine enhances packet prioritization, ensuring optimized distribution of bandwidth for critical tasks. Businesses requiring dependable data movement across multiple domains see significant advantages from the module’s capacity to maintain uniform throughput regardless of peak usage. Integrated QoS mechanisms support deterministic traffic handling, ensuring predictable behavior for latency-sensitive applications across departments, operational floors, and remote branch connectivity points.

Enterprise Automation and Programmability Advantages

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module integrates automation capabilities supporting large-scale configuration tasks through model-driven programmability. Administrators benefit from structured automation frameworks that reduce repetitive operational tasks, allowing more time for strategic network optimization. The line card supports next-generation network programmability through open standards that facilitate communication with orchestration systems and network management tools. These capabilities align with evolving enterprise environments where automated network behavior is essential for efficiency. Integrating the module into an existing Catalyst 9400 chassis helps create a uniform, programmable infrastructure aligned with contemporary software-defined networking strategies. Such programmability features allow easier configuration replication, template-based provisioning, and consistent policy enforcement across diverse operational segments.

Resiliency Features and High Availability Design

Modern enterprise frameworks demand continuous uptime, consistent performance stability, and minimized network disruption. The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module is engineered with these requirements at the forefront. It participates in the Catalyst 9400 Series’ high-availability architecture, which supports redundant supervisor modules, stateful failover protection, non-stop forwarding, nonstop routing, and resilient power options within the chassis. The system ensures seamless recovery during supervisor transitions, protecting active sessions and preserving forwarding information. This is especially advantageous in environments handling mission-critical workloads where any interruption could compromise operational continuity. The hardware and software integration provides assurance that applications remain stable even during maintenance updates, supervisor changes, or unexpected component failures. These stability mechanisms reduce downtime risks and offer enterprises a reliable foundation for constant service delivery.

Operational Continuity Across Complex Network Hierarchies

As network infrastructures become more elaborate, operational continuity becomes increasingly important. The line card supports mechanisms that ensure synchrony between different network layers, enabling both the access and distribution tiers to function cohesively. The presence of stateful redundancy capabilities ensures that routing tables, session information, and forwarding states remain intact even in the event of supervisor recalibrations. This ensures ongoing communication for collaborative applications, high-density wireless environments, and real-time processing workflows. The module’s integration contributes to end-to-end network stability, enabling organizations to maintain secure and uninterrupted connectivity between campus sectors, data centers, and external service environments. Combined with modular expansion capabilities, the system helps build future-ready architectures prepared for increased user density and evolving bandwidth demands.

Security Reinforcement and Threat Prevention Framework

Security remains a major focus in enterprise design, and the Cisco C9400-LC-48S brings built-in enhancements supporting authentication, access control, and micro-segmentation strategies. Integrated security capabilities enable advanced threat prevention through multi-layered protection, ensuring safer connections between users, devices, servers, and cloud workloads. The module supports encrypted communications, identity-based segmentation, and real-time monitoring. These capabilities enable organizations to maintain secure operational frameworks aligned with regulatory compliance requirements and industry standards. Network-wide policy enforcement becomes easier, as the line card works seamlessly with broader security architectures deployed across the Catalyst 9400 Series. This includes profiling mechanisms for connected devices, automated identity enforcement, and rapid containment strategies for suspicious network behavior.

Visibility Enhancements and Intelligent Telemetry Support

The module includes visibility features that allow administrators to monitor live traffic segments, track application performance, and analyze the behavior of connected endpoints. The system leverages advanced telemetry technologies that communicate real-time insights to network monitoring tools. As organizations grow, having granular visibility ensures that potential problems can be detected earlier, enabling proactive optimization and rapid troubleshooting during abnormal traffic events. This helps reduce service disruption and strengthens the reliability of complex networking ecosystems. Additional monitoring capabilities support performance tracking for fiber-based uplinks, including optical signal analysis and link condition visibility. These visibility features become crucial in fiber-dense infrastructures where monitoring physical layer behavior is important for diagnosing performance degradation and maintaining long-term network stability.

Compatibility within the Cisco Catalyst 9400 Product Family

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module is part of the Catalyst 9400 platform, a modular system designed to support expansive enterprise deployment. Its integration adds scalable fiber capacity to chassis configurations while maintaining consistent management capabilities and intelligent software-driven behavior. The module works effectively with all supported supervisor engines, increasing overall system capacity while maintaining uniform operational behavior. Through consistent hardware compatibility, organizations can deploy multiple line cards within the same chassis, creating a unified switching framework that supports large-scale connectivity needs. This modular approach provides flexibility for incremental growth while maintaining consistent software features across all installed modules.

Interoperability with Advanced Network Technologies

The line card integrates smoothly with contemporary enterprise networking technologies including virtualization, wireless mobility architectures, cloud-based management tools, and evolving data center communication models. It supports advanced protocols that allow seamless interoperability between network devices, ensuring complete synchronization across routing domains, switching operations, and policy-based segmentation. This interoperability becomes essential for enterprises operating hybrid models where physical and virtual networks must work together cohesively. The module also plays a significant role in enabling dynamic environments where constant change is expected. Whether integrating with SD-WAN frameworks, virtualization platforms, or distributed cloud applications, the card continues to maintain stable connectivity and reliable performance.

Scalability Benefits for Growing Enterprise Networks

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module allows organizations to scale their network progressively without needing complete infrastructure replacements. With forty-eight SFP ports, the module supports growing user populations, expanding campus footprints, and increasing device densities. Because fiber connectivity is central to future enterprise designs, the module offers a stable platform for transitioning legacy systems to modern high-performance environments. The scalability benefits extend beyond physical port density, as the system also supports software-driven scaling through Cisco IOS XE. Administrators can introduce new services, expand security functions, apply broader segmentation policies, and integrate advanced automation functions without altering underlying hardware. The module creates an adaptable environment suitable for long-term enterprise planning.

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Considerations

Power efficiency plays a growing role in enterprise infrastructure planning. The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module contributes to improved energy performance within the Catalyst 9400 chassis system by efficiently distributing power consumption and optimizing cooling requirements. The system is engineered with consideration for environmental standards, supporting reduced operational costs and contributing to sustainable IT initiatives. Energy management technologies help ensure that the device operates efficiently during peak and low-traffic periods. Organizations seeking to align their IT infrastructure with green business objectives can rely on the module’s energy-conscious design. Over time, these efficiencies contribute to reduced total cost of ownership and improved sustainability metrics across large-scale deployments.

Deployment Scenarios Across Enterprise Environments

The Cisco C9400-LC-48S module can be deployed across diverse enterprise environments, offering flexible support for large office buildings, university campuses, medical institutions, corporate headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and hybrid work structures. Its dense fiber connectivity makes it suitable for high-capacity backbone aggregation and extensive campus interconnections. The module strengthens connectivity between floors, departments, and remote structures while ensuring consistent performance for both local traffic and broader organizational communication. This capability enables organizations to expand operations with confidence in stable and predictable network behavior.

Support for Multi-Building and Distributed Campus Designs

Enterprises with extended campuses benefit significantly from using the Cisco C9400-LC-48S module. The optical connectivity allows organizations to span long distances using fiber technology, enabling stable communication between multiple buildings. Whether linking academic departments of a university, connecting multiple office blocks of a corporate campus, or providing a cohesive backbone structure for regional operational centers, the module ensures that communication remains seamless. Its high-density SFP interfaces enable simultaneous connections to multiple remote switching points, creating a harmonized network fabric where all parts of the campus behave as unified systems.