SX550X-24-K9-NA Cisco 24 Ports L3 Managed Switch

Product Overview

The Cisco SX550X-24-K9-NA is a high-performance, enterprise-grade Layer 3 managed switch designed to deliver reliable 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Built for growing business networks, this switch combines scalability, speed, and advanced management features to ensure seamless data transmission and network efficiency.

General Information

Brand & Manufacturer

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Part Number: SX550X-24-K9-NA
• Product Name: 24-Port 10GBase-T Stackable Managed Switch
• Device Type: Ethernet Network Switch

Interfaces and Ports

Network Connectivity

This Cisco managed switch is equipped with multiple high-speed ports to support demanding networking environments, making it ideal for data centers, enterprise offices, and high-bandwidth applications.

Port Configuration

• Total Network Ports: 24
• Port Type: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Port Details: 24 × 10GBase-T Ethernet Ports

Design & Expandability

• Modular Design: No
• Stacking Support: Yes, for simplified network expansion

Performance Specifications

Media and Ethernet Support

• Supported Media Type: Twisted Pair
• Ethernet Technology: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Network Standard: 10GBase-T

Network & Communication

Layer Support

The switch operates with robust Layer 2 capabilities, ensuring efficient switching, traffic control, and reliable communication across connected devices.

• Supported Network Layer: Layer 2

Management and Control

Advanced Manageability

Designed for IT professionals, the Cisco SX550X-24 offers comprehensive management features that allow administrators to monitor, configure, and optimize network performance with ease.

Management Features

• Fully Managed: Yes
• Supports centralized network administration
• Enhanced control for enterprise-grade networking

Core Features and Architectural Overview

At its heart, the SX550X-24-K9-NA is built to provide reliable, secure, and scalable networking. It features a non-blocking switching architecture that ensures all ports can operate at wire speed simultaneously, preventing bottlenecks in busy networks. The switch is equipped with 24 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports, providing ample connectivity for desktop computers, wireless access points, IP phones, and servers. Additionally, it includes 4 shared SFP (Small Form-factor Platable) slots for fiber optic uplinks, enabling long-distance connections to other switches or network cores with modules supporting up to 1Gbps. This combination of copper and fiber options offers exceptional deployment flexibility.

Layer 3 Routing Capabilities

Unlike basic Layer 2 switches, this device operates as a full Layer 3 switch, supporting static routing and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) versions 1 and 2. This allows it to perform inter-VLAN routing internally, dramatically improving network efficiency by eliminating the need to route traffic between VLANs through an external router. By segmenting the network into virtual LANs (VLANs) for security or organizational purposes and routing traffic between them at wire speed, the SX550X reduces latency and offloads work from core routers.

Advanced Switching and Performance Management

To maintain optimal network performance under load, the switch incorporates a comprehensive set of traffic management and Quality of Service (QoS) tools. These features ensure that mission-critical and real-time applications, such as voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing, receive the priority bandwidth and low latency they require.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Prioritization

The switch supports sophisticated QoS based on the DiffServ (Differentiated Services) model. It can classify traffic according to IEEE 802.1p Class of Service (CoS) tags, IP precedence, or Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) values. Once classified, traffic can be placed into one of eight hardware-based queues per port. Advanced scheduling techniques, including Strict Priority Queuing (SPQ) and Weighted Round Robin (WRR), ensure that high-priority traffic is transmitted first while still allocating bandwidth fairly to lower-priority queues.

Enhanced Network Security and Access Control

Security is a foundational element of the SX550X-24-K9-NA’s design. It provides a multi-layered security approach to protect the network infrastructure, control user access, and safeguard sensitive data from internal and external threats.

IEEE 802.1X and Network Access Control

The switch acts as an authenticator for IEEE 802.1X port-based network access control (NAC). This requires users or devices (supplicants) to authenticate via a RADIUS server before gaining network access. It supports multiple 802.1X modes, including Single-Host, Multi-Host, and MAC-Based Bypass (MAB), making it suitable for diverse device environments. For networks without a full RADIUS infrastructure, it also offers a built-in local RADIUS server and supports MAC address authentication.

Guest VLAN and Access Control Lists (ACLs)

A dedicated Guest VLAN feature can automatically isolate unauthenticated users or devices into a restricted network segment. For granular traffic filtering, the switch supports powerful Access Control Lists (ACLs). These can be based on Layer 2 (MAC address), Layer 3 (IP address/subnet), or Layer 4 (TCP/UDP port) information to permit or deny traffic with high precision, helping to enforce security policies and contain threats.

Network Threat Mitigation

The switch includes several features to defend against common network attacks. It guards against Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) spoofing by inspecting ARP packets and validating their consistency. DHCP snooping prevents rogue DHCP servers from distributing incorrect IP information, while IP Source Guard blocks traffic from unauthorized MAC/IP addresses learned via DHCP snooping. These features collectively harden the network edge.

High Availability and Resiliency Features

For business-critical networks, uptime is paramount. The SX550X is engineered with features that maximize network availability and simplify recovery from failures.

Flexible Stacking Technology (StackWise-160)

One of its standout features is Cisco StackWise®-160 technology. Up to 4 compatible SX500 Series switches can be interconnected via their dedicated stacking ports to form a single, logical unified switch. This "stack" is managed as one entity through a single IP address, drastically simplifying administration. Stacking provides high resilience through cross-stack EtherChannel and automatic failover. If the master switch fails, a standby member automatically assumes control, minimizing downtime. The stacking backplane also delivers an aggregate throughput of 160 Gbps, ensuring inter-switch communication does not become a bottleneck.

Link Redundancy and Failover

Beyond stacking, the switch supports standard-based link redundancy protocols. Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) prevent loops in redundant network topologies and provide sub-second failover convergence. For simpler, non-protocol based redundancy on upstream links, it also supports Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for dynamic bundling of multiple physical ports into a single logical Link Aggregation Group (LAG), increasing bandwidth and providing redundancy.

Energy Efficiency and Design

The switch incorporates Cisco's Green Technology, which helps reduce power consumption. Features like Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) allow ports to enter a low-power state during periods of low data activity. The switch also supports scheduled power on/off for ports, enabling automatic power management for connected devices like printers or access points after business hours. Its fanless design (in specific models/conditions) ensures silent operation, making it suitable for office environments where noise is a concern.

Ideal Use Cases and Applications

The versatility of the SX550X-24-K9-NA makes it an excellent fit for a wide range of networking scenarios where advanced features, reliability, and value are key considerations.

Core Switch for SMB and Branch Offices

It is perfectly sized to act as the core networking backbone for small to medium businesses or remote branch offices of larger enterprises. Its Layer 3 routing allows for the creation of a secure, segmented network (e.g., separating finance, guest Wi-Fi, and general staff VLANs) with high-performance inter-VLAN routing handled locally.

Aggregation Switch in Distributed Networks

In larger deployments, such as campus networks or multi-building facilities, the SX550X can serve as an aggregation or distribution switch. It can connect multiple access-layer switches (managing end-user devices) and efficiently route and filter traffic upstream to the core network or internet gateway. Its stacking capability is particularly valuable here, allowing the network to grow port density and redundancy seamlessly.

High-Performance Workgroup and Connectivity

For departments with high bandwidth needs, such as engineering, graphics, or video production teams, the switch provides wire-speed Gigabit connectivity to every desk. Advanced QoS ensures that large file transfers and bandwidth-intensive applications do not interfere with real-time collaboration tools.

Specifications and Physical Details

The Cisco SX550X-24-K9-NA is a 1U rack-mountable switch designed for standard 19-inch racks. It operates on an AC power supply (100-240V) and is designed for operation in typical commercial environments with a robust metal chassis. Its comprehensive feature set is backed by Cisco's limited lifetime hardware warranty, providing long-term investment protection for your network infrastructure.