C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A Cisco Catalyst 9200CX 12-Port Network Switch Uplinks

Overview of Cisco Catalyst 9200CX 12-Port Network Switch 

The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A Catalyst 9200CX Network Advantage switch is a high-performance, rack-mountable, compact solution designed for modern enterprise networks. Offering advanced Layer 3 capabilities, PoE+ support, and versatile uplink options, this switch ensures seamless connectivity, superior data forwarding, and network security.

Main Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A
• Device Type: Managed 12-Port Layer 3 Switch

Technical Specifications

• Form Factor: 1U Rack-Mountable Chassis
• Port Configuration: 12 x 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports, 2 x 1000BASE-T, 2 x 10G SFP+ uplinks
• PoE Budget: 240 W, supporting high-power devices
• Switching Performance: 120 Gbps capacity, 95.23 Mpps forwarding rate, 6 Mb packet buffer
• Memory: 4 GB RAM, 8 GB flash storage
• Status Indicators: Power LED for easy monitoring

Advanced Network Capabilities

• Virtual Networks: Supports up to 16 VLANs
• Routing Capacity: 14,000 IPv4 routes, 4,000 direct IPv4 routes, 2,000 IPv6 entries
• Multicast & QoS: 1,000 multicast entries, 1,000 QoS scale entries
• Security: 1,600 ACL entries, MACsec support, 128-bit AES encryption
• Flexible NetFlow: Up to 16,000 entries for advanced traffic analysis
• STP Support: PVST+, MST, up to 13,000 virtual ports
• Jumbo Frames: Up to 9,198 bytes for large data transfers

Routing & Protocol Support

• OSPF, OSPFv3, EIGRP, RIP, RIP v2, RIPng
• PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, Policy-Based Routing (PBR)
• VRRP, MSTP, EIGRP for IPv6

Remote Management & Monitoring

• SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RMON1 & RMON2
• CLI, NetConf, RESTCONF, YANG integration
• Embedded Event Manager (EEM) for automated network actions

Security & Compliance

• 802.1X Authentication & Private VLAN (PVLAN) support
• Control Plane Protection (CoPP) to prevent network attacks
• DiffServ Code Point (DSCP) and Class of Service (CoS) enforcement
• Energy-efficient design compliant with IEEE 802.3az
• Conforms to IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3z, 802.3af, 802.3at, 802.1q, 802.1p, 802.1w, and 802.1s standards

Expansion & Connectivity Options

Ports & Interfaces

• 12 x 1000BASE-T RJ-45 PoE+ (up to 30 W per port)
• 2 x 1000BASE-T RJ-45 ports
• 2 x 10GBASE-X SFP+ uplink ports
• 1 x USB 2.0 port and 1 x console micro-USB for configuration

Expansion Slots

• 1 SD memory card slot (1 total, 1 free)

Power & Efficiency

• Internal Power Supply: 310 W
• Voltage Requirement: AC 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
• PoE+ Capabilities: Optimized for powering wireless access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones
• Energy-efficient Ethernet for reduced power consumption

Additional Features

• Fanless operation for quiet environments
• Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (RPVST+) for loop prevention
• Shaped Round Robin (SRR) for traffic optimization
• Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) and SPAN monitoring
• PXE boot support for streamlined device deployment

Ideal Use Cases

• Small to medium enterprise networks requiring high-speed connectivity and robust PoE support
• Environments needing advanced Layer 3 routing and security
• Data-intensive applications, including IP telephony, surveillance, and Wi-Fi deployments
• Energy-conscious offices seeking low-power, fanless switches

Outline of Cisco Catalyst 9200CX Series 

The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A Catalyst 9200CX Network Advantage switch represents a significant evolution in enterprise networking solutions. Designed to provide high performance, reliability, and security, this 12-port rack-mountable switch is ideal for modern IT environments demanding seamless connectivity, advanced network management, and enhanced security features. The 9200CX series is part of Cisco’s broader Catalyst 9000 family, which is engineered to support digital transformation initiatives, enabling organizations to deploy scalable, secure, and efficient network infrastructures.

Key Technical Specifications

The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch is equipped with 12 high-performance ports and dual 2G uplink ports, allowing robust network performance and scalability. Each port is designed to handle high-throughput applications, making it suitable for enterprise networks with demanding bandwidth requirements. The switch supports Power over Ethernet (PoE+), ensuring connected devices such as IP phones, wireless access points, and security cameras receive reliable power directly through the network cable. Its compact, rack-mountable form factor allows seamless integration into existing server rooms and network closets.

Performance and Scalability

The 9200CX series offers exceptional network performance with low-latency switching, optimized for mission-critical applications. With dual 2G uplinks, the switch ensures high-speed connectivity to aggregation layers or core switches, enabling smooth data flow across the network. Advanced stacking capabilities provide scalability, allowing multiple switches to be managed as a single logical unit, reducing administrative overhead and simplifying network management. Organizations can easily expand their network without disrupting existing operations, thanks to the Catalyst 9200CX’s modular design and flexible port configuration.

Advanced Network Security

Cisco has integrated advanced security mechanisms into the C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch to safeguard enterprise networks against threats. The device supports Cisco’s TrustSec technology, offering role-based access control and secure segmentation to limit lateral movement within the network. Additionally, features such as IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication, DHCP snooping, and dynamic ARP inspection protect the network from unauthorized access and spoofing attacks. With these capabilities, organizations can enforce strict security policies while maintaining seamless connectivity for authorized users.

PoE and Device Management

One of the core advantages of the Catalyst 9200CX switch is its PoE+ functionality, delivering sufficient power to connected endpoints without the need for separate power adapters. This feature significantly reduces cabling complexity and installation costs, particularly in deployments with large numbers of wireless access points or IP cameras. Cisco’s integrated management tools, including Cisco DNA Center and Cisco IOS XE, provide intuitive network visibility, monitoring, and automation. Administrators can easily configure devices, apply software updates, and monitor network performance through a centralized dashboard, minimizing downtime and operational costs.

Energy Efficiency and Reliability

Energy efficiency is a critical consideration for modern network infrastructure. The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch incorporates energy-saving technologies, including intelligent power management and low-power port modes, reducing overall energy consumption without compromising performance. Its high-reliability hardware design ensures uninterrupted network operation, featuring redundant power supplies, fan modules, and hardware diagnostics that detect and mitigate potential failures. This combination of efficiency and reliability makes the Catalyst 9200CX a dependable choice for enterprise environments where continuous connectivity is essential.

Deployment and Integration

Deploying the Cisco 9200CX series is straightforward due to its versatile form factor and support for standard networking protocols. The switch can be easily integrated into existing enterprise network architectures, supporting Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, VLAN segmentation, and advanced routing protocols. Its compact size allows installation in space-constrained environments while maintaining full access to all ports and uplinks. Organizations can implement this switch in a variety of scenarios, including branch offices, campus networks, and data centers, ensuring consistent performance and connectivity across all network segments.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Functionality

The Catalyst 9200CX provides comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality, enabling advanced network segmentation, inter-VLAN routing, and enhanced traffic management. Support for static and dynamic routing protocols, such as OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP, allows seamless integration with complex enterprise networks. The switch also supports Quality of Service (QoS) policies, ensuring priority handling of critical traffic, such as voice and video, while minimizing congestion and latency. These capabilities provide network administrators with granular control over traffic flow, improving overall network efficiency.

Network Automation and Intelligence

Cisco has designed the Catalyst 9200CX to support intelligent network automation, leveraging the power of Cisco DNA Center and Software-Defined Access (SD-Access). These tools allow administrators to automate routine tasks such as configuration, provisioning, and policy enforcement, reducing manual effort and the risk of human error. Real-time analytics and telemetry data provide actionable insights into network health and performance, enabling proactive maintenance and rapid troubleshooting. The integration of AI-driven automation enhances operational efficiency, accelerates deployment, and improves overall network reliability.

High Availability and Redundancy

For mission-critical enterprise networks, high availability is non-negotiable. The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch supports multiple redundancy features, including dual power supplies, hot-swappable fans, and switch stacking for failover protection. These features ensure that even in the event of a hardware failure, the network remains operational without impacting end-users or business processes. With advanced monitoring and diagnostic tools, potential issues can be detected and resolved before they escalate, maintaining continuous network uptime and operational continuity.

Management and Monitoring Tools

Effective network management is essential for large-scale enterprise deployments. The Catalyst 9200CX series integrates seamlessly with Cisco’s suite of network management tools, including Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco DNA Center. These platforms offer centralized management, allowing administrators to monitor traffic patterns, track device status, configure policies, and deploy software updates across multiple switches simultaneously. The combination of real-time monitoring, reporting, and automated workflows enhances operational efficiency while reducing the risk of configuration errors and network downtime.

Enhanced Connectivity and Uplink Performance

The dual 2G uplinks on the C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch provide high-speed connections to aggregation switches, routers, or core network devices. This ensures minimal bottlenecks, low-latency communication, and efficient handling of high-volume traffic across the enterprise network. The uplinks support link aggregation, allowing multiple physical connections to function as a single logical link, increasing bandwidth capacity and providing redundancy in case of a single link failure. This capability is essential for environments requiring high data throughput, such as campus networks, data centers, and high-density office deployments.

Compatibility and Future-Proofing

The Catalyst 9200CX series is designed for long-term compatibility with evolving network standards. It supports the latest IEEE protocols, ensuring interoperability with a wide range of network devices. Cisco’s modular software architecture allows administrators to enable advanced features without requiring hardware replacement, protecting the organization’s investment. Additionally, firmware updates can introduce new capabilities and enhance security, ensuring the switch remains aligned with emerging technologies and evolving enterprise network demands.

Ideal Applications and Use Cases

The Cisco C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch is particularly suitable for enterprise campus networks, branch offices, and small-to-medium data centers. Its combination of PoE+ support, high-speed uplinks, and advanced security features makes it ideal for environments with high-density wireless deployments, IP telephony, and video conferencing solutions. Additionally, organizations implementing digital transformation initiatives benefit from the switch’s automation capabilities, intelligent monitoring, and flexible deployment options. This switch is also well-suited for industries such as education, healthcare, finance, and government, where reliable, secure, and scalable network infrastructure is critical.

Resilient Design and Operational Efficiency

The physical and operational design of the C9200CX-12P-2X2G-A switch emphasizes both resilience and efficiency. Redundant components, diagnostic monitoring, and efficient power usage ensure that the switch operates reliably under diverse environmental and operational conditions. Low noise levels, compact dimensions, and flexible mounting options make it suitable for both centralized data centers and distributed branch deployments. Operational efficiency is further enhanced by Cisco’s intelligent network management tools, providing administrators with the insights and automation needed to maintain peak performance.