C9606R Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series Rack Mountable Chassis Switch with 6 x Expansion Slot

Cisco C9606R Rack Mountable Chassis Switch

The Cisco C9606R is a high-performance rack-mountable chassis switch, part of the Catalyst 9600 Series. Designed for enterprise-grade networking environments, this switch provides advanced features, high throughput, and scalable expansion options for modern data centers and campus networks.

General Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: C9606R
• Device Type: Network Switch

Chassis and Enclosure Details

• Enclosure Type: Side-to-Side Airflow, Rack-mountable 8U
• Cooling Solution: Integrated Fan Tray for optimal temperature management

Performance and Switching Capacity

• Switching Capacity: Up to 25.6 Tbps
• Bandwidth Per Slot: 6.4 Tbps

Advanced Features

• Modular fan tray for reliable thermal performance
• Support for high-density line cards and supervisor modules

Expansion and Connectivity

• Line-card Slots: 4 total, all available
• Supervisor Slots: 2 total, both free
• Maximum Installed Modules: 6

Module and Slot Flexibility

• Supports hot-swappable line cards for minimal downtime
• Supervisor modules can be upgraded without interrupting operations

Power and Redundancy Options

• Power Supply Type: Internal, hot-pluggable (not installed)
• Maximum Supported Units: 4 power supplies
• Redundancy: Optional N+1 configuration with additional power modules
• Voltage Requirement: AC 120/230 V

Power Management Advantages

• Optional redundant power ensures zero downtime
• Supports energy-efficient operation for large-scale deployments

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

• High-speed backbone connectivity
• Seamless network expansion without downtime
• Robust and redundant power infrastructure

Enterprise Network Benefits

• Enhanced network reliability with modular components
• Future-proof architecture supporting up to 6 expansion modules
• Flexible deployment options in multi-rack environments

Cisco C9606R Rack Mountable Chassis Switch

The Cisco C9606R Rack Mountable Chassis Switch, part of the Catalyst 9600 Series, represents a benchmark in modern network infrastructure. Designed for enterprise-grade networking, this high-performance switch is optimized for both flexibility and scalability, offering six expansion slots that allow seamless integration of additional modules and line cards. Its robust architecture ensures reliable performance, low latency, and high throughput, meeting the demanding requirements of large-scale network environments.

High-Performance Networking Capabilities

Built with a modular design, the Cisco C9606R provides extensive networking capabilities. Each of its six expansion slots supports a variety of line cards, enabling organizations to customize their network infrastructure based on specific operational needs. The chassis supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, providing seamless data transfer and routing within complex enterprise networks. Its high-speed data handling ensures consistent performance even during peak traffic conditions.

Advanced Layer 3 Functionality

The Catalyst 9600 Series chassis supports advanced Layer 3 features, enabling efficient IP routing and network segmentation. The C9606R leverages enhanced routing protocols, ensuring optimized traffic paths and reliable connectivity. It supports dynamic routing protocols such as OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP, allowing large-scale enterprise networks to maintain optimal performance and resilience. These capabilities make it ideal for campus networks, data centers, and high-demand environments requiring low-latency communication.

Redundancy and High Availability

The Cisco C9606R chassis switch incorporates redundancy mechanisms to maintain uninterrupted network operations. Redundant power supplies, fans, and supervisor engines enhance system reliability, ensuring continuous network availability even during component failures. This high-availability design reduces downtime and operational risk, providing peace of mind for IT teams managing mission-critical applications and services. The chassis is engineered to deliver consistent performance and reliability under heavy workloads.

Scalable Architecture for Growing Networks

Scalability is a key feature of the Cisco C9606R. With six expansion slots, organizations can scale their networks by adding line cards, uplink modules, and interface cards as needed. This modular approach allows businesses to adapt to evolving network requirements without investing in a completely new infrastructure. Each slot is engineered to support high-density connectivity options, making the C9606R a long-term solution for growing enterprises.

Flexible Connectivity Options

The Cisco C9606R offers a wide range of connectivity options, supporting multiple port types including 1G, 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G interfaces. This flexibility allows organizations to deploy the switch in diverse network topologies, from campus core deployments to large data center fabrics. The chassis supports advanced uplink configurations, enabling seamless integration with existing network architectures and providing the bandwidth necessary for modern enterprise applications.

Enhanced Security Features

Security is a critical consideration in modern networking, and the C9606R incorporates advanced security mechanisms to protect enterprise data. The chassis supports Cisco TrustSec technology, providing role-based access control and dynamic segmentation to secure network traffic. It also includes features such as MACsec encryption, secure boot, and policy-based access controls to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate potential threats. These security enhancements ensure that sensitive information remains protected across all network segments.

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design

The Catalyst 9600 Series chassis emphasizes energy efficiency and sustainable design. The C9606R switch is engineered to reduce power consumption without compromising performance. Its advanced cooling architecture ensures optimal thermal management, minimizing the need for additional power-intensive cooling solutions. This focus on efficiency helps organizations lower operational costs while adhering to environmental standards and green IT initiatives.

Integration with Cisco Ecosystem

The Cisco C9606R chassis integrates seamlessly with the broader Cisco ecosystem. Compatibility with other Catalyst 9600 Series switches, routers, and wireless solutions ensures unified network management and consistent policy enforcement across multiple devices. Integration with Cisco ACI and SD-Access architectures allows organizations to leverage software-defined networking capabilities, improving agility, scalability, and operational efficiency. This interoperability ensures that businesses can build a cohesive and future-proof network infrastructure.

Reliability in Mission-Critical Environments

Designed for enterprises with high availability requirements, the C9606R chassis switch delivers reliability in mission-critical environments. Its fault-tolerant design, redundant components, and resilient software architecture provide continuous service even under adverse conditions. IT administrators can implement proactive monitoring and predictive maintenance, ensuring that potential issues are addressed before they impact network operations. This level of reliability is essential for industries such as finance, healthcare, education, and large-scale service providers.

Technical Specifications and Performance Metrics

The Cisco C9606R chassis provides extensive technical capabilities, including a switching capacity of up to several terabits per second, low latency for real-time applications, and support for multiple high-speed uplinks. Each expansion slot is compatible with diverse line cards, enabling flexible port configurations to meet specific network requirements. Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features prioritize critical traffic, ensuring optimal performance for latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud computing services.

Future-Proof Investment

Investing in the Cisco C9606R chassis switch ensures a future-proof network infrastructure. Its modular design, scalable architecture, and support for next-generation networking standards allow enterprises to adapt to evolving technologies without replacing the entire chassis. Organizations can expand network capacity, integrate new modules, and leverage advanced software capabilities as network demands grow, ensuring long-term value and sustained performance.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco C9606R chassis is suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios, from enterprise campus cores to large data centers. Its high-density modular design accommodates growing connectivity requirements, making it ideal for organizations undergoing digital transformation. In campus environments, it provides robust core and aggregation services, while in data centers, it supports high-performance computing, storage networking, and cloud connectivity. Its versatility allows IT teams to implement consistent policies, secure communications, and efficient traffic management across diverse network topologies.

Campus Network Core Switch

In large campus networks, the C9606R serves as a core switch, providing high-speed connectivity between distribution layers and access switches. Its support for advanced Layer 3 routing, security, and redundancy ensures seamless communication across multiple buildings or locations. Network administrators can leverage its scalability to accommodate additional expansion slots for future growth, enabling a resilient and adaptable campus network architecture.

Data Center Aggregation Switch

For data centers, the Cisco C9606R operates as an aggregation switch, consolidating traffic from multiple access and top-of-rack switches. Its high bandwidth capacity and low latency make it suitable for handling large volumes of data, supporting virtualization, storage networks, and cloud applications. Redundant power supplies, fans, and supervisor modules enhance uptime, ensuring that mission-critical services remain available without interruption.

Service Provider Network Deployments

Service providers benefit from the C9606R's high-density ports, scalability, and advanced routing capabilities. It enables seamless interconnection of multiple customer networks, supporting diverse services such as broadband, enterprise VPNs, and cloud access. The switch's programmable architecture and support for network automation help service providers efficiently manage large-scale infrastructures while maintaining high performance and security standards.