cisco Catalyst 9500 Catalyst 9500
The Cisco Catalyst 9500 switch series is the industry's first purpose-built 1U fixed-core and aggregation enterprise platform. Powered by the Cisco UADP 3.0 ASIC, the 9500 delivers line-rate 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G fiber density, full Layer 3 BGP and OSPF routing, hardware-based MPLS, and Cisco StackWise Virtual technology for high-availability campus backbone networks.
Specifications
| Brand | cisco |
|---|---|
| Family | Catalyst 9500 |
| Form factor | 1U fixed switch |
| Released | Jun 2017 |
| Form factor | 1U or 2U fixed-configuration switch |
| Port variations | Models offering 16/24/40/48 ports of 10G/25G SFP28 or 16/32 ports of 40G/100G QSFP28 |
| Switching capacity | Up to 3.2 Tbps system bandwidth |
| Forwarding rate | Up to 2 Bpps throughput |
| Virtualization | Cisco StackWise Virtual active-active multi-chassis technology |
| Routing protocols | BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, VRF-lite, and full MPLS L3VPN |
Generations
- Previous generation: cisco Catalyst 4500 Catalyst 4500X
- Next generation: cisco Catalyst 9500 Catalyst 9500X
Check compatibility with Cisco
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Cisco has tested with the cisco Catalyst 9500 Catalyst 9500.
- Compatibility Cisco UCS Hardware Compatibility List
- Compatibility Cisco Optics-to-Device Compatibility Matrix
- Support Cisco Support and Downloads
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
What is Cisco StackWise Virtual on the Catalyst 9500?
StackWise Virtual pairs two physical Catalyst 9500 switches into a single logical network switch with unified control and management planes.
Does the Catalyst 9500 support MACsec encryption?
Yes, selected models support line-rate 256-bit IEEE 802.1AE MACsec hardware encryption on all ports.
Buying or selling Catalyst 9500?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Cisco Catalyst 9500 Product Documentation, checked 2026-10-27
- Cisco Catalyst 9500 Data Sheet and Technical Specifications, checked 2026-10-27