1. What are Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches?

The Catalyst 9000 family, including the 9000X models, is built for modern networks. These switches support flexible and secure operations, offering high-speed connectivity and scalability. They’re ideal for hybrid work environments where workplaces, devices, and applications are highly distributed. Catalyst 9000 switches offer industry-leading innovations like 400G speeds, Silicon One™ ASICs, and continuous Zero-Trust security.

2. What are Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches?

The Catalyst 9200 Series is designed for simple branch deployments, offering essential features like security, always-on reliability, and ease of use. These switches also support full PoE+ and various uplink options, making them flexible for different branch setups.

3. What are Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches?

The 9300 Series offers high-performance fixed-access switches, with support for multigigabit speeds, 90W UPOE+ per port, and 100G uplinks. It’s ideal for hybrid work environments, smart buildings, and even lean branch setups that don’t use SD-WAN. With advanced app hosting and security features, it’s a versatile choice for enterprise networks.

4. What are Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series Switches?

The Catalyst 9400 Series is a modular switch that supports up to 9 Tbps of system bandwidth. It’s designed for high availability and investment protection with features like in-service software upgrades, redundancy, and scalable port densities. This series is perfect for large, critical enterprise networks.

5. What are Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches?

The Catalyst 9500 Series is a fixed-core and aggregation switch, offering high-density models with up to 400G ports. With Silicon One™ ASICs, the 9500 Series provides flexible hybrid work solutions and line-rate security without sacrificing performance.

6. What are Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series Switches?

The Catalyst 9600 Series is the first modular switch built for 400G Ethernet in enterprise campuses. It’s designed to support high-throughput, secure core networks with flexible uplink options, making it a future-proof choice for large-scale deployments.

7. What are the key programmability capabilities of Catalyst 9000 switches?

Catalyst 9000 switches are built with network automation in mind. They support simplified device discovery, zero-touch provisioning, model-driven APIs, and streaming telemetry. This makes configuring, managing, and monitoring your network much more efficient.

8. How can I manage the Catalyst 9000 switches?

You can manage these switches using the Cisco IOS XE software via CLI, Cisco Prime, Catalyst Center, Meraki Dashboard, or the onboard WebUI. Full programmability and automation capabilities are also supported, along with standard protocols like NETCONF and RESTCONF.

9. Do Catalyst 9000 switches have an onboard web GUI?

Yes, the switches come with a WebUI for easy, onboard management.

10. What is the blue beacon LED on the switches for?

The blue beacon LED makes it easy to locate specific switches in a rack by blinking when enabled. It helps remote administrators identify switches quickly.

11. How many Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances can I configure?

The maximum number of VRF instances varies by model. Catalyst 9200 Series supports up to 4 VRFs, while other models like the 9300, 9400, 9500, and 9600 Series support up to 256 or 1,000 VRFs depending on the configuration.

12. What is Cisco’s approach to wireless support?

Cisco integrates wired and wireless networks through SD-Access, offering consistent policies, segmentation, and automation across the entire network. Catalyst 9000 switches support wireless integration by connecting access points and enabling advanced features like guest traffic termination and end-to-end policies.

13. What is the advantage of integrating wireless into SD-Access architecture?

Wireless integration in SD-Access offers better performance, security, and simplicity. It allows for a unified policy for wired and wireless networks, segmentation of devices, and improved multicast capabilities for optimal performance.

14. Why is there a focus on 5 to 10 Gbps downlink speeds?

Most existing Cat5e cabling supports up to 5 or 10 Gbps speeds, and newer standards like Wi-Fi 6 require higher speeds to connect access points. 5 Gbps is seen as a transition step, with 10 Gbps becoming more common in the future.

15. What solutions does Cisco offer for 5 Gbps connections?

Cisco Catalyst 9300, 9400, and 9600 Series switches support multigigabit interfaces, allowing connections at 10G, 5G, 2.5G, and 1G speeds.

16. How will uplink speeds evolve in the campus?

As downlink speeds increase, uplink speeds are expected to evolve from 10G to 25G, 50G, 100G, and even 400G in campus networks. This ensures that the backbone infrastructure can handle increased traffic from faster endpoints.

17. How can I participate in the “Try and Buy” cloud promotion for Catalyst 9300?

If you’re a current Catalyst 9300 customer, you can try out cloud features without purchasing additional hardware. Just register for the promotion and use the device serial number to activate the features.

18. What happens when the “Try and Buy” promotion ends?

After the promotion ends, you can choose to purchase a Meraki license to continue using cloud features or revert to traditional IOS XE management by contacting Meraki support.

19. What are the licensing requirements for using cloud monitoring on Catalyst 9000 switches?

You need at least a Cisco Catalyst Essentials or Advantage license to use cloud monitoring with Catalyst 9200, 9300, and 9500 switches.

20. What are Ecolabels, and why are they important?

Ecolabels are certifications indicating that products meet specific environmental standards. Cisco has several products certified under programs like Energy Star and EPEAT, helping customers identify energy-efficient and environmentally responsible equipment.

21. Why is ENERGY STAR certification important for Cisco Catalyst switches?

Energy efficiency is critical for reducing operational costs and minimizing environmental impact. Catalyst 9200 and 9300 models are ENERGY STAR certified, reinforcing Cisco’s commitment to energy-efficient networking solutions.

22. Can Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series switches be stacked with older models?

No, Catalyst 9200 switches cannot be stacked with older 2960-X/XR models because they have different architectures and feature sets.

23. Do Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches support cloud management?

Yes, many Catalyst 9300 models support cloud management via the Meraki Dashboard. This allows you to manage high-performance networks with ease.

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