Cisco Catalyst C9300-48T-E — 48× 1G (no PoE) access with modular 1/10/25/40G uplinks (Network Essentials)

What it is: A stackable, enterprise Layer-3 Catalyst 9300 with 48 × 10/100/1000 RJ-45 data ports (no PoE) and a modular uplink bay so you can pick uplink speed now and swap later. Runs IOS-XE and ships with the Network Essentials (-E) feature set. Dual hot-swap PSUs and field-replaceable fans make it a service-friendly access/distribution switch.

Why buyers pick C9300-48T-E (plain English)

• High-density access without PoE cost: ideal for desktops, printers, thin clients, and server/edge ports.

• Uplink flexibility: choose 1G/10G/25G/40G modules to match your distribution/core today, upgrade later without replacing the chassis.

• Enterprise stacking: StackWise-480 makes up to 8 switches behave like one with fast failover.

• Essentials feature set is “just-right” for most campuses: solid L3 + security without paying for Advantage extras.

• Built for uptime: hot-swap PSUs/fans and ISSU-style maintenance options in typical designs.

60-second spec box (C9300-48T-E)

Access ports

• 48 × 10/100/1000 RJ-45

• Data only (no PoE)

Uplinks (modular bay — order one network module)
Common choices:

• 4 × 1G SFP module

• 4 × 10G SFP+ module

• 8 × 10G SFP+ module

• 2 × 40G QSFP module
  (Exact module availability can vary by region/bundle.)

Power / cooling

• Two PSU bays for capacity and 1+1 redundancy

• AC/DC PSU options by region

• Hot-swap fan tray (field-replaceable)

Stacking / HA

• StackWise-480 (up to 480 Gbps stack bandwidth)

• Up to 8 members per stack

• StackPower supported for pooled power across the stack

Software / features (Network Essentials)

• L3 routing: static routing, OSPF, EIGRP-lite, VRF-lite

• Security/segmentation: ACLs, 802.1X/MAB, DHCP snooping, DAI, TrustSec hooks

• Ops/telemetry: WebUI/CLI, model-driven telemetry, NetFlow/Flexible NetFlow, Catalyst Center readiness

Form factor

• 1U rack-mount, wiring-closet friendly acoustics

What to order with it (common adds)

• Uplink module that matches your core (4G / 4X / 8X / 2Q, etc.)

• SFP/SFP+/QSFP optics or DAC/AOC cables for uplinks/stacking

• Second PSU for redundancy

• DNA subscriptions if you want SD-Access and centralized automation

Where it fits (and when to choose something else)

• Perfect for: campus/branch access or distribution where endpoints don’t need PoE but you still want stacking + modular uplinks + enterprise IOS-XE features.

• Choose C9300-48T-A if you need Network Advantage (richer routing/segmentation).

• Choose C9300-48P if you need PoE+.

• Step down to C9200/C9200L if fixed uplinks and simpler power are fine at a lower price.

TL;DR

C9300-48T-E is the enterprise non-PoE access workhorse: 48× 1G data ports, modular uplinks up to 40G, StackWise-480, hot-swap PSUs/fans, and the Network Essentials feature set—fast, flexible, and built for high-availability campus access without paying for PoE you don’t need.