Cisco C9500-48Y4C-A — Catalyst 9500 48-Port 1/10/25G LAN Base Gigabit Ethernet Switch (Network Advantage)
What it is
C9500-48Y4C-A is a Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series enterprise core/distribution switch.
It features 48 multirate 1/10/25 GbE ports plus 4 × 40G uplinks, runs Cisco IOS-XE, and includes the Network Advantage feature license for advanced routing, segmentation, automation, and security — making it ideal for high-performance campus core or distribution deployments.
Why buyers pick C9500-48Y4C-A (plain English)
High-density multigigabit access
Forty-eight ports that flex between 1G, 10G, and 25G let you connect modern servers, storage, wireless aggregation and other high-performance devices without speed bottlenecks.
Advanced feature set
Network Advantage unlocks advanced Layer 3 routing, segmentation with VRFs, OSPF/EIGRP/BGP, multicast, policy-based routing, and programmability — great for distributed enterprise networks.
Powerful uplinks
Four 40G QSFP+ uplink ports give plenty of capacity for spine, core, or cross-rack links.
Enterprise-grade platform
Cisco IOS-XE delivers rich automation, security, telemetry, and programmability in a consistent Cisco stack.
Flexible optics support
Modular uplinks let you choose optics or DACs that best fit your fiber/copper and distance requirements.
60-second spec box (C9500-48Y4C-A)
Switch type
Enterprise core/distribution switch
Downlink ports
48 × 1/10/25 GbE (multigigabit capable)
Uplink ports
4 × 40 GbE (QSFP+)
Operating system
Cisco IOS-XE
Feature license
Network Advantage
Layer support
Layer 2 / advanced Layer 3
Stacking
StackWise-Virtual and StackWise-480 supported
Form factor
Fixed 1RU
Use case
Campus backbone, distribution, and high-capacity enterprise environments.
Where it fits (and when to choose something else)
Perfect for:
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Core and distribution layers in enterprise campus networks
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Environments with heavy east-west traffic
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Aggregating multigigabit endpoints (servers, APs, storage)
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Advanced routing and segmentation domains
Choose something else if:
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You don’t need advanced features → Network Essentials models
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You want even higher speeds (100G/400G) → Catalyst 9500/9600 fixed or modular options
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You need a simpler access switch → Catalyst 9200/9300 Series
TL;DR
C9500-48Y4C-A is Cisco’s Catalyst 9500 multigigabit core/distribution switch with 48 × 1/10/25G and 4 × 40G, running IOS-XE with the Network Advantage license —
a high-capacity, advanced Layer 3 platform for modern enterprise networks.
