The Cisco C9500 Series Switches are next-generation enterprise-class core and aggregation switches that provide comprehensive self-programming and self-maintenance capabilities. Based on x86 CPUs, the C9500 series switches are Cisco's flagship dedicated non-modular core and aggregation enterprise switching platforms for security, IoT, and cloud. The following ETU-LINK will introduce the port configuration, advantages and optical module matching scheme of Cisco C9500 switch.

Cisco C9500 Series Switches are available in 8 models ( table below for details) and are designed for enterprise campuses with not only 25, 40 and 100G Ethernet ports, but also Gigabit/10 Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The advantages of Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches are as follows:

1. Policy-based automation from edge to cloud;

2. Simplify segmentation and micro-segmentation with predictable performance and scalability;

3. Realize automation and network status awareness through Cisco DNA Center equipment;

4. Launch new business services faster and significantly reduce problem resolution time;

5. SD-Access Embedded Wireless Function: The Cisco Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller software package can be installed on Cisco Catalyst 9500 series switches to provide wireless controller functions for distributed branch offices and small campuses. Once installed, the embedded wireless controller running on Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches can support up to 200 APs and 4000 clients. Up to two wireless controllers can be enabled per site on two different Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches, enabling scalability to up to 400 APs and 8000 wireless clients per site;

6. The Cisco Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller Package can only implement wireless functionality in SD-Access deployments with the following two supported topologies;

7. Can be enabled on Cisco Catalyst 9500 series switches used as co-resident border and control plane;

8. Can be enabled on Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches used as an all-in-one fabric.

Cisco switch optical module collocation scheme:

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches support advanced routing and infrastructure services (such as Multiprotocol Label Switching [MPLS] Layer 2 and 3 VPNs, Multicast VPN [MVPN], Network Address Translation [NAT]); Cisco Software Defined Access capabilities (such as host tracking databases, cross-domain connectivity, VPN Routing and Forwarding [VRF] awareness, Location/ID Separation Protocol [LISP]); and network system virtualization based on Cisco StackWise® virtualization technology (for deploying these switches to campus core is critical); enabling a whole new paradigm in network configuration, operation and monitoring through network automation.