Catalyst 9200CX - The Most Popular Compact Switch Joins the C9K Family

[Randeep Singh]

The access layer of the enterprise network is perhaps the only place where the end-user interacts with. Whether it be a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection, or a wired (Ethernet) connection. These points of contact are essential to the end-client's network needs. And hence, the Catalyst 9200CX was created with end-user intent in mind. By offering enhanced security features, network visibility functionality, different powering options, smart-building capabilities, and flexible deployment options, the C9200CX is a robust networking device in this ever-changing computer networks world. With these many enhancements, the Cisco Catalyst 9200CX is the next generation of the C3560CX and C2960CX compact, fan-less switches. Releasing in three flavors:

• C9200CX-12T-2X2G is the 12-port data-only variant that can be powered by an external AC/DC power supply or by an 802.3bt UPOE+ 60W uplink. This switch has 3x 1G copper and 2x 1/10G SFP+ uplinks. 
• C9200CX-12P-2X2G is the 12-port PoE+ switch where all 12 ports are PoE+ capable with a large power budget of 240W. This switch has 2x 1G copper and 2x 1/10G SFP+ uplinks.
• C9200CX-8P-2X2G is the 8-port PoE+ switch where all 8 ports are PoE+ capable with a large power budget of 240W. This switch has 2x 1G copper and 2x 1/10G SFP+ uplinks.

These compact switches offer feature parity with the Cisco Catalyst 9200 series of switches. Utilizing the same ASIC as the C9200 (Cisco UADP 2.0 Mini) and running Cisco IOS-XE Lite, the C9200CX switches bring advanced security, programmability, telemetry, and deployment flexibility to the enterprise—providing a significantly improved experience over the C2960CX and C3560CX while maintaining a similar compact form factor.

Furthermore, the C9200CX brings full SD-Access Fabric Edge Node capabilities to the catalyst compact switches. The C9200CX family supports 16 VRFs/VNs, LISP, and VxLAN capabilities.

Let's touch upon security and on-boarding functionalities of the C9200CX. For the first time, MACsec-256 will be supported on the compact switch family. Performed at hardware, MACsec-256 encryption can be switch-to-switch or host-to-switch, allowing for full AES 256-bits of encryption. Furthermore, all security functionalities that come alongside the C9200 family of switches are available on the C9200CX--IEEE 802.1x, Trustworthy Solutions, IPv6 First-Hop Security (FHS), Full Flexible NetFlow, and more!

On-boarding devices to the network can be a hassle, especially when dealing with a large quantity. And therefore, the C9200CX family of switches are Network PnP (Plug-and-Play) and ZTP (Zero-Touch-Provisioning) ready! Where the customer can onboard these devices in the manner they’d like to (i.e., via python scripts for ZTP—a capability that was not present on the C2960CX and C3560CX). Whether it's through the Cisco DNA Center, or through the customer's desired PnP Server (which can be built upon open standards), onboarding the C9200CX switches to the network has never been easier.

Efficiency and energy are very important to the Cisco Catalyst team. Cisco is designing products keeping sustainability (i.e., power savings to ensure a smaller carbon footprint) in mind while meeting all the smart building needs of the modern enterprise. As such, the C9200CX switches have different powering options, as well as PoE capabilities to enable smart-building use-cases. The data-only model (C9200CX-12T-2X2G) can be deployed with an external AC or DC 80W Power Adapter, or be fully-powered by an 802.3bt 60W Class 6 UPOE+ uplink. Where a C9300 or C9400 series of switches with UPOE+ downlinks can fully power this data-only C9200CX switch. On the other hand, the C9200CX PoE+ models, powered via an internal 310W power supply, bring PoE+ downlink capabilities. These two switches have all downlink ports PoE+ capable with a large PoE power budget which is capable of powering access points, IP phones, and other OT devices. These downlinks can supply data and power to end-clients, allowing for the customer's desired smart building use-cases.

Mounting these compact switches has never been easier. There are four different mounting options to meet different customer mounting needs: wall mount, table-top/bottom/shelf mount, rack mount, and din rail mount. These versatile deployment options help reduce cost of premium space; and the C9200CX is designed to dissipate heat better with its’ newly, custom designed accessories.*

The Cisco Catalyst 9200CX family of switches was created to be robust while offering unparalleled industry deployment use-cases. The use-cases are many, and customers have a plethora of options on where and how they’d like to utilize these compact switches. A few customer use-cases: higher education where wired access is needed at the dormitory level for students; casino machines for offering fast and secure transactions to customers; cruise lines for powering and providing data to lights and phones within rooms on the ship; banks for enabling fast, secure transactions while enabling minimal downtime; and retail environments where IoT devices are necessary and guest Wi-Fi needs are to be met. With the Catalyst 9200CX, the possibilities are endless.

The C9200CX line of switches was custom built to take on the evolving needs of the enterprise network. These switches bring cutting edge features that were built for the Catalyst 9000 family of switches, into a compact, fan-less form factor. Making for the deployment use-cases of the C9200CX endless. Whether it be campus, public sector, higher education, hospitality, retail, or financial institutions, the possibilities are boundless. And this is just the beginning. The Cisco Catalyst 9200CX family of switches will continue to expand to incorporate more use-cases.

References:

Additional websites that offer more details about the Cisco Catalyst 9200CX Series and its capabilities:

Cisco Catalyst 9200CX Series Switches Data Sheet

Cisco Catalyst 9200CX Series Switches Hardware Installation Guide

* Mounting accessories from the C3560CX are not compatible with the C9200CX series of switches.