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Part Number: C9500-24Y4C-E
Description: Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series high performance 24-port 1/10/25G switch, Network Essentials License
Category: Switches
15+ Years of Proven Excellence
Delivering reliable IT hardware solutions since 2009.
Same-Day Shipping
On all on-hand orders placed before 2 pm CST.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
You’ll find warranty coverage on the majority of our hardware.*
Terms & Conditions*
The Cisco C9500-24Y4C-E represents a significant advancement in campus network infrastructure as a premier aggregation enterprise switching platform designed for modern connectivity requirements. As part of the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series, the C9500-24Y4C-E delivers exceptional performance for enterprise applications requiring consistent, high-speed data transfer. The C9500-24Y4C-E features 24 ports of 25 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces alongside four 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, providing substantial bandwidth for demanding network environments.
With its next generation switching architecture, the C9500-24Y4C-E powers business operations through consistent low-latency performance and sophisticated quality of service (QoS) capabilities. The C9500-24Y4C-E seamlessly handles high-volume traffic flows while maintaining deterministic forwarding behavior essential for time-sensitive applications. Organizations implementing the C9500-24Y4C-E experience improved application responsiveness and enhanced productivity across the enterprise campus.
The C9500-24Y4C-E incorporates Cisco Trustworthy Solutions technology that establishes hardware-level integrity verification, ensuring platform authenticity and protection against sophisticated threats. Through integration with broader security frameworks, the C9500-24Y4C-E enables consistent policy enforcement and threat detection across distributed environments. The C9500-24Y4C-E supports extensible security features including hardware-accelerated encryption and sophisticated access control lists that protect sensitive data without compromising performance.
When deployed within a software-driven architecture, the C9500-24Y4C-E simplifies security operations through automated policy implementation and centralized management. The C9500-24Y4C-E features robust Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) inspection and DHCP snooping capabilities that prevent common network-layer attacks. By integrating security directly into the network fabric, the C9500-24Y4C-E reduces complexity while improving threat visibility and response capabilities across the enterprise.
The C9500-24Y4C-E includes the Network Essentials license, providing fundamental routing capabilities required for enterprise-class core and aggregation deployments. With support for essential routing protocols including IS-IS and PIM-SM/PIM-SSM, the C9500-24Y4C-E enables efficient traffic forwarding across complex topologies. The C9500-24Y4C-E incorporates Flexible NetFlow technology that provides detailed visibility into network traffic patterns, enabling proactive capacity planning and security monitoring.
Organizations can leverage the C9500-24Y4C-E’s MPLS capabilities to implement traffic engineering and service differentiation across the enterprise network. The C9500-24Y4C-E includes sophisticated SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) functions that facilitate troubleshooting and security monitoring without disrupting production traffic. With its comprehensive monitoring capabilities, the C9500-24Y4C-E provides the insight necessary for effective network operations while simplifying troubleshooting of complex issues.
The C9500-24Y4C-E features full programmability that transforms network operations through standardized APIs, telemetry, and automation capabilities. With support for modern management frameworks, the C9500-24Y4C-E enables efficient configuration and monitoring of enterprise networks through programmatic interfaces. The C9500-24Y4C-E can function as a key component in SD-Access architectures, supporting fabric-based networking that simplifies policy implementation across wired and wireless infrastructure.
Network administrators can leverage the C9500-24Y4C-E’s programmability to automate repetitive tasks, reducing operational overhead and improving consistency across the network. The C9500-24Y4C-E integrates with Cisco DNA Center, providing centralized management and analytics capabilities when additional licensing is applied. By combining programmability with comprehensive serviceability features, the C9500-24Y4C-E enables IT organizations to respond quickly to changing business requirements while maintaining operational excellence.
The Cisco C9500-24Y4C-E features a robust hardware platform engineered for reliability and performance in demanding enterprise environments:
| Feature | Specification |
| Form Factor | 1RU |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.5 x 20.5 inches (4.4 x 44.5 x 52.1 cm) |
| Weight | 30.0 lbs (13.6 kg) with power supplies |
| Access Ports | 24 x 25 Gigabit Ethernet SFP28 ports |
| Uplink Ports | 4 x 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 ports |
| Switching Capacity | 2.4 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 1,428 Mpps |
| System Memory | 16 GB |
| Flash Memory | 16 GB |
| Power Supply | 2 x 1100W AC (PWR-C4-1100WAC-R) |
| Redundant Power Supply | Included |
| MTBF | 354,480 hours |
| Mounting | Four-point mounting options available |
The C9500-24Y4C-E leverages high-end silicon components to deliver consistent performance across varying traffic conditions. With support for IEEE standards including 802.1Q, 802.1p, and 802.3ae, the C9500-24Y4C-E ensures compatibility with industry-standard technologies and connected devices. The C9500-24Y4C-E operates in full duplex mode on all ports, maximizing effective bandwidth for data-intensive applications.
The C9500-24Y4C-E runs Cisco IOS XE and includes the Network Essentials license, providing a comprehensive set of networking features:
| Feature Category | Key Capabilities |
| Layer 2 | 802.1Q VLANs, Private VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocols |
| Layer 3 | Static Routing, RIP, EIGRP Stub, OSPF (Limited), PIM-SM/SSM |
| IPv6 | Basic IPv6, OSPFv3 (Limited), IPv6 Static Routing |
| High Availability | NSF (Non-Stop Forwarding), Redundant Power |
| Security | 802.1X, MACsec-128, Control Plane Protection |
| SD-Access | Limited Fabric Edge functionality |
| QoS | 8 queues per port, policing, shaping, prioritization |
| Management | SNMP, CLI, NETCONF (Limited), Syslog |
| Automation | Basic Scripting Support, Zero-Touch Provisioning |
| Virtualization | Limited VRF support |
The C9500-24Y4C-E includes the Network Essentials license as standard, providing fundamental enterprise networking capabilities. Organizations requiring advanced routing or programmability features can upgrade to the Network Advantage license as needs evolve. The C9500-24Y4C-E comes with a limited lifetime warranty that includes hardware replacement and software updates for the supported lifecycle of the product.
The C9500-24Y4C-E delivers exceptional performance suitable for enterprise-class core and aggregation deployments:
| Performance Metric | Capability |
| MAC Address Table | 64,000 entries |
| IPv4 Routes | 80,000 |
| IPv6 Routes | 40,000 |
| Multicast Routes | 16,000 |
| QoS ACLs | 18,000 |
| Security ACLs | 18,000 |
| VLANs | 4,094 |
| SVI Interfaces | 2,000 |
| Jumbo Frame Support | 9198 bytes |
| Spanning Tree Instances | 1,000 |
| Virtual Interfaces | 8,000 |
The C9500-24Y4C-E provides the processing capability required for large enterprise campus deployments with substantial routing and switching requirements. Its optimized buffer architecture ensures consistent performance during traffic microbursts and congestion events. The C9500-24Y4C-E’s forwarding capabilities ensure predictable behavior for latency-sensitive applications while supporting comprehensive security and monitoring functions.
The C9500-24Y4C-E offers specific advantages compared to other models in the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series:
| Feature | C9500-24Y4C-E | C9500-24Y4C-A | C9500-48Y4C-E |
| Form Factor | 1RU | 1RU | 1RU |
| Access Ports | 24 x 25G SFP28 | 24 x 25G SFP28 | 48 x 25G SFP28 |
| Uplink Ports | 4 x 100G QSFP28 | 4 x 100G QSFP28 | 4 x 100G QSFP28 |
| Switching Capacity | 2.4 Tbps | 2.4 Tbps | 3.2 Tbps |
| Base License | Network Essentials | Network Advantage | Network Essentials |
| Advanced Routing | Limited (Upgradable) | Included | Limited (Upgradable) |
| Use Case | Cost-Optimized Core | Feature-Rich Core | High-Density Core |
The Catalyst 9500 Series is the industry’s leading fixed enterprise switching platform for campus core applications. The C9500-24Y4C-E switch model provides a balanced combination of performance and essential features, making it an ideal seller for organizations seeking to build robust network infrastructure without premium features they may not require. Compared to the C9500-24Y4C-A, the C9500-24Y4C-E offers similar hardware specifications at a lower price point by including the Network Essentials license rather than the more advanced Network Advantage license.
The C9500-24Y4C-E achieves cost-effectiveness through its Network Essentials licensing model that provides fundamental enterprise capabilities while allowing organizations to purchase only the advanced features they actually require through license upgrades. Its optimized 24-port design balances performance and price for appropriately sized deployments, eliminating unnecessary costs associated with overprovisioning port capacity. The C9500-24Y4C-E’s programmability features enable operational efficiencies that reduce ongoing management costs, delivering long-term value beyond the initial purchase price while maintaining the performance expected from Cisco Catalyst switches.
The C9500-24Y4C-E supports all standard networking protocols and integrates seamlessly with existing Cisco and third-party infrastructure through industry-standard implementations. Its flexible port configurations accommodate connections to various network elements, from legacy 1G devices (with appropriate optics) to high-speed 100G aggregation links, simplifying migration from previous-generation hardware. The C9500-24Y4C-E can be managed through traditional CLI methods familiar to network administrators or through newer programmable interfaces that enable automation and integration with existing management systems.
The C9500-24Y4C-E’s 25G access ports and 100G uplink interfaces provide substantial bandwidth headroom for evolving application requirements and cloud service integration, ensuring the switch can accommodate growing traffic demands without replacement. Its modular software architecture enables feature expansion through license upgrades, allowing organizations to add advanced capabilities as needs evolve without hardware changes. The C9500-24Y4C-E can be integrated into SD-Access fabric architectures as requirements develop, providing a migration path to more sophisticated network designs while preserving the initial hardware investment.
The C9500-24Y4C-E implements comprehensive reliability features including redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans that maintain operation during component failures. Its Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF) capabilities preserve network connectivity during control plane events, minimizing disruption to business-critical applications. The C9500-24Y4C-E can be deployed with redundant network paths and supports rapid reconvergence protocols that ensure network resilience in the event of link or device failures.
Organizations should carefully evaluate their current and projected bandwidth requirements to ensure the C9500-24Y4C-E’s port density and speed capabilities align with actual needs, particularly when planning the quantity of switches to be shipped to each location. When ordering the C9500-24Y4C-E, consideration should be given to appropriate optical transceivers and accessories that must be purchased separately to match connected devices and distance requirements. IT teams should assess whether the Network Essentials license included with the C9500-24Y4C-E provides sufficient functionality for their requirements or if budgeting for license upgrades to Network Advantage will be necessary to enable advanced routing and programmability features.
At Network Republic, our end-user accounts are covered by a 1-Year Warranty on all hardware—whether New, New Open Box, New Pull, Refurbished, or Refurbished by Manufacturer —from the date of delivery. This warranty covers hardware defects under normal use and allows for repair, replacement, or in-house credit at our discretion.
For resellers and wholesale purchases, we offer a 30-Day Warranty limited strictly to functional issues or defects upon arrival, including dead-on-arrival (DOA) items; it does not apply to problems arising after prolonged use. Resellers are responsible for inspecting and testing products within the 30-day window. This warranty excludes accidental damage, misuse, cosmetic wear, third-party modifications, and software-related issues unrelated to hardware failure. Check out our full warranty policy here.
Software licenses are not covered under the standard return and warranty policies and need to be activated on the hardware within 7 days of receipt. Any issues need to be reported immediately, within 10 days, so we can issue an exchange. Under no circumstances will refunds be issued for software licenses.
Our team of professionals are experts in networking hardware configurations and can assist you at any time during your purchasing process. We always recommend great price-performance alternatives based on current market price and availability. In need of assistance or looking for a specific part number? Request a quote today or chat with one of our IT specialists.

