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Secure networking infrastructure for AI-driven campus and core environments
AI-driven operations, high-density wireless, machine-to-machine communication, and distributed workloads are increasing demands on campus networks. At the same time, IT teams must secure more users, devices, and applications across cloud-managed, on-premises, and hybrid environments while avoiding repeated infrastructure replacement cycles.
Cisco® C9000 Series Smart Switches, including the Cisco C9350, C9550, and C9610 Series, provide a common platform for campus access, aggregation, and core deployments. Built on Cisco Silicon One Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) architecture and powered by Cisco IOS® XE, the platform combines high-speed connectivity, security enforcement, telemetry, automation, and application hosting within a unified networking architecture.
Cisco Smart Switches integrate security enforcement directly into the network through onboard compute resources and AI-driven analytics that support Zero Trust policy enforcement, anomaly detection, and faster incident response.
The platform also combines switching, routing, application hosting, and automation capabilities to help IT teams standardize operations, reduce manual configuration tasks, and support campus and branch expansion with operational consistency across deployment models.
Operational simplicity enabled by AgenticOps
Reduce operating costs as we evolve to a full AI Enterprise that is self-configuring, self-learning, and self-healing. Cisco Smart Switches help IT teams automate deployment, operations, monitoring, and troubleshooting across cloud-managed, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
Cisco IOS XE provides native support for:
● Model-driven programmability
● Streaming telemetry
● Software patching
● Cloud-managed and on-premises operations
Cisco Smart Switches support APIs and AI-certified turnkey applications that help organizations improve operational efficiency, automate deployment workflows, accelerate troubleshooting and incident response, detect anomalies and automate reporting, and standardize operations across deployment models.
Cisco Smart Switches also support container-based application hosting directly on the switch through enhanced x86 multicore CPUs and optional Solid-State Drive (SSD) storage, including Docker-based applications, Cisco ThousandEyes, Cisco Spaces, Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance container (ASAc), and Cisco Live Protect readiness.
Security fused into the network
Shield the network from the security risk that the proliferation of IoT devices creates, with security fused into the entire fabric of the network. Cisco Smart Switches provide application-aware visibility and policy enforcement directly within the network infrastructure. These capabilities help organizations strengthen operational visibility, improve policy enforcement, and manage connected devices at scale:
● Application Visibility and Control (AVC)
● Network-Based Application Recognition Version 2 (NBAR2)
● Traffic identification across users, devices, and applications
For IoT environments, Cisco Smart Switches support:
● Service discovery
● Device and “thing” classification
● Large-scale IoT convergence across campus and branch environments
Scalable devices built for AI
Meet the impact of AI workloads on campus and branch with network infrastructure built for the AI Enterprise, with AI. Cisco Smart Switches are built on Cisco Silicon One ASIC architecture optimized for AI-driven enterprise environments. They support programmable forwarding pipelines and forwarding tables designed to adapt to evolving application, traffic, and infrastructure requirements, with:
● Cisco Silicon One ASIC architecture
● Programmable forwarding pipelines and tables
● Long-term platform scalability and feature expansion
Cisco Smart Switches continue to expand to support evolving enterprise network requirements. They provide easy upgrade paths for organizations using Cisco Catalyst® 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Series switches.
Workplaces that deliver outcomes for everyone
The network is the backbone of modern workplaces, powering seamless experiences across all environments. Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches, Cisco C9550 Series Smart Switches, and Cisco C9610 Series Smart Switches help ensure that every device connects to your network with unparalleled ease, manageability, and reliability. All with embedded security and assurance to keep everything across your network up and running. Cisco stands alone in delivering a networking solution that integrates security, assurance, and intelligence across the entire network spectrum, from campuses to branches to data centers and beyond.
Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches: Campus access switching for high-density environments
Cisco C9350 Smart Switches provide multigigabit access connectivity for campus environments supporting AI applications, wireless networks, IoT devices, and collaboration workloads.
Cisco C9350 Smart Switches support cloud-managed, on-premises, and hybrid deployment models through a common hardware and software platform. Organizations can standardize operations across environments while supporting both plug-and-play deployments and advanced network customization requirements.
The platform supports integrated services and applications including Cisco Spaces, ThousandEyes, and Cisco Live Protect security capabilities.
Cisco C9350 Smart Switches also provide migration paths for organizations replacing end-of-sale Cisco Catalyst 3850 platforms and existing Catalyst 9300 copper and fiber deployments.
Cisco C9550 Series Smart Switches: Fixed campus core and aggregation switching
Cisco C9550 Smart Switches provide high-density aggregation and core connectivity for enterprise campus environments.
Built on Cisco Silicon One ASIC architecture, the Cisco C9550 Smart Switches deliver high-speed forwarding, AI-driven telemetry, and integrated security capabilities, including hardware-rooted trust and post-quantum cryptography readiness.
The platform includes redundant power supplies, resilient hardware and software architecture, and uplink connectivity supporting speeds up to 400G.
Cisco C9550 Smart Switches are available in 1RU and 2RU form factors. The 1RU models provide easy upgrade paths for existing Cisco Catalyst 9500 deployments, while the 2RU model supports environments requiring higher port density and large-scale aggregation capacity.
Cisco C9610 Smart Switch: Modular switching for large-scale campus core deployments
Cisco C9610 Smart Switches provide modular scalability and hardware redundancy for enterprise campus environments requiring large-scale core infrastructure.
The Cisco C9610 Smart Switches deliver high-density core switching with redundant supervisors, power systems, and modular expansion designed for high-availability campus operations.
The platform supports cloud-managed, on-premises, and air-gapped deployments using the same hardware architecture, helping organizations standardize core infrastructure across operational environments.
Cisco C9610 Smart Switches also provide upgrade paths for existing Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 6800 deployments.
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Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches |
Cisco C9550 Series Smart Switches |
Cisco C9610 Smart Switches |
| Key capabilities: |
Campus access switching for high-density environments |
Fixed campus core and aggregation switching |
Modular switching for large-scale campus core deployments |
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● Cisco Silicon One A-series ASIC architecture
● Up to 48 multigigabit access ports
● Up to 100G uplinks
● 90W UPOE+ support
● StackWise scalability
● Integrated telemetry and automation
● Segmentation and policy enforcement
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● Cisco Silicon One E-series ASIC architecture
● 25G, 50G, 100G, and 400G connectivity
● Up to 6.4 Tbps switching capacity
● Large-scale routing and segmentation
● Telemetry and traffic visibility
● Integrated MACsec encryption
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● Modular chassis architecture
● High-density core and aggregation connectivity
● Redundant supervisors and power systems
● Segmentation and policy enforcement
● Telemetry and automation support
● Cisco IOS XE operating environment
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| Deployment examples: |
● Campus access
● Wireless access layers
● Smart buildings
● Office environments
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● Campus core
● Aggregation layers
● Backbone connectivity
● High-speed traffic aggregation
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● Enterprise campus core
● Large campus environments
● Core infrastructure expansion
● High-availability network designs
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Unified hardware: Deploy the same hardware platforms across cloud-managed, on-premises, and hybrid environments without hardware variations tied to management mode.
Unified software: Cisco IOS XE supports cloud-managed, on-premises, and hybrid operations through a common software architecture and consistent licensing tiers, including Essentials and Advantage.
Unified support: Unified licenses include hardware and software support across deployment models.
Cisco services
Successfully deploy, manage, and support the Cisco C9000 Series Smart Switch family with a full lifecycle of services, including implementation, optimization, technical, managed, and training services. Our team of experts can help you speed deployment, reduce costs, and minimize risk as you introduce new hardware, software, and protocols into the network. Learn more.
How to buy
To view buying options and speak with a Cisco sales representative, visit https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/buy/index.html.
https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/products/networking/software/index.html.