Cisco C9300-STACK-KIT Full Official Product Description
1. Part Number & Naming Definition
Official Full Name
Cisco StackWise-480 Stacking Kit for Catalyst 9300 Modular Uplink Switches
SKU:C9300-STACK-KIT
Naming Breakdown
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C9300: Platform identifier for Cisco Catalyst 9300 modular uplink enterprise access & aggregation switches
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STACK: StackWise stacking accessory assembly
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KIT: Complete stacking package including two stack adapters and one proprietary stacking cable
Critical Compatibility Note: This kit supports standard C9300 modular models. It works with C9300X (StackWise-1T capable), but mixed C9300 / C9300X stack operates at StackWise-480 bandwidth.Not compatible with C9300L fixed-uplink switches; cannot mix C9300 and C9300L in the same stack.
Core Architecture
C9300-STACK-KIT enables Cisco StackWise-480 stacking technology, delivering 480 Gbps full-duplex stacking fabric bandwidth. Multiple physical Catalyst 9300 switches interconnect to form one unified logical switching entity via ring topology. The counter-rotating ring design provides redundant data paths; if one stacking link fails, traffic automatically reroutes to avoid stack split and service interruption.
Mandatory deployment prerequisites: All stack members must run identical IOS-XE firmware releases and matching license tiers (Network Essentials or Network Advantage). Each switch in the stack requires a stacking kit for interconnection.
Core Product Positioning
The Cisco C9300-STACK-KIT is a hot-pluggable rear-panel stacking accessory for Catalyst 9300 modular uplink switches. It consolidates multiple standalone switches under a single management plane, reduces IP address overhead, simplifies configuration and monitoring, and allows flexible port density scaling for enterprise campus access, building aggregation, and medium-to-large scale LAN environments. The resilient stacking ring enhances network high availability for business-critical campus networks supporting PoE wireless APs, IP phones and surveillance cameras.
2. Hardware & Software Compatibility
Supported Host Platforms
All Cisco Catalyst 9300 modular uplink switch series:
C9300-24P, C9300-24T, C9300-48P, C9300-48T, C9300-24UB, C9300-48UB,
C9300X-24P, C9300X-24T, C9300X-48P, C9300X-48T.
Unsupported Platforms
C9300L, C9200/C9200L, Catalyst 3850/3650, Catalyst 9400/9500 and other Cisco switch families.
Standard Kit Contents
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2 × StackWise stack adapters
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1 × STACK-T1-50CM proprietary stacking cable (0.5 meter)
Optional spare stacking cables sold separately: STACK-T1-1M (1 meter), STACK-T1-3M (3 meters) for extended rack layouts.
3. Physical & Performance Specifications
Stacking Performance
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Stacking Technology: StackWise-480
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Bidirectional Stack Fabric Bandwidth: 480 Gbps
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Maximum stack members: Up to 8 Catalyst 9300 / C9300X switches
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Supported Topology: Ring topology (recommended for redundancy); linear topology available
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Interface: Proprietary StackWise copper stacking connector
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Hot-swap capability: Stack adapters support Online Insertion and Removal (OIR)
Environmental Specifications
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Operating Temperature: 0 °C ~ +45 °C
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Storage Temperature: -40 °C ~ +70 °C
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Operating Humidity: 5% – 95% non‑condensing
Physical Parameters
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Default Cable Length: 0.5 m
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Approximate kit weight: 0.85 kg
4. Supported Functional Capabilities
Stack Operating Features
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Single unified management plane for all stack members
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Distributed forwarding architecture across stack fabric
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Automatic traffic failover over redundant stacking ring paths
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Stack master election and seamless master failover
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In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) for non-disruptive stack firmware updates
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Hot addition and removal of stack members
Layer 2 / Layer 3 Feature Support
All native IOS-XE switching functions of Catalyst 9300 apply to stacked systems:
802.1Q VLAN, STP/RSTP/MSTP, LACP link aggregation, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, ACL, hierarchical QoS, PoE/PoE+ power management, IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet.
Supported Management Interfaces
IOS-XE CLI, SSH, SNMPv2c/v3, RESTCONF, NETCONF, embedded WebUI, Cisco DNA Center.
5. Typical Deployment Scenarios
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Enterprise campus access layer stacking for Catalyst 9300 modular uplink switches
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Building aggregation layer deployments requiring scalable high-density 1G/10G ports
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PoE+ enabled access networks for Wi-Fi 6/6E APs, IP telephony and IP cameras
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Network upgrades requiring unified management and high-availability stacking architecture
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Mixed C9300 + C9300X stack deployments with backward stacking compatibility
6. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications
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Safety: UL, IEC 60950-1
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EMC: CE, FCC Part 15 Class A, ICES-003 Class A
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Environmental: RoHS compliant, halogen-free stacking cables
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Industry Standard: Cisco StackWise architecture specification
7. Standard Factory Package Contents
1 × Cisco C9300-STACK-KIT stacking kit
2 × StackWise data stack adapters
1 × 0.5m STACK-T1 stacking cable
Hardware installation guide
Stacking cables can be purchased individually as spare parts.
Model Comparison Reference
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C9300-STACK-KIT: StackWise-480, for C9300/C9300X modular switches, 480 Gbps stacking bandwidth
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C9300L-STACK-KIT: StackWise-320, dedicated for C9300L fixed-uplink switches
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C9200-STACK-KIT: StackWise-160, for Catalyst 9200 modular switches
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C9200L-STACK-KIT: StackWise-80, for Catalyst 9200L fixed-uplink switches
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STACK-T1-50CM/1M/3M: Separate replacement stacking cables without adapters
UNSPSC Classification Code
43211604 – Network switch stacking hardware accessory
Hardware Warranty
Genuine Cisco original hardware is covered under Cisco standard one-year hardware warranty. Refurbished stock follows respective vendor warranty terms.
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