Cisco C9300-NM-2X40G Full Official Product Description
1. Part Number & Naming Definition
Official Full Name
Cisco C9300-NM-2X40G Catalyst 9300 Series Hot-Swappable 2-Port 40GE QSFP+ High-Bandwidth Uplink Network Module
Naming Breakdown
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C9300: Platform identifier for Cisco Catalyst 9300 stackable enterprise aggregation and access switches
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NM: Network Module, rear-panel pluggable uplink expansion card
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2X40G: Two independent QSFP+ slots supporting native 40 Gigabit Ethernet transceivers and 4×10G breakout cables
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Suffix=(C9300-NM-2X40G=): Field-replaceable spare unit for hardware replacement
Core Positioning
The C9300-NM-2X40G is a high-performance 40G uplink expansion module exclusively designed for standard Cisco Catalyst 9300 non-X series switches. It delivers ultra-high aggregate 80Gbps full-duplex uplink bandwidth for enterprise campus core layers, medium-to-large data center leaf-spine fabric interconnections, high-speed StackWise-480 stacking fabric links, and long-distance inter-facility fiber trunks. The hot-swappable design allows on-site capacity expansion or hardware maintenance without full switch power outage. It supports all Cisco-certified 40G QSFP+ optical transceivers and passive/active 40G DAC copper twinax cables, plus breakout cables to split each 40G port into four independent 10G SFP+ lanes for flexible mixed-speed deployments.
2. Hardware & Software Compatibility
Supported Switch Platforms
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Fully compatible with all standard Catalyst 9300 non-X chassis: C9300-24P, C9300-24U, C9300-48P, C9300-48U, C9300-48UN
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Not compatible with Catalyst 9300X, C9300L, C9300LM, Catalyst 9200 / 9500 series switches
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Each Catalyst 9300 switch supports one rear network module slot for a single uplink expansion card
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Backward compatible with legacy Catalyst 3850 network module mechanical and slot standards
Supported Cisco IOS XE Firmware
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Minimum supported release: Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.x
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Fully validated for all modern IOS XE branches: 17.1.x, 17.3.x, 17.6.x, 17.9.x, 17.12.x and newer stable releases
Transceiver & Cable Compatibility
All Cisco-certified QSFP+ 40G transceivers and cables are supported:
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40G optical modules: QSFP-40G-SR4, LR4, ER4, BiDi BD transceivers
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40G passive / active DAC twinax copper cables (1m, 3m, 5m)
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40G-to-4×10G breakout cables for splitting one 40G port into four independent 10G interfaces
3. Physical & Electrical Specifications
Form Factor
Single-width rear pluggable hot-swappable expansion module for Catalyst 9300 rear uplink slot
Power Consumption
Typical power draw: 15 Watts maximum under full dual-port 40G load
Environmental Operating Parameters
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Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)
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Non-operating storage / transit temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
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Relative humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing
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Maximum operating altitude: 3000 meters (10,000 ft) above sea level
Port Performance Metrics
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Each QSFP+ port operates at native 40Gbps full-duplex line rate
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Aggregate total module bandwidth: 80Gbps full-duplex
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Breakout mode: Each 40G port splits into four independent 10G full-duplex interfaces
4. Key Functional Feature Set
Hot-Swap Operation
The module can be inserted or removed while the host Catalyst 9300 switch remains powered on, eliminating service interruption during hardware replacement or uplink capacity expansion.
StackWise-480 High-Speed Stacking Support
Enables deployment of high-bandwidth stacking interconnections between Catalyst 9300 stack members, supporting up to 480Gbps total stack fabric bandwidth for stacks of up to eight switches.
Full Layer 2 & Layer 3 IOS XE Feature Compatibility
All ports inherit the complete enterprise feature suite of the host switch: static/dynamic routing (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP), 802.1Q VLAN trunking, granular QoS traffic prioritization, access control list security filtering, LACP link aggregation, and broadcast storm control.
Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) & Telemetry
Built-in DOM diagnostic support for all QSFP+ optical transceivers to monitor real-time optical power, temperature, voltage and bias current. Integrated IOS XE streaming telemetry enables remote real-time port performance monitoring and hardware fault alerting.
Enterprise High Availability Features
Fully compatible with SSO (Stateful Switchover) and ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade) for zero-downtime switch firmware updates. Multiple QSFP+ ports support redundant uplink design for automatic link failover protection.
Advanced Enterprise Security Integration
Supports Cisco DNA Center automation and zero-touch provisioning, Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), 802.1X port-based authentication, MACsec 10G/40G link-layer encryption, and TrustSec SGT security group tagging for end-to-end network segmentation.
5. Typical Enterprise Deployment Use Cases
Campus Aggregation Core Uplinks
Deployed on Catalyst 9300 aggregation switches to provide high-capacity 40G uplinks connecting large access switch stacks to campus core switches or core routers.
StackWise-480 Stack Fabric Interconnects
Utilize the 40G QSFP+ ports to build high-bandwidth stacking trunks between stacked Catalyst 9300 units, delivering low-latency cross-stack traffic forwarding for large switch stacks.
Medium & Large Data Center Leaf-Spine Interconnections
Used for high-speed leaf switch uplinks to data center spine switches, supporting short-reach multimode fiber for rack-to-rack connections and long-distance single-mode fiber for cross-row or cross-building data center links.
Inter-Facility & Cross-Building Backbone Links
Deploy long-range 40G QSFP+ single-mode optical transceivers to establish high-bandwidth inter-building fiber backbone connections within enterprise campus or multi-site data center estates.
Flexible Mixed-Speed Migration via Breakout Cables
Deploy 40G-to-4×10G breakout QSFP+ cables to split each 40G port into four independent 10G uplinks, supporting gradual network bandwidth upgrades and mixed 10G / 40G hybrid uplink architectures without hardware replacement.
6. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications
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Electrical Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2 No.60950-1, IEC/EN 60950-1
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EMC & EMI Standards: CE Mark, FCC Part 15 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, VCCI Class A, CISPR 22 Class A, CISPR 24, full EN 61000 series ESD, surge, radiated and conducted immunity compliance
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Environmental Directives: EU RoHS 2.0 hazardous substance restriction compliant, EU WEEE waste electronics recycling directive compliant
7. Standard Factory Packaging Contents
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C9300-NM-2X40G two-port 40G QSFP+ uplink network module
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Integrated extraction lever and captive retention screws for secure rear-slot installation
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ESD anti-static protective packaging and ESD wrist strap for static-safe hardware handling
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Hardware installation quick-start guide covering hot-swap procedures, QSFP+ transceiver and breakout cable installation, and basic FortyGigabitEthernet port configuration steps
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Full global regulatory compliance and certification documentation packet
Supplementary UNSPSC Classification Code
43222503 – Cisco C9300-NM-2X40G hot-swappable 2-port 40G QSFP+ uplink expansion network module for Catalyst 9300 series enterprise stackable switches, supporting StackWise-480 high-speed stacking, QSFP+ breakout to 4×10G lanes, DOM optical monitoring, MACsec link encryption, full IOS XE Layer2/Layer3 feature support, hot-swap maintenance, designed for enterprise campus aggregation, medium/large data center leaf-spine uplink and inter-building fiber backbone deployments.
Standard Hardware Warranty Information
All factory-new C9300-NM-2X40G network modules include a 1-year limited hardware warranty covering manufacturing defects and component failures under rated standard operating environmental conditions. Cisco Smart Net Total Care extended service contracts are available, providing 24×7 priority Cisco TAC technical support, advance genuine spare hardware replacement service, validated stable IOS XE firmware upgrade releases, and comprehensive switch configuration and network fault troubleshooting support.
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