C9500-16X-A vs C9500-40X-A
Compared products: C9500-16X-A,C9500-40X-A
Overview
Comparison based on QianliSwitch catalog records. No prices, stock counts, or unnamed customer projects are claimed.
Comparison summary
C9500-16X-A and C9500-40X-A are distinct manufacturer PIDs. Published differences that can be traced in the catalog include Downlink ports, Uplink ports, Switching capacity, Forwarding rate.
Use this page to decide which PID belongs on an RFQ. Do not treat one SKU as a drop-in replacement without matching media, uplink, and software/license lines on each product page.
Specification comparison table
Values below are copied from catalog fields on each product. Empty catalog fields stay “Not published in catalog” rather than guessed.
| Field | C9500-16X-A | C9500-40X-A |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer model | C9500-16X-A | C9500-40X-A |
| Brand | Cisco | Cisco |
| Downlink ports | 16 × 1/10 Gbps SFP+ + 1 NM slot | 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+ |
| Uplink ports | 1 × C9500-NM-8X or C9500-NM-2Q (included) | 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+ |
| Port speed | 10G | 10G |
| Layer / role | core | core |
| Switching capacity | Up to 480 Gbps full-duplex | Up to 960 Gbps full-duplex |
| Forwarding rate | Up to 360 Mpps (64-byte packets) | Up to 720 Mpps (64-byte packets) |
| PoE | Non-PoE | Non-PoE |
| PoE standard | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| PoE budget | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| Stacking / HA | StackWise Virtual for active-active resiliency | Not published in catalog |
| VXLAN | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| MLAG | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
Port / speed difference
C9500-16X-A downlink: 16 × 1/10 Gbps SFP+ + 1 NM slot. Uplink: 1 × C9500-NM-8X or C9500-NM-2Q (included).
C9500-40X-A downlink: 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+. Uplink: 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+.
If the design is locked to a faceplate (copper vs SFP+/SFP28/QSFP28 counts), choose the PID whose published map matches the optic plan. Do not infer a missing uplink from a sibling SKU.
Performance difference
Published switching capacity: C9500-16X-A Up to 480 Gbps full-duplex; C9500-40X-A Up to 960 Gbps full-duplex. Forwarding: C9500-16X-A Up to 360 Mpps (64-byte packets); C9500-40X-A Up to 720 Mpps (64-byte packets).
Capacity figures are catalog statements, not lab benchmarks. Confirm oversubscription against the actual downlink/uplink mix before buying optics.
PoE / feature difference
PoE: C9500-16X-A Non-PoE; C9500-40X-A Non-PoE. VXLAN: C9500-16X-A Not published in catalog; C9500-40X-A Not published in catalog. MLAG: C9500-16X-A Not published in catalog; C9500-40X-A Not published in catalog.
If PoE is required, a Non-PoE or unpublished PoE PID is the wrong shortlist. Feature flags that are empty in the catalog are not assumed enabled.
Deployment difference
C9500-16X-A is listed as role/layer core. C9500-40X-A is listed as core. Match the role to closet vs leaf vs core; a campus access PID and a data-center leaf PID are not interchangeable even when port counts look similar.
Which model fits which scenario
Choose C9500-16X-A when the published downlink/uplink mix is the constraint you already designed around.
Choose C9500-40X-A when you need the other PID’s published density or capacity and can accept its media type.
Selection recommendation
1) Freeze the faceplate. 2) Compare only published fields. 3) RFQ both PIDs if procurement needs a primary and a spare. 4) Ask for software/license confirmation — this catalog does not invent license packs.
Related products
FAQ
Key differences
Published deltas: Downlink ports, Uplink ports, Switching capacity, Forwarding rate. All other claims require the product pages.
Specification comparison
| Field | C9500-16X-A | C9500-40X-A |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer model | C9500-16X-A | C9500-40X-A |
| Brand | Cisco | Cisco |
| Downlink ports | 16 × 1/10 Gbps SFP+ + 1 NM slot | 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+ |
| Uplink ports | 1 × C9500-NM-8X or C9500-NM-2Q (included) | 40 × 10 Gbps SFP+ |
| Port speed | 10G | 10G |
| Layer / role | core | core |
| Switching capacity | Up to 480 Gbps full-duplex | Up to 960 Gbps full-duplex |
| Forwarding rate | Up to 360 Mpps (64-byte packets) | Up to 720 Mpps (64-byte packets) |
| PoE | Non-PoE | Non-PoE |
| PoE standard | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| PoE budget | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| Stacking / HA | StackWise Virtual for active-active resiliency | Not published in catalog |
| VXLAN | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
| MLAG | Not published in catalog | Not published in catalog |
Recommended scenario
Use C9500-16X-A vs C9500-40X-A in procurement shortlists where both PIDs are already in the verified catalog. Confirm optics and software separately.
Which one should you choose?
Shortlist C9500-16X-A when its published port map is the fit; shortlist C9500-40X-A when you need its published density/capacity. Do not substitute based on series name alone.
Related products
FAQ
Is C9500-16X-A a drop-in replacement for C9500-40X-A?
No. Match published downlink, uplink, PoE, and capacity. Empty catalog fields are not filled from a sibling SKU.
Where do these specifications come from?
From the QianliSwitch product records for each PID. If a field is not published, this comparison leaves it blank.
Should I request a quote for both models?
Yes when both faceplates can satisfy the design. Include quantity, optics, and destination country on the RFQ.