Cisco Catalyst 9300 DNA Advantage Models Explained: C9300-DNAX-E-48R, C9300-DNA-E-48S & Part Numbers

Aug 06 , 2026 8

Quick answer: The C9300-DNAX-E-48R is a Cisco DNA Advantage perpetual license for the Catalyst C9300-48P-E switch with a 5-year DNA subscription included. "DNAX" means the DNA Advantage tier, "E" means the perpetual (embedded) license, and "48" binds the license to a 48-port Catalyst 9300 model. If a part number says DNA-E (no X), it is the DNA Essentials tier; E3N-C9300-48A and CON-L1NBD-C930048S are support contracts, and -SPWR-NONE means the unit ships without a power supply.

Cisco Catalyst 9300 DNA part numbers are notoriously confusing — a single hardware switch can be ordered with dozens of different license and contract suffixes. Buyers searching for used Catalyst 9300 switches regularly run into SKUs like C9300-DNAX-E-48R, C9300-DNA-E-48S, E3N-C9300-48A, or C9300-SPWR-NONE, and it is not obvious what they include, what they are worth, or whether they transfer when you buy the unit second-hand. This guide decodes the entire DNA part-number family for the Catalyst 9300, so you can read any listing and know exactly what you are paying for.

What Is Cisco DNA on the Catalyst 9300?

DNA (Digital Network Architecture) is Cisco's software layer for Catalyst 9000 switches. It adds management, analytics and automation features on top of IOS-XE: DNA Center for centralized policy and monitoring, Cisco TrustSec/Group-Based Policy, encrypted traffic analytics, SD-Access readiness, and application visibility. DNA is sold as a license tier that determines which features unlock, and as a subscription that determines how long they stay unlocked.

On the used market, the DNA part number tells you three things about a unit: which tier it carries (Advantage or Essentials), whether the license is perpetual (stays with the hardware) or term (expires), and which Catalyst 9300 model the software is bound to.

The DNA Part Number Decoder

Every Catalyst 9300 DNA SKU follows the same structure. Once you can read it, you can decode any variant in seconds:

So C9300-DNAX-E-48R = Catalyst 9300 + DNA Advantage + embedded perpetual license + bound to a 48-port model + R-type renewal package. A C9300-DNA-E-48S is the same shape but with DNA Essentials instead of Advantage.

DNA Advantage vs DNA Essentials vs No DNA: What You Actually Get

For a used purchase, the tier matters because Advantage units cost noticeably more on the secondary market, and you can usually not downgrade a claim later — verify the license state of the exact unit (via show license status or the seller's test report) before paying.

Common Catalyst 9300 DNA Part Numbers Explained

These are the part numbers you will see in real listings, decoded:

Two of these deserve extra attention because buyers frequently misread them. C9300-SPWR-NONE does not add anything — it removes the power supply from the order, so a listing with this suffix is for a bare chassis. And E3N-* / CON-L1NBD-* are support contracts with a defined service window (next-business-day parts replacement), which is why they appear in part-number searches but are not licenses.

What Transfers When You Buy a Used Catalyst 9300?

This is the question that decides whether a deal is good or bad. The rules for the Catalyst 9300:

• Embedded/perpetual licenses ("E" SKUs) stay with the hardware. A C9300-DNAX-E-48R purchased second-hand keeps its DNA Advantage entitlement on the unit. This is the most valuable outcome for a used buyer.
• Term subscriptions (5-year or 3-year suffixes) do not automatically transfer. If the DNA subscription was tied to the original owner's Smart Account, the remaining time belongs to that account unless the seller formally transfers it via Cisco Smart Licensing. Always ask for the license transfer in writing.
• Base IOS-XE functionality always works. Even with no DNA subscription at all, a Catalyst 9300 runs IOS-XE and works as a normal switch; DNA features simply stay locked or fall back to evaluation mode (typically 90 days).
• Support contracts are personal. E3N and CON-L1NBD contracts are tied to the original owner; they cannot be "included" in a used sale unless formally transferred. Treat them as information about how the unit was maintained, not as something you inherit.

Because this is where most used-market confusion lives, we publish the license state of every unit in our listings — if a C9300-48U-E carries a DNA Advantage entitlement, the listing says so.

Which Catalyst 9300 Models Do These DNA SKUs Bind To?

The "48" or "24" in the DNA SKU corresponds to the port count of the hardware it licenses. Common pairings on the used market:

• C9300-24P-E / C9300-24U-E / C9300-24T-E → DNA-24 SKUs
• C9300-48P-E / C9300-48U-E / C9300-48T-E / C9300-48UXM-A → DNA-48 SKUs
• C9300-48P-A / C9300-48U-A (Advantage hardware suffix -A) → commonly paired with DNA Advantage software

If you are shopping for a specific unit, the practical rule is: match the license's port count to the switch, and check the unit's actual license state rather than assuming the listing SKU. A good seller will send you the output of show version and show license summary for the exact serial number.

How Much Is a Used Catalyst 9300 with DNA Advantage Worth?

Indicative used-market ranges (verify with current quotes — prices vary by condition, license state and inventory):

• C9300-24P-E / 24U-E without DNA: roughly $900 – $1,500
• C9300-48P-E / 48U-E with DNA Essentials: roughly $1,300 – $2,000
• C9300-48P-E / 48U-E with DNA Advantage (perpetual): typically a 10–20% premium over Essentials units
• A bare chassis with C9300-SPWR-NONE suffix: discount for missing PSUs — factor in the cost of two correct PSUs before comparing prices

These are indicative ranges for planning, not offers. Hardware prices move with stock levels; request a quote for current availability and test reports.

Buying Checklist for a DNA-Licensed Catalyst 9300

1. Confirm the exact hardware model (24/48 ports, PoE+ or UPoE) and that the DNA SKU's port count matches
2. Ask for show license summary output: which tier (Advantage/Essentials), perpetual or term, and remaining term
3. If the subscription is term-based, get the Smart Account transfer confirmed in writing
4. Check the power supply situation — a C9300-SPWR-NONE unit needs PSUs added
5. Verify the unit is not near end-of-sale / end-of-life (Catalyst 9300 remains in active support as of 2026)
6. Ask for the test report: boot test, all ports tested, PoE tested, firmware version

Ready to compare real units? Browse our used Catalyst 9300 inventory or send us the exact part numbers on your shortlist — we will confirm the license state and ship you the test report for the specific unit before you pay.

FAQ

Q: What is the C9300-DNAX-E-48R?

A: It is a DNA Advantage perpetual license (with an R-type ordering package) for a 48-port Catalyst 9300 switch, such as the C9300-48P-E or C9300-48U-E. The "X" marks the Advantage tier, and "E" means the license is embedded/perpetual rather than a term subscription.

Q: What is the difference between DNA Advantage and DNA Essentials?

A: DNA Advantage (DNAX) unlocks the full DNA feature set: SD-Access readiness, TrustSec/Group-Based Policy, encrypted traffic analytics, and advanced QoS. DNA Essentials (DNA-E) covers the basics such as DNA Center Essentials-level management. On the used market, Advantage units carry a premium.

Q: Does the DNA license transfer when I buy a used Catalyst 9300?

A: Perpetual "E" licenses are embedded in the hardware and stay with the unit — that is the best case for a used buyer. Term subscriptions (5-year or 3-year SKUs) are tied to the seller's Smart Account and need a formal transfer. Support contracts (E3N, CON-L1NBD) are personal and do not transfer.

Q: What does C9300-SPWR-NONE mean?

A: It means the switch was ordered without a power supply. It is not a software SKU. A listing with this suffix is a bare chassis, and you must add PSUs — factor that cost into the price comparison.

Q: What is E3N-C9300-48A?

A: It is a 3-year 8x5xNBD service contract for a 48-port Catalyst 9300 — a hardware support agreement (next-business-day parts replacement), not a software license. It tells you the unit was maintained under a service contract.

Q: What is CON-L1NBD-C930048S?

A: It is a Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) 8x5xNBD support contract SKU for the Catalyst 9300. Like E3N, it is a support contract, and it does not transfer to a new owner automatically.

Q: What is the difference between the -R and -S suffixes in DNA SKUs?

A: They identify the ordering and renewal package Cisco used for the subscription (renewal-based vs subscription-based). For a buyer the practical question is not R vs S but whether the license is perpetual or term — check the license summary output of the actual unit.

Q: Can I use a Catalyst 9300 without any DNA subscription?

A: Yes. The switch runs IOS-XE and works fully as a switch. DNA features either stay locked or run in evaluation mode (typically 90 days). You can add a DNA subscription later, but at list price, so a used unit with an embedded license is usually the better value.

Q: Do C9500 DNA SKUs like C9500-DNAX-A-24YR follow the same rules?

A: The Catalyst 9500 DNA family follows the same tier logic (X = Advantage, E = embedded, 24 = 24-port binding), but the 9500 is a different hardware platform with its own SKU list — always match the license to the exact series.

Q: Where can I buy a used Catalyst 9300 with DNA Advantage?

A: Check our C9300-48U-E and C9300-24U-A listings, or send us your part-number shortlist. Every unit ships with its test report and documented license state, and our warranty covers hardware failure.