Cisco Catalyst 9400-SUP-1XL: High-Performance Supervisor Engine

Jun 19 , 2025 6

Cisco Catalyst 9400-SUP-1XL: High-Performance Supervisor Engine

Product Overview
The Cisco Catalyst 9400-SUP-1XL is an enhanced supervisor engine for the Catalyst 9400 Series modular switches, delivering enterprise-class performance with expanded capabilities for modern campus networks. This supervisor module provides the control plane intelligence and management functions for the entire chassis.

Key Specifications:

• Performance: 720Gbps per slot capacity

• CPU: Quad-core 2.4GHz processor with hardware acceleration

• Memory: 32GB DDR4 (expandable to 64GB)

• Storage: 128GB internal flash storage

• Management Ports:

• 2x 1G/10G SFP+ ports

• 1x 1G RJ45 console port

• Redundancy: 1:1 supervisor redundancy with NSF/SSO

Advanced Features:
✔ Cisco IOS XE software with programmable APIs
✔ Full support for SD-Access and DNA Center
✔ Enhanced security with TrustSec and MACsec
✔ AI-powered network analytics
✔ Flexible NetFlow and streaming telemetry
✔ Seamless software upgrades (ISSU)

Next-Generation Evolution: Catalyst 9400-SUP-2XL (Projected 2025)

Major Enhancements:

• Performance: 1.44Tbps per slot capacity (2x improvement)

• CPU: 8-core 3.2GHz processor with AI acceleration

• Memory: 64GB DDR5 (expandable to 128GB)

• Storage: 256GB NVMe flash storage

• Management Ports:

• 4x 10G/25G SFP28 ports

• 1x 2.5G RJ45 console port

• New Capabilities:

• Autonomous network operations

• Quantum-safe cryptography

• Intent-based networking

• Enhanced AI/ML analytics

Why Upgrade?

• Support for 400G-ready networks

• AI-driven network optimization

• Future-proof security architecture

• Improved operational efficiency

• Enhanced visibility and automation

Conclusion:
The Catalyst 9400-SUP-1XL delivers robust performance for today's campus networks, while the 9400-SUP-2XL represents the next evolution with AI-powered automation, quantum-safe security, and the performance needed for tomorrow's digital transformation initiatives. The newer supervisor maintains backward compatibility while offering significant improvements in processing power, security, and autonomous operations.