Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A: Ruggedized, High-Performance Industrial Switching for Modern OT Networks

The Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A is a next-generation, rugged industrial Ethernet switch engineered for demanding operational technology (OT) environments. Built for manufacturing floors, energy grids, rail systems, utilities, controlled outdoor sites, and mission-critical industrial networks, this model delivers high port density, PoE+ flexibility, advanced security, and superior uplink capacity — all in a compact, DIN-rail or rack-mountable form factor.

This landing page provides a comprehensive, semantically optimized overview of the IE-9310-16P8S4X-A, including specifications, capabilities, deployment benefits, and frequently asked questions.

Overview of the Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A

Designed as part of the Cisco Catalyst IE9300 Rugged Series, the IE-9310-16P8S4X-A brings enterprise-grade switching capabilities into harsh industrial environments. It supports full Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, advanced security, edge compute support, and high-bandwidth uplinks — all hardened for extreme temperature and vibration conditions.

Its combination of 16 GE PoE+ copper ports, 8 GE SFP downlinks, and 4 high-speed 1/10G SFP+ uplinks makes it ideal for camera systems, production lines, access control networks, and field automation.

Key Features and Benefits

High Port Density for Scalable Industrial Deployments

This model supports:

• 16 × 10/100/1000 Mbps PoE+ Ethernet ports, ideal for IP cameras, sensors, and industrial access devices.
• 8 × 1G SFP downlink ports, enabling fiber-based connectivity for extended distances.
• 4 × 1/10G SFP+ uplink ports, providing high-performance backbone and aggregation capabilities.

This combination ensures both horizontal device connectivity and vertical uplink scalability.

PoE+ Support for Power-Hungry Industrial Endpoints

With PoE+ on all 16 copper ports, the switch can power demanding devices:

• High-resolution surveillance cameras
• Wireless access points
• Industrial sensors and controllers
• Access control systems

This reduces external power components and accelerates deployment in remote or complex environments.

Ruggedized for Harsh Industrial Conditions

The IE-9310-16P8S4X-A is designed for extreme conditions, including:

• Operating temperature ranges suitable for industrial sites
• Resistance to shock and vibration
• Fanless, convection-cooled design
• Rugged metal housing

This ensures continuous operation in manufacturing floors, outdoor cabinets, utility sites, and more.

Advanced Security and Resiliency

Cisco embeds enterprise-level security into its industrial switches, including:

• MACsec link-level encryption
• TrustSec segmentation
• Secure Boot and image signing
• Policy-based access control
• Resilient ring protocols for high availability

This enables classic IT-grade protection in OT-controlled environments.

Centralized Management and Automation

The switch integrates seamlessly with:

• Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly DNA Center)
• Cisco IOx for edge compute
• Zero-touch provisioning
• Network automation and telemetry

This reduces operational costs and supports large-scale industrial deployments.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Specifications

• Model: Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A
• Switch Type: Rugged Industrial Ethernet Switch
• Downlink Ports:
  • 16 × 10/100/1000 Mbps PoE+ RJ-45
  • 8 × 1G SFP
• Uplink Ports:
  • 4 × 1/10-Gigabit SFP+
• PoE Capability:
  • PoE+ output on all 16 copper ports
  • Supports up to 30W per port
• Form Factor: DIN-rail or rack-mount depending on enclosure
• Cooling: Fanless, passive cooling
• Power Supply: Compatible with modular industrial power systems

Performance and Software Capabilities

• Full Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing support
• Support for IPv4 and IPv6
• MACsec on selected ports
• Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for industrial automation
• High-availability protocols including REP, MRP, and ERPS
• QoS for industrial traffic prioritization
• NetFlow, telemetry, and advanced monitoring

Environmental and Reliability Specs

• Extended operating temperature ranges
• Conformal coating options
• Designed for industrial certifications
• Hardened for utility, manufacturing, and transportation sectors

Ideal Use Cases

Industrial Automation and Factory Networks

Perfect for machine lines, PLCs, sensors, and high-density PoE cameras.

Transportation and Rail Systems

Handles vibration, extended temperature needs, and fiber infrastructure.

Smart Cities and Utilities

Suitable for outdoor cabinets, substations, metering networks, and IoT devices.

Security and Surveillance

Supports high-power PoE+ cameras with flexible fiber uplinks to monitoring centers.

Why Choose the IE-9310-16P8S4X-A?

This switch delivers a future-ready, ruggedized foundation for industrial digital transformation. It combines:

• High-power PoE
• Fiber flexibility
• 10-Gigabit uplinks
• Military-grade reliability
• Enterprise-level security
• Long-term availability and support

For any organization requiring a highly resilient industrial network core or distribution layer, the Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A stands out as one of the most capable models in the market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the primary purpose of the Cisco Catalyst IE-9310-16P8S4X-A?

It is designed to provide rugged, secure, and high-performance industrial switching for harsh environments such as manufacturing floors, utilities, transportation systems, and outdoor industrial enclosures.

Does this switch support PoE+ on all copper ports?

Yes, all 16 GE RJ-45 ports support full PoE+ up to 30W per port, making it suitable for cameras, APs, and industrial sensors.

Can the uplink ports operate at 10-Gigabit speeds?

Yes, all four SFP+ uplinks support both 1G and 10G speeds, enabling high-bandwidth backbone connectivity.

Is this switch suitable for extreme temperature environments?

Yes, it is ruggedized for extended temperature ranges and harsh industrial conditions, including shock, vibration, and dust-exposed environments.

Does the IE-9310-16P8S4X-A support Layer 3 features?

Absolutely. It includes advanced Layer 3 routing capabilities, including static routing, OSPF, EIGRP, IPv6 routing, and policy-based features.

For more information you can view the datasheets for CISCO IE9300 here.