Cisco Catalyst IE-9320-16P8U4X-E: Next-Generation Rugged Industrial Switching

The Cisco Catalyst IE-9320-16P8U4X-E is a high-performance, enterprise-grade industrial Ethernet switch designed for rugged environments where reliability, scalability, and advanced power delivery are mission-critical. Belonging to the Cisco Catalyst IE9300 family, this model offers a powerful combination of 16 GE PoE+ ports, 8 multigigabit 2.5G 4PPoE ports, and 4 high-speed 10G SFP+ uplinks, making it ideal for smart cities, manufacturing, utilities, transportation, oil and gas, and large-scale industrial automation networks.

Engineered with a hardened platform, rich security capabilities, and full stackability, the IE-9320-16P8U4X-E brings enterprise switching intelligence to harsh outdoor and industrial environments.

Key Features of the Cisco Catalyst IE-9320-16P8U4X-E

High-Capacity and Flexible Power Delivery

This switch combines PoE+ and 4-Pair PoE (4PPoE) to support high-consumption end devices such as PTZ cameras, Wi-Fi 6/6E access points, and industrial sensors.

• 16 × 1GE PoE+ Ports – Ideal for powering cameras, phones, and industrial endpoints.
• 8 × 2.5GE 4PPoE Ports – Supports high-power, high-bandwidth devices up to 90W.
• Total PoE Power Budget: Depending on the power supply configuration, it supports high cumulative PoE output to accommodate mixed-device environments.

Enterprise-Class Uplinks

With 4 × 10G SFP+ uplinks, the switch provides high-speed backbone connectivity for data aggregation, redundancy, and high-capacity industrial networks.

Rugged Industrial Design

The IE-9320-16P8U4X-E is engineered for deployment in harsh conditions:

• Extended operating temperatures
• Hardened housing
• Resistance to shock, vibration, and electrical noise
• Fanless design for silent, reliable operation

Stackable Architecture

The IE9300 family introduces true stackability for industrial deployments:

• Supports stacking for simplified management
• Enables redundancy and high availability
• Increases scalability across distributed industrial sites

Advanced Security for Industrial Networks

Cisco integrates enterprise-grade industrial network security:

• MACsec encryption
• Zero-trust security framework
• Network segmentation
• Secure boot & image signing
• Trustworthy hardware with tamper protection

Intent-Based Networking with Cisco IOS XE

Powered by Cisco IOS XE, the IE-9320-16P8U4X-E delivers:

• Automation and centralized management
• Programmability via APIs
• Support for Cisco DNA Center
• Advanced QoS and traffic intelligence
• Long-term software roadmap support

Technical Specifications

Hardware Specifications

• Model: IE-9320-16P8U4X-E
• Total Downlink Ports: 24
• Downlink Port Breakdown:
  • 16 × GE (PoE+)
  • 8 × 2.5GE (4PPoE)
• Uplink Ports:
  • 4 × 10G SFP+
• Switching Capacity: High-throughput fabric designed for industrial IoT and automation
• Stacking Support: Yes
• Power Supply: Field-replaceable, redundant PSU support
• Mounting Options: DIN-rail or wall mount (depending on accessories)

PoE Power

• PoE Types Supported: PoE, PoE+, 4-Pair PoE (UPoE Class)
• Maximum Power per Port: Up to 90W on 2.5G ports
• Ideal Use Cases: Cameras, sensors, APs, lighting, access control, IoT gateways

Environmental Ratings

• Operating Temperature: Extended industrial range
• Ingress Protection: Ruggedized for outdoor and harsh indoor environments
• Certifications: Compliant with industry standards for manufacturing, energy, and transportation sectors

Software Specifications

• Operating System: Cisco IOS XE
• Security Features: MACsec, role-based access, secure boot, image signing
• Industrial Protocol Support: CIP, PROFINET, Modbus/TCP, and more
• Management:
  • Cisco DNA Center
  • Web UI
  • CLI
  • RESTCONF and NETCONF for automation

Use Cases of the IE-9320-16P8U4X-E

Smart Cities

Supports HD cameras, smart lighting, IoT sensors, and traffic control systems with high-power PoE and multigigabit capability.

Manufacturing and Industrial Automation

Handles real-time data from PLCs, robots, sensors, and control systems with low latency.

Utilities and Energy

Ideal for substations, renewable energy sites, and grid automation with hardened electronics and secure communication.

Transportation and Rail

Designed for rugged vibration-prone environments such as tunnels, stations, and control centers.

Benefits of Deploying the IE-9320-16P8U4X-E

Future-Proof Performance

Offers multigigabit downlinks and 10G uplinks for growing bandwidth needs.

Simplified Deployment

Stacking and automation reduce time-to-deployment and operational overhead.

Secure and Reliable

Designed for zero-trust industrial networks with hardware-level protection.

Maximized Power Flexibility

High PoE budgets and 4PPoE allow powering complex deployments from a single switch.

FAQs

1. What is the key difference between the 1GE PoE+ ports and the 2.5GE 4PPoE ports?

The 1GE ports support standard PoE+ up to 30W, while the 2.5GE ports support higher bandwidth and 4-Pair PoE delivering up to 90W for high-power devices.

2. Can the IE-9320-16P8U4X-E operate in outdoor environments?

Yes, it is built for harsh industrial and outdoor environments with extended temperature support and rugged hardware.

3. Does this switch support stacking?

Yes, the IE9300 series supports stackability, allowing multiple switches to operate as a single unified system.

4. What uplink speeds are supported?

This model includes four 10G SFP+ uplinks for high-speed aggregation and backbone connectivity.

5. Which industries benefit most from this switch?

Manufacturing, utilities, transportation, smart cities, and industrial automation deployments benefit the most due to its rugged design, advanced security, and high PoE capability.

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