No, Cisco Catalyst 9300 stack kits and Cisco Catalyst 9300L stack kits are generally not directly compatible for mixed stacking, nor can their respective switch models be stacked together. While both series offer stacking capabilities, they use different technologies and physical connectors that prevent direct interoperability. Understanding these differences is essential for proper Cisco 9300 stacking and network design.
Understanding Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Stacking
The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches enable multiple physical switches to operate as a single logical unit, simplifying management, improving scalability, and enhancing network resiliency. A stack can contain up to 8 members, managed via a unified control plane. To function properly, all stack members must run the same Cisco IOS version and compatible license levels.
Cisco Catalyst 9300 and 9300X Stacking: StackWise-1T and StackWise-480
The Catalyst 9300 modular uplink models and newer 9300X models use high-performance stacking:
- StackWise-1T: Used by Catalyst 9300X, offers 1 Tbps stacking bandwidth, suitable for high-density Multigigabit and 100G uplinks.
- StackWise-480: Used by Catalyst 9300 models, provides 480 Gbps stacking bandwidth.
Both use dedicated STACK-T1 cables (0.5m, 1m, 3m lengths). Mixing Catalyst 9300X and 9300 models is supported but runs at StackWise-480 speeds.
Cisco Catalyst 9300L and 9300LM Stacking: StackWise-320
The fixed uplink Catalyst 9300L and 9300LM models use StackWise-320, with 320 Gbps stacking bandwidth. Two main stack kits exist:
- C9300L-STACK-KIT: Includes stack adapters and
STACK-T3cables with push tab connectors. This kit reached End-of-Sale on November 3, 2025. - C9300L-STACK-KIT2: Designed for C9300LM and compatible with C9300L; uses
STACK-T3Acables with thumb screws. It replaces the original kit.
Note: The STACK-T3 and STACK-T3A cables are physically incompatible. Mixing C9300L and C9300LM switches requires all stack kits to be the same version for compatibility.
Cisco 9300 Stack Kit Compatibility Matrix
| Model Type | Stacking Technology | Bandwidth | Max Members | Internal Compatibility | External Compatibility | Required Stack Kit / Cable Type |
| Cisco Catalyst 9300X | StackWise-1T | 1 Tbps | 8 | Other C9300X models | C9300 models (at StackWise-480 speeds) | STACK-T1 cables |
| Cisco Catalyst 9300 | StackWise-480 | 480 Gbps | 8 | Other C9300 models | C9300X models (at StackWise-480 speeds) | STACK-T1 cables |
| Cisco Catalyst 9300L | StackWise-320 | 320 Gbps | 8 | C9300L and C9300LM models | None (with C9300/9300X) | C9300L-STACK-KIT / STACK-T3 (older), C9300L-STACK-KIT2 / STACK-T3A (newer) |
| Cisco Catalyst 9300LM | StackWise-320 | 320 Gbps | 8 | C9300LM and C9300L models | None (with C9300/9300X) | C9300L-STACK-KIT2 / STACK-T3A |
Key Compatibility Takeaways
- No Mixed Stacking Between Modular and Fixed Uplink Models: Modular uplink models (Catalyst 9300 and 9300X) cannot stack with fixed uplink models (Catalyst 9300L and 9300LM).
- Higher Scale SKUs: Some Catalyst 9300 higher scale SKUs are only stackable with like models, not standard 9300 or 9300X.
- Older Generations: Cisco Catalyst 3850 and 3650 series are not compatible for stacking with Catalyst 9300.
- Stack Kit Cable Types Matter: For 9300L/LM models, mixing stack kits using different cable types (STACK-T3 vs STACK-T3A) is not supported without replacing stack kits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I mix Catalyst 9300 and Catalyst 9300L switches in the same stack?
No, you cannot mix Catalyst 9300 (modular uplink) and Catalyst 9300L (fixed uplink) switch models in the same stack due to different stacking technologies and physical connectors.
2. Can you stack two different model Cisco switches?
Stacking two different Cisco switch models is only possible if they belong to the same series and support compatible stacking technologies. For example, Catalyst 9300 and 9300X can stack together. However, mixing across different series like Catalyst 9300 and 3850 is not supported.
3. Is the Cisco 9300 stackable?
Yes, Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches support stacking up to 8 members using StackWise-480 or StackWise-1T technologies, enabling unified management and scalability.
4. Is a Cisco 9300 a layer 3 switch?
Yes, the Cisco Catalyst 9300 series are Layer 3 switches, supporting advanced routing protocols, multilayer switching, and suitable for enterprise core and distribution layers.
5. Are the stack cables for C9300L and C9300LM interchangeable?
While Catalyst 9300L and 9300LM can stack together, the older C9300L-STACK-KIT uses STACK-T3 cables incompatible with the STACK-T3A cables used by the newer C9300L-STACK-KIT2 and 9300LM. All stack kits must match to ensure compatibility.
6. What happens if I try to use an incompatible Cisco 9300L stack kit or cable?
Using incompatible stack kits or cables prevents stack formation, leading to network instability and loss of stack functionality.
7. What is the replacement for the C9300L-STACK-KIT?
The C9300L-STACK-KIT reached End-of-Sale on November 3, 2025, and is replaced by the C9300L-STACK-KIT2.
For more detailed configurations, product options, and support with your Cisco Catalyst 9300 stacking needs, including stack kit compatibility, visit router-switch.com.