Cisco Catalyst 4900M vs Nexus 93180YC-FX3
The Catalyst 4900M (WS-C4900M) is an end-of-life modular 10GbE data center switch on classic IOS; its modern Cisco replacement is the Nexus 93180YC-FX3, a 1RU switch with 48x 25G SFP28, 6x 100G QSFP28 uplinks, 3.6 Tbps of switching, NX-OS/ACI, and MACsec. For data center top-of-rack refreshes, deploy the Nexus 93180YC-FX3.
Cisco Catalyst 4900M
End-of-life 2RU modular Layer 3 data center switch built for 1/10GbE server access.
- Modular chassis: 8 fixed 10GbE (X2) ports plus 2 half-card slots
- 320 Gbps switching capacity; classic Cisco IOS
- 1GbE/10GbE server access via X2 and half-card options
- End of sale and past Last Day of Support
Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3
Current 1RU data center leaf/ToR switch with 25G access, 100G uplinks, and NX-OS or ACI.
- 48x 1/10/25G SFP28 downlinks and 6x 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks
- 3.6 Tbps switching, 1.2 bpps forwarding
- Runs NX-OS standalone or Cisco ACI; VXLAN/EVPN ready
- Line-rate MACsec encryption and PTP/SyncE timing
Cisco Catalyst 4900M vs Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Catalyst 4900M | Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 2RU modular | 1RU fixed |
| Access ports | 8x 10GbE (X2) + 2 half-card slots | 48x 1/10/25G SFP28 |
| Uplinks | Via half-card modules | 6x 40/100G QSFP28 |
| Switching capacity | 320 Gbps | 3.6 Tbps |
| Highest access speed | 10GbE | 25GbE |
| Operating system | Cisco IOS | Cisco NX-OS / ACI |
| VXLAN / EVPN | No | Yes |
| MACsec encryption | No | Yes (line-rate) |
| Timing (PTP/SyncE) | No | Yes |
| Automation | CLI / SNMP | NX-API, model-driven telemetry |
| Lifecycle status | End of Life | Current, actively sold |
Choose Cisco Catalyst 4900M if
Keep the 4900M only to sustain a legacy 10GbE access pod until it is migrated; it should not be purchased or expanded because it is past support, classic IOS only, and capped at 10GbE.
Choose Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 if
Choose the Nexus 93180YC-FX3 for data center top-of-rack and leaf roles needing 25G server access, 100G uplinks, VXLAN/EVPN fabrics or ACI, line-rate MACsec, and modern automation.
Verdict
The Catalyst 4900M is a 320 Gbps, 10GbE, classic-IOS switch that is end of life and not built for modern spine-leaf fabrics. The Nexus 93180YC-FX3 is the data center successor with 48x 25G access, 100G uplinks, 3.6 Tbps switching, NX-OS or ACI, VXLAN/EVPN, and MACsec. Replace 4900M access switches with the 93180YC-FX3, noting the move from IOS to NX-OS requires configuration and operational retooling.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Catalyst 4900M end of life?
Yes. The WS-C4900M has reached end of sale and has passed Cisco's Last Day of Support, so there are no further software fixes or hardware replacements. Plan a migration to a current Nexus 9300 platform.
What is a modern replacement for the Catalyst 4900M in the data center?
The Nexus 93180YC-FX3 (N9K-C93180YC-FX3) is a strong successor for 10GbE server-access roles, adding 25G access, 100G uplinks, NX-OS or ACI, and 3.6 Tbps of switching in 1RU.
Does moving from 4900M to Nexus mean switching from IOS to NX-OS?
Yes. The 4900M runs classic Cisco IOS, while the 93180YC-FX3 runs NX-OS (or operates in ACI mode). Expect to re-create configurations and update operational tooling as part of the migration.
Can the 93180YC-FX3 do MACsec and VXLAN for secure fabrics?
Yes. The 93180YC-FX3 supports line-rate MACsec encryption and VXLAN/EVPN, making it suitable for secure, automated leaf-spine data center fabrics that the 4900M cannot build.
More Catalyst comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.