Which SFP, SFP+ and QSFP Modules Are Compatible With the Catalyst 9300

The Catalyst 9300 and 9300X do not have built-in optics ports on the base switch. All SFP, SFP+, SFP28 and QSFP uplinks come from a hot-swappable C9300-NM (or C9300X-NM) network module, so which transceivers you can use depends entirely on which module you install. A standard C9300 supports 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28 and 40G QSFP+ modules; the 9300X adds 25G and 40G/100G QSFP28. QSFP (40G/100G) is only available on the C9300X-NM-2C and C9300X-NM-4C modules.

First, the rule that trips up most buyers

The Catalyst 9300 family is built around a modular uplink. The fixed front-panel ports are your access ports (copper RJ-45 or, on the 24S/48S SFP models, fixed 1G SFP), and the optics-based uplinks live in a separate network module that slides into the rear slot. That single design fact answers most compatibility questions: a transceiver is supported when it matches the slot you actually have.

So the real question is never just "does GLC-TE work in a 9300?" It's "which network module is installed, and does that module take a 1G, 10G, 25G or 40G/100G optic?" Get the module right and the optics follow. The modules are field-replaceable and hot-swappable, so you can change uplink speed later without replacing the switch — Cisco's stated reason for the design is non-disruptive migration from 10G to 25G and beyond.

The C9300-NM and C9300X-NM network modules

Here are the current network modules and the optics class each one accepts. The base C9300-NM modules fit any Catalyst 9300; the C9300X-NM modules are only supported in C9300X chassis (C9300X-24Y, C9300X-48HX, C9300X-48TX, etc.). The two QSFP modules are what give you 40G and 100G — there is no QSFP option on a base 9300.

Common supported part numbers by speed

Below are widely deployed Cisco-branded optics for each module class. These are real Cisco PIDs, not the exhaustive list — Cisco's authoritative source is the TMG Optics Compatibility Matrix, but the parts below cover the large majority of 9300/9300X deployments.

Copper vs fiber: how to choose

Copper and fiber on the 9300 are not interchangeable choices for the same job — each fits a distance and cost band.

How to verify what's installed (and what's supported) on the switch

Before you order, confirm exactly which module and ports you have. The 9300/9300X run IOS-XE, and three commands tell you everything:

• show inventory — lists the installed network module PID (for example C9300-NM-8X) and any inserted transceiver PIDs and serial numbers. This is the fastest way to confirm the slot type.
• show interfaces transceiver — shows real-time physical data (temperature, optical Tx/Rx power, current) for installed optics, which is also how you confirm a module is seated and recognized. Add detail for DOM thresholds.
• show interfaces transceiver supported-list — returns the optics the running IOS-XE image recognizes, so you can confirm a specific PID will be accepted before deployment.

For EEPROM-level vendor and part data on a single port, show idprom interface reads the transceiver's onboard identity. If a non-Cisco or unrecognized optic is rejected, that's the service-unsupported transceiver behavior — Cisco optics are validated against the platform, which matters for TAC support and for US public-sector buyers who need a clean, supported BOM.

Buying the right combination

The cleanest way to avoid a mismatch is to specify the switch model, the network module, and the optics together as one bill of materials. Browse current options on our Cisco switches and optics and transceivers pages, or send us your port count, reach, and fiber type and we'll map it to verified Cisco PIDs. As an authorized partner we quote genuine Cisco modules and optics with full TAA-compliance and SmartNet eligibility — no surprise rejected transceivers at install. If you're standardizing across a fleet or planning a 10G-to-25G/100G migration, our BOM builder keeps the module and optic choices consistent.