{"id":12821,"date":"2026-09-14T12:05:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T04:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qgreenlink.com\/?p=12821"},"modified":"2026-09-14T12:55:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T04:55:22","slug":"catalyst-9300-sfp-compatibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qgreenlink.com\/ar\/2026\/09\/14\/catalyst-9300-sfp-compatibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Catalyst 9300 SFP Compatibility Guide: 1G, 10G, 25G & 40G Optics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trademark notice:<\/strong> Cisco and Cisco Catalyst are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. QGreenLink is an independent supplier and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cisco Systems, Inc.<\/p>\n

Choosing the correct optical transceiver for a Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/strong> is not simply a matter of selecting an SFP with the right speed. The correct solution depends on the exact switch model, installed uplink module, Ethernet speed, fiber type, transmission distance and optical interface.<\/p>\n

For example, a network using a C9300-NM-4G<\/strong> uplink module has very different optical requirements from one equipped with a C9300-NM-2Y<\/strong> or C9300-NM-2Q<\/strong>. This guide explains how to choose suitable 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28 and 40G QSFP+ transceivers for Cisco Catalyst 9300 deployments.<\/p>\n

What Is the Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series?<\/h2>\n

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series is a stackable enterprise access-switching platform designed for campus and enterprise networks. Depending on the model and configuration, Catalyst 9300 switches can provide access connectivity for computers, wireless access points, IP phones, IoT devices, servers and other network equipment.<\/p>\n

One important feature of standard C9300 models is their use of optional uplink network modules. Instead of having only one fixed uplink configuration, organizations can select different network modules depending on the bandwidth required.<\/p>\n

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Network Modules Explained<\/h2>\n

Before choosing an SFP, first identify the installed network module. This is one of the most important compatibility checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Network Module<\/th>\nPorts<\/th>\nSupported Speed<\/th>\nTypical Transceiver<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
C9300-NM-4G<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n1G<\/td>\nSFP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C9300-NM-8X<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n1G \/ 10G<\/td>\nSFP \/ SFP+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C9300-NM-2Y<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1G \/ 10G \/ 25G<\/td>\nSFP \/ SFP+ \/ SFP28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C9300-NM-2Q<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n40G<\/td>\nQSFP+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C9300-NM-4M<\/td>\n4<\/td>\nMultigigabit<\/td>\nCopper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

C9300-NM-4G<\/h3>\n

The C9300-NM-4G contains four 1 Gigabit Ethernet SFP slots and is suitable when the network only requires Gigabit optical uplinks.<\/p>\n

C9300-NM-8X<\/h3>\n

The C9300-NM-8X provides eight 10G\/1G uplink interfaces, making it one of the most flexible options for networks requiring multiple 1G or 10G optical links.<\/p>\n

C9300-NM-2Y<\/h3>\n

The C9300-NM-2Y provides two 25G\/10G\/1G interfaces. It is useful when an enterprise has outgrown 10G uplinks but does not yet require 40G.<\/p>\n

C9300-NM-2Q<\/h3>\n

The C9300-NM-2Q provides two 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ interfaces for higher-capacity aggregation and uplink applications.<\/p>\n

1G SFP Options for Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/h2>\n

For Gigabit Ethernet links, two frequently encountered Cisco optical transceivers are GLC-SX-MMD<\/strong> and GLC-LH-SMD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Module<\/th>\nSpeed<\/th>\nFiber<\/th>\nWavelength<\/th>\nTypical Reach<\/th>\nConnector<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
GLC-SX-MMD<\/td>\n1G<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\nUp to ~550 m*<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLC-LH-SMD<\/td>\n1G<\/td>\nSMF \/ supported MMF<\/td>\n~1310 nm<\/td>\nUp to 10 km on SMF<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*Reach depends on fiber type and the exact platform specification.<\/small><\/p>\n

10G SFP+ Modules for Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/h2>\n

For many modern Catalyst 9300 deployments, 10 Gigabit Ethernet<\/strong> is one of the most practical uplink speeds. A C9300 equipped with C9300-NM-8X provides eight 10G\/1G uplink interfaces.<\/p>\n

Cisco SFP-10G-SR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Data Rate<\/th>\n10 Gbps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Standard<\/th>\n10GBASE-SR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wavelength<\/th>\n850 nm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/th>\nMultimode Fiber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connector<\/th>\nDuplex LC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM3 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 300 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM4 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 400 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

SFP-10G-SR is commonly used for data centers, equipment rooms, same-building connections and other short multimode fiber links.<\/p>\n

Cisco SFP-10G-LR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Data Rate<\/th>\n10 Gbps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Standard<\/th>\n10GBASE-LR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wavelength<\/th>\n1310 nm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/th>\nSingle-Mode Fiber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connector<\/th>\nDuplex LC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominal Reach<\/th>\nUp to 10 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

SFP-10G-LR is a common choice for campus networks, building-to-building connections and longer enterprise fiber runs.<\/p>\n

\"Cisco
Cisco Catalyst 9300 1G and 10G SFP compatibility overview.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SFP-10G-SR vs SFP-10G-LR<\/h2>\n

The most important difference is not speed\u2014both operate at 10 Gbps. The major differences are fiber type, wavelength and transmission distance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>\nSFP-10G-SR<\/th>\nSFP-10G-LR<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Speed<\/td>\n10G<\/td>\n10G<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wavelength<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\n1310 nm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\nSMF<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Typical Maximum<\/td>\n300 m OM3 \/ 400 m OM4<\/td>\n10 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connector<\/td>\nLC duplex<\/td>\nLC duplex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Typical Use<\/td>\nData center \/ building<\/td>\nCampus \/ long-distance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Selection tip:<\/strong> Check the installed fiber type before ordering. A 10G requirement alone does not tell you whether SR or LR is correct.<\/p>\n

Catalyst 9300 SFP Compatibility Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Speed<\/th>\nForm Factor<\/th>\nExample Cisco Optics<\/th>\nTypical Use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1G<\/td>\nSFP<\/td>\nGLC-SX-MMD \/ GLC-LH-SMD<\/td>\nAccess and campus links<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10G<\/td>\nSFP+<\/td>\nSFP-10G-SR \/ SFP-10G-LR<\/td>\nData center and campus uplinks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25G<\/td>\nSFP28<\/td>\nSFP-25G-SR-S<\/td>\nHigher-capacity enterprise uplinks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40G<\/td>\nQSFP+<\/td>\nQSFP-40G-SR4<\/td>\nAggregation and backbone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"Cisco
Cisco Catalyst 9300 optical transceiver selection guide for 1G, 10G, 25G and 40G uplinks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

25G SFP28 on Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/h2>\n

The standard Catalyst 9300 can support 25G through the C9300-NM-2Y<\/strong> network module. One common Cisco short-reach option is SFP-25G-SR-S<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Data Rate<\/th>\n25 Gbps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/th>\nMultimode Fiber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wavelength<\/th>\n850 nm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connector<\/th>\nDuplex LC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM3 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 70 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM4 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 100 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Host Requirement<\/th>\nRS-FEC required for SFP-25G-SR-S<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

40G QSFP+ on Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/h2>\n

For higher aggregation bandwidth, C9300-NM-2Q provides two 40G QSFP+ interfaces. A well-known short-reach option is QSFP-40G-SR4<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Data Rate<\/th>\n40 Gbps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiber<\/th>\nMultimode Fiber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wavelength<\/th>\n~850 nm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connector<\/th>\nMPO-12 \/ MTP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM3 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 100 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OM4\/OM5 Reach<\/th>\nUp to 150 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

25G SFP28 vs 40G QSFP+: Which Is Better?<\/h2>\n

Neither is automatically better. The correct choice depends on the installed network module, existing cabling and bandwidth requirements.<\/p>\n

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Optical Module Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Module<\/th>\nSpeed<\/th>\nFiber<\/th>\nWavelength<\/th>\nTypical Reach<\/th>\nConnector<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
GLC-SX-MMD<\/td>\n1G<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\nUp to 550 m*<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GLC-LH-SMD<\/td>\n1G<\/td>\nSMF\/MMF<\/td>\n~1310 nm<\/td>\nUp to 10 km SMF<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SFP-10G-SR<\/td>\n10G<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\n300 m OM3 \/ 400 m OM4<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SFP-10G-LR<\/td>\n10G<\/td>\nSMF<\/td>\n1310 nm<\/td>\n10 km<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SFP-25G-SR-S<\/td>\n25G<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\n70 m OM3 \/ 100 m OM4<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SFP-10\/25G-LR-S<\/td>\n25G<\/td>\nSMF<\/td>\nLR class<\/td>\nUp to 10 km<\/td>\nLC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
QSFP-40G-SR4<\/td>\n40G<\/td>\nMMF<\/td>\n850 nm<\/td>\n100 m OM3 \/ 150 m OM4\/5<\/td>\nMPO-12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How to Choose the Right SFP for Cisco Catalyst 9300<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Check the exact Catalyst 9300 switch model.<\/li>\n
  2. Confirm the installed network module.<\/li>\n
  3. Select the required Ethernet speed.<\/li>\n
  4. Identify single-mode or multimode fiber.<\/li>\n
  5. Verify the required transmission distance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Example: Selecting a 10G Module<\/h3>\n

    Suppose the customer has a C9300-48P with C9300-NM-8X, needs 10G, uses single-mode fiber, and has a 5 km link. An LR-class optic such as SFP-10G-LR<\/strong> would normally be evaluated rather than an SR optic.<\/p>\n

    Original Cisco vs Third-Party Compatible Optical Transceivers<\/h2>\n

    Organizations may source genuine Cisco-branded optics through Cisco or authorized channels, or use third-party optical transceivers designed for interoperability with specific Cisco platforms. A module should not be considered compatible simply because it physically fits the port. Compatibility evaluation should consider switch model, network module, port speed, software environment, fiber type, wavelength, distance, connector and transceiver coding.<\/p>\n

    Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n

    What SFP modules are compatible with Cisco Catalyst 9300?<\/h3>\n

    Compatibility depends on the exact switch and uplink module. Standard C9300 configurations cover 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28 and 40G QSFP+ uplink options.<\/p>\n

    Does Cisco Catalyst 9300 support SFP-10G-LR?<\/h3>\n

    Supported C9300 configurations using a 10G uplink module such as C9300-NM-8X can use 10G SFP+ optics. SFP-10G-LR is designed for 10G single-mode links up to approximately 10 km.<\/p>\n

    Does C9300-NM-8X support 1G SFP?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. Cisco documents the C9300-NM-8X as supporting both 1G and 10G configurations with appropriate SFP\/SFP+ modules.<\/p>\n

    Does Catalyst 9300 support 25G SFP28?<\/h3>\n

    Yes, with supported hardware such as the C9300-NM-2Y, which provides 25G\/10G\/1G uplink capability.<\/p>\n

    Does Catalyst 9300 support 40G QSFP+?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. The C9300-NM-2Q provides two 40G QSFP+ uplink interfaces.<\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/h2>\n

    Choosing the correct transceiver for a Cisco Catalyst 9300 becomes much easier when the selection process is done in the right order: switch model \u2192 network module \u2192 required speed \u2192 fiber type \u2192 transmission distance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    GLC-SX-MMD is suitable for many short 1G multimode links; GLC-LH-SMD for longer 1G links; SFP-10G-SR for short 10G multimode links; SFP-10G-LR for 10G single-mode links up to about 10 km; SFP-25G-SR-S for short 25G links; and QSFP-40G-SR4 for high-capacity 40G multimode connectivity.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Find the right SFP for Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches. Compare 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28 and 40G QSFP optics, fiber types, distances and uplink modules.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[814],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-optical-transceivers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t