Cisco's Nexus line runs from fixed 1RU switches to modular chassis, and the part number prefix names the series: N3K for the 3000, N5K for the 5000, N7K for the 7000, N9K for the 9000. This guide covers the Nexus 3000, the N5K-C5596T-FA, the Nexus 7000 parts and the Nexus 9300, with their airflow parts and the models Cisco names to follow. Every figure comes from Cisco data sheets and end of sale notices, listed under Sources.
The short answer
For a 1RU switch with gigabit or 10 GbE ports, look at the Nexus 3000. For the most capacity in a small box, the Nexus 9300: 3.6 Tbps under 1 microsecond on the 1 RU N9K-C93180YC-EX, 4.8 Tbps on the 1.2 RU N9K-C93240YC-FX2. For a chassis with modules, the Nexus 7000. In every case, match the fans and power supplies to the airflow of the rack: port-side exhaust or port-side intake.
The models side by side
| Model | Ports | Capacity | Buffer | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N3K-C3048TP-1GE | 48 x 10/100/1000 RJ-45, 4 x 1/10 Gbps SFP+ | 176 Gbps, 132 Mpps | 9 MB | 1RU |
| N3K-C3064TQ-32T | 32 x 10GBASE-T, 4 x 40G QSFP+ | 1.28 Tbps, 950 Mpps | Not stated | 1RU |
| N3K-C3172PQ-XL | 48 x 1/10G SFP+, 6 x 40G QSFP+ | 1.4 Tbps, up to 1 Bpps | 12 MB | 1RU |
| N3K-C3548P-10GX | 48 x 1/10 Gbps SFP+ | 960 Gbps, 720 Mpps | 18 MB | Not stated |
| N5K-C5596T-FA | 32 x 1/10GBASE-T, 16 x unified SFP+, 3 expansion slots | 1920 Gbps Layer 2 | Not stated | 2RU |
| N9K-C93180YC-EX | Not stated | 3.6 Tbps, over 2.6 billion pps | 40 MB | 1 RU |
| N9K-C93240YC-FX2 | Not stated | 4.8 Tbps, over 2.5 billion pps | 40 MB | 1.2 RU |
| N9K-C9396PX | 48 x 1/10G SFP+, 6 or 12 x 40G QSFP+ | Up to 1.92 Tbps | Not stated | 2RU |
Nexus 3000
The 1RU N3K-C3048TP-1GE has 48 10/100/1000 RJ-45 ports and 4 1/10 Gbps SFP+ uplinks, 176 Gbps, 132 Mpps and a 9 MB buffer. The N3K-C3064TQ-32T has 32 10GBASE-T ports and 4 40G QSFP+ ports, 1.28 Tbps and 950 Mpps in 1RU. The N3K-C3172PQ-XL has 48 1/10G SFP+ ports and 6 40G QSFP+ ports, 1.4 Tbps, up to 1 Bpps and a 12 MB buffer in 1RU. The N3K-C3548P-10GX has 48 1/10 Gbps SFP+ ports, 960 Gbps, 720 Mpps and an 18 MB buffer. Airflow is forward, exhausting at the port side, or reversed, taking air in at the port side, and the fans and power supplies set it: the N3K-C3064-FAN fan module exhausts at the port side and the N3K-C3064-FAN-B takes air in there.
Nexus 5000 and 7000
The 2RU N5K-C5596T-FA has 32 1/10GBASE-T ports, 16 unified SFP+ ports and 3 expansion slots, and gives 1920 Gbps of Layer 2 switching. The N7K-M348XP-25L is a Nexus 7000 module with 48 1/10G SFP/SFP+ ports, 720 Mpps and a 1.5 GB VOQ buffer; it fits the Nexus 7000 4, 9, 10 and 18 slot chassis with Fabric-2 modules and a Supervisor 2 or 2E.
Nexus 9300
The N9K-C93180YC-EX gives 3.6 Tbps, over 2.6 billion packets per second, a 40 MB buffer and latency under 1 microsecond in 1 RU. It takes up to 2 power supplies, 500 W AC, 650 W AC, 930 W DC or 1200 W HVAC/HVDC, has 24 GB of memory, a 64 GB SSD and 4 fans, and draws 210 W typical and 470 W at most. The N9K-C93240YC-FX2 gives 4.8 Tbps, over 2.5 billion packets per second and a 40 MB buffer in 1.2 RU, with 5 fans and a 128 GB SSD. The 2RU N9K-C9396PX has 48 1/10G SFP+ ports and takes 6 or 12 40G QSFP+ ports through its uplink module, up to 1.92 Tbps; the N9K-M6PQ is that uplink module, with 6 40G QSFP+ ports for the N93128TX, N9396TX and N9396PX.
Nexus 9300 airflow is port-side intake or port-side exhaust, set by the fan and power supply modules fitted. On Nexus power supplies the last letters name it: the NXA-PAC-650W-PE moves air out at the port side and the NXA-PAC-650W-PI takes it in there.
What to check before you buy
- The series prefix: N3K, N5K, N7K or N9K.
- The airflow letters on every fan and power supply: PE for port-side exhaust, PI for port-side intake, FAN or FAN-B on the Nexus 3064.
- On a Nexus 7000 module, the chassis, the Fabric-2 modules and a Supervisor 2 or 2E.
- On an N9K-C9396PX, the uplink module that sets 6 or 12 40G ports.
Lifecycle: what the dates mean
Cisco gives August 3, 2020 as the end of sale date for the N3K-C3048TP-1GE, January 31, 2022 for the N3K-C3548P-10GX, February 25, 2022 for the N3K-C3172PQ-XL, February 28, 2022 for the N7K-SUP2 and N7K-SUP2E, May 1, 2018 for the N9K-C9396PX and August 9, 2022 for the N9K-C93180YC-EX. Cisco names the N9K-C92348GC-X to follow the N3K-C3048TP-1GE, the N9K-C93180YC-FX3 to follow the N3K-C3172PQ-XL and the N9K-C93180YC-EX, and the N9K-M6PQ-E to follow the N9K-M6PQ. For the 93180YC-EX and the 9372, read Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX and 9372 end of life.
Where to look
Each family has its own page listing what is in stock: the Nexus 3000, the Nexus 9000 and the whole Cisco Nexus line. Pages in stock today include the N9K-C93180YC-EX, the N9K-C93240YC-FX2, the N3K-C3548P-10G, the N5K-C5596T-FA, the N7K-M348XP-25L and the NXA-PAC-650W-PI. For the whole maker, read the Cisco guide. Request a quote for a part that is not listed, or sell the switches you retire.
Sources
- Cisco Nexus 3172PQ, 3172TQ, 3172TQ-32T, 3172PQ-XL, and 3172TQ-XL Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 2000 and Nexus 5500 Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 7000 M3-Series 48-Port 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 9300-EX Series Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 3048 Switch Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco N9300 Platform Switches Data Sheet
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus N7K-SUP2, N7K-SUP2E Modules
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco N9K-C93180YC-EX and N9K-C93108TC-EX
- Cisco N9300-EX, FX, and FX3 24 Port Series Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 3064-X, 3064-T, and 3064-32T Switches Data Sheet
- Cisco Nexus 3548-X, 3524-X, 3548-XL, and 3524-XL Switches Data Sheet
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus 3048 Switch
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus 3524-X, 3548-X
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus N3K-C3172PQ and N3K-C3172PQ-XL
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus 9396PX Switch
- End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Nexus 9300 First-Generation Uplink Modules
