(NEW) Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches - N3K-C3172PQ-XL

Overview

The Cisco N3K-C3172PQ-XL is a high-performance 10/40-Gigabit Ethernet switch, part of the Cisco Nexus 3000 series, designed for data centers and enterprise networks that demand low-latency, high-bandwidth, and scalability. It features 48 fixed 10-Gigabit SFP+ ports and 6 fixed 40-Gigabit QSFP+ ports, offering flexibility in port configuration and enabling high-speed uplinks or aggregation. With enhanced buffer size and deeper forwarding tables, it is ideal for environments with large-scale Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing needs. The switch runs on Cisco’s NX-OS software, ensuring robust network programmability and automation capabilities.

Specs

Port Configuration:

• 48 x 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports.
• 6 x 40-Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports (configurable as 4 x 10-Gigabit Ethernet via breakout cables).

Performance:

• Switching Capacity: 1.44 Tbps.
• Forwarding Rate: 1.07 billion packets per second (Bpps).
• Latency: 550 nanoseconds.
• Packet Buffer: 25 MB shared buffer (enhanced buffer compared to standard models).

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features:

• Layer 2: VLAN, Private VLAN, STP, MSTP, LACP.
• Layer 3: OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, PIM, VRRP, IPv6 routing, and VXLAN support.

Advanced Features:

• Deep packet buffers for handling bursty traffic.
• Scalable forwarding tables for handling larger routing tables.
• Support for Cisco's NX-API, Python, Puppet, Chef, and Ansible for network automation.

Management:

• Cisco NX-OS operating system.
• Supports comprehensive network monitoring tools like NetFlow, Cisco Telemetry, and SPAN.
• CLI and web-based management options.