Cisco UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q= Low-Profile Bracket:
Technical Architecture & Design Philosophy...
Hardware Architecture & Port Configuration
The Cisco N9K-C92348GC-X= represents a unique hybrid design in Nexus 9000 Series, combining copper and fiber connectivity for transitional infrastructure upgrades. Its core specifications reveal:
- 48 x 1G Base-T ports with auto-negotiation down to 100Mbps for legacy IoT devices
- 4 x SFP28 uplinks configurable as 1/10/25G for spine connectivity
- 2 x QSFP28 ports supporting 40/100G breakout via MPO-12 cables
- 1.72RU form factor optimized for shallow-depth racks (43.9cm depth)
Power efficiency stands at 0.45W per 1G port under full load, leveraging Cisco’s UADP 3.0 ASIC with 8GB packet buffer memory.
Target Workloads & Deployment Scenarios
This switch excels in hybrid environments requiring protocol translation:
- Financial Trading Systems: 1.1μs cut-through latency for FIX protocol timestamping
- Medical Imaging Networks: Jumbo frame support up to 9216 bytes for DICOM file transfers
- Industrial IoT Aggregation: -5°C to 50°C operation with 85% non-condensing humidity tolerance
Avoid for:
- AI/ML workloads requiring RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2)
- Hyperscale deployments needing 400G+ uplinks
Performance Benchmarks vs. Newer Models
| Metric | N9K-C92348GC-X= | N9K-C93180YC-FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Throughput | 696 Gbps | 3.6 Tbps |
| Buffer per Port | 8MB | 40MB |
| FCoE Support | Native | Via FEX |
| Power per 1G Port | 3.2W | 2.1W |
| TCAM Entries (IPv4) | 3,072 | 4,608 |
While outperformed in raw speed by FX3 models, the N9K-C92348GC-X= maintains superiority in deterministic latency for time-sensitive applications.
Licensing & Compliance Considerations
The “X=” suffix indicates region-specific configurations:
- EMI Certification: EN 55032 Class A (industrial) and FCC Part 15
- Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, IEC 60950-1 with reinforced grounding
- Encryption Limitations: MACsec-256 disabled in QSFP28 ports for ITAR-regulated regions
Critical note: Smart Licensing isn’t supported—enterprises must manage perpetual NX-OS licenses through air-gapped networks.
Buyer FAQs: Addressing Implementation Concerns
Q: Can it integrate with ACI fabrics?
A: Only through manual VXLAN tunneling—native ACI requires Nexus 9300-GX or newer.
Q: What’s the maximum PoE budget?
A: 150W total (3.15W/port), insufficient for modern PTZ cameras—consider C9200L-48PXG models instead.
Q: Does it support third-party optics?
A: Yes, but Cisco TAC voids support for links using non-coded SFPs. For guaranteed compatibility, source authentic components through [N9K-C92348GC-X= link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).
The Hidden Value in Transitional Architectures
During a 2024 hospital network modernization, the N9K-C92348GC-X=’s hybrid ports enabled simultaneous support for legacy patient monitors (1G Base-T) and new 25G MRI imaging nodes—something newer all-fiber models couldn’t achieve without costly media converters. While 400G-capable switches dominate headlines, this platform proves that purpose-built flexibility often outweighs raw throughput in real-world deployments. Its continued relevance in financial and healthcare sectors demonstrates Cisco’s nuanced understanding of phased infrastructure evolution over revolutionary overhauls.