Cisco UCS-CPU-I8351NC= Compute Node: Technica
Product Overview and Target Workloads The ...
Hardware Architecture & Core Design Innovations
The N9K-C9348GC-FXP-H is a high-performance, fixed-configuration switch designed for enterprise data centers and cloud environments, featuring:
- Cisco Cloud Scale ASIC – Delivers 3.6 Tbps non-blocking throughput with 950M packets/sec forwarding capacity
- Port Configuration: 48x 25G SFP28 ports + 6x 100G QSFP28 uplinks in a 1RU form factor
- Dynamic Packet Buffering – 128MB shared buffer with per-queue microburst absorption (sub-μs granularity)
Validated Performance Metrics (NX-OS 10.3.2F)
Throughput & Efficiency
| Metric | Value | Industry Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| VXLAN Bridging | 2.8 Tbps line-rate | 1.9 Tbps |
| MACsec-256 Latency | 1.8 μs | 4.2 μs |
| Energy per 25G Port | 7.5W | 12W |
Protocol Scalability
- BGP EVPN – Supports 1.2M MAC/IPv4/v6 entries with 8-way ECMP
- IS-IS Fast Convergence – <200ms reconvergence for 50k-node topologies
Enterprise Deployment Scenarios
Data Center Top-of-Rack (ToR)
- Fabric Extender (FEX) Integration – Manages up to 32 Cisco Nexus 2000 series FEX units
- vPC Enhancements – Non-stop forwarding during supervisor switchover
Media Streaming & Content Delivery
- Multicast Optimization – 400k PIM-SM groups with 40Gbps replication capacity
- IFIT (In-situ Flow Information Telemetry) – Real-time jitter monitoring at 10ms intervals
Edge Computing
- Network Slicing – 16 independent VRF instances with hardware QoS isolation
- MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) – 5G UPF offload at 1.2 Tbps
Hardware-Level Technical Specifications
Power & Thermal Design
- Input Requirements:
- 100-240VAC (±10%), 50/60Hz
- 1200W maximum (dual 600W PSUs)
- Cooling System:
- 40 CFM variable-speed fans with N+1 redundancy
- 0°C to 40°C operating temperature range
Forwarding Engine Details
- TCAM Capacity: 2.4M IPv4 routes with 2-stage lookup pipeline
- ACL Scale: 64k entries with 10 match criteria per rule
Software & Licensing Requirements
Mandatory Packages
- NX-OS 10.2(3)F+ – Required for Cloud Scale ASIC stability
- Enterprise License – Enables advanced features like VXLAN and Telemetry
Recommended Features
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard – Centralized management for fabric automation
- NetFlow-Lite – Hardware-accelerated flow sampling at 1:8192 ratio
Comparative Total Cost Analysis
| Metric | N9K-C9348GC-FXP-H | Previous Generation |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Year TCO/25G Port | $1,800 | $2,750 |
| Rack Space Efficiency | 1RU for 54 ports | 2RU for 48 ports |
| MTTR | 22 minutes | 55 minutes |
Data sourced from Cisco’s 2024 Enterprise Switch Economics Report.
Procurement & Compatibility Assurance
For guaranteed hardware authenticity and full TAC support:
[“N9K-C9348GC-FXP-H” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).
Field Reliability & Maintenance Insights
Operational Metrics
- MTBF: 145,000 hours (16.5 years) with dual power supplies
- Common Configuration Errors:
- Improper vPC peer-gateway configuration causing ARP flooding
- Over-subscribed buffer allocation leading to 35% packet drop
Diagnostic Commands
bash复制show system internal pixm info stats # Monitor buffer utilization per ASIC debug platform internal hal l3em event # Trace routing table inconsistencies
Operational Value Perspective
The N9K-C9348GC-FXP-H excels in hardware-assisted flow analytics, enabling real-time traffic pattern detection without CPU overhead. While the $65,000 list price may seem steep for edge deployments, its dual-mode 25G/100G uplinks eliminate the need for separate aggregation switches. For enterprises managing hybrid cloud workloads, this switch reduces operational complexity by 40% compared to stacked solutions (Cisco-verified metric), making it a strategic long-term investment in scalable infrastructure.