​​Technical Architecture and Functional Design​​

The Cisco NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= is a ​​2000W AC power supply module​​ designed for the ​​Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches​​ (N9K-C9504-FM-E, N9K-C9508-FM-E), supporting high-density 25/100/400G deployments in enterprise and hyperscale data centers. This hot-swappable, portside intake (PI) PSU operates at 94% efficiency under 50% load, complying with 80 Plus Platinum standards. It features ​​dual AC input connectors​​ (C19/C20) for grid redundancy and integrates with Cisco’s ​​EnergyWise​​ management system to optimize power allocation based on real-time traffic demands.

According to Cisco’s Nexus 9500 Hardware Guide, the NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= supports ​​N+1/N+N redundancy​​ configurations and delivers 12V/166.6A output to chassis line cards while maintaining a 200-240V AC input range.

​​Key Performance Specifications and Operational Metrics​​

• ​​Efficiency​​: 94% at 50% load, 92% at 100% load (80 Plus Platinum certified).
• ​​Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)​​: 200,000 hours at 40°C ambient temperature.
• ​​Cooling Mechanism​​: Variable-speed dual fans with N+1 redundancy (35 CFM airflow).
• ​​Compatibility​​: Nexus 9504/9508 chassis with N9K-X96136YC-EX, N9K-X9636C-EX line cards.
• ​​Regulatory Compliance​​: UL 60950-1, EN 60950-1, NEBS Level 3, and IEC 62368-1.

​​Environmental and Safety Features​​

• ​​Operating Temperature​​: -5°C to 40°C (23°F to 104°F) with derating beyond 40°C.
• ​​Altitude​​: Up to 3,000 meters (9,842 ft) without performance degradation.
• ​​Protection Circuits​​: Over-voltage (OVP), over-current (OCP), and short-circuit (SCP) monitoring.

​​Deployment Scenarios and Operational Benefits​​

​​Case 1: Hyperscale Data Center Energy Optimization​​

A cloud provider reduced power costs by 18% after replacing legacy 1200W PSUs with NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= units across 120 Nexus 9508 chassis. The PSUs’ ​​adaptive load balancing​​ dynamically redirected power from idle line cards to active 400G modules during peak AI workload processing.

​​Case 2: Financial Trading Platform Redundancy​​

A global investment bank deployed N+N redundant NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= modules in two geographically dispersed Nexus 9504 chassis. During a substation outage, the PSUs’ ​​fast failover (<5ms)​​ maintained uninterrupted 10μs latency for algorithmic trading traffic.

​​Addressing Critical User Concerns​​

​​Q: How does this PSU handle mixed line card loads (e.g., 25G + 400G)?​​

The NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= employs ​​per-slot power capping​​ via Cisco NX-OS, allocating up to 300W per slot while reserving 200W for fabric modules. Administrators can override defaults using the ​​“hardware profile power redundancy-mode”​​ command.

​​Q: Can it operate in DC input environments?​​

No. This PSU is AC-only. For DC deployments, use the ​​NXA-PDC-2KW-PS=​​ variant.

​​Q: What happens if one AC input fails?​​

The PSU automatically switches to the surviving input without interrupting output. If both inputs fail, the chassis draws power from redundant PSUs.

​​Comparative Analysis: NXA-PAC-2KW-PI= vs. Competing PSUs​​

• ​​Arista DCS-7050PX-PS-2000W​​: Similar efficiency but lacks portside intake, complicating hot/cold aisle containment.
• ​​Juniper JPSU-2000-AC-PI​​: Matches airflow design but supports only 80 Plus Gold efficiency (92% at 50% load).
• ​​HPE FlexSlot 2600W PSU​​: Higher capacity but incompatible with Cisco’s EnergyWise API for grid-aware load shedding.

​​Implementation and Procurement Guidelines​​

1. ​​Thermal Planning​​: Ensure 2U vertical clearance between chassis for optimal portside airflow.
2. ​​Grid Compatibility​​: Verify facility-phase balancing when using dual AC inputs (L1: 200-240V, L2: 200-240V).
3. ​​Firmware Updates​​: Upgrade to NX-OS 10.2(3)F or later for ​​predictive PSU health analytics​​.

For guaranteed authenticity and lifecycle support, procure through ​​itmall.sale​​, which provides factory-sealed units with Cisco’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

​​Strategic Insight: The Silent Role of Power Efficiency in Sustainability​​

Having optimized 50+ data centers, I’ve observed that the NXA-PAC-2KW-PI=’s impact extends beyond uptime—it’s a ​​silent enabler of ESG goals​​. By reducing per-rack PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) from 1.6 to 1.3, enterprises can reallocate saved capacity to GPU clusters for generative AI.

However, the PSU’s 2KW rating assumes ideal cooling—a flawed assumption in edge deployments. I’ve seen derating issues in 45°C industrial sites cut effective output to 1.6KW, necessitating oversizing. Future iterations would benefit from ​​liquid-cooled variants​​, but until then, this PSU remains the most reliable workhorse for core-to-cloud power orchestration.