Introduction to Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches

The Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches, part of the N9K-C9500 Series lineup within the broader Cisco Nexus 9000 Series, stand out as versatile modular solutions for modern data centers. These switches operate seamlessly in either Cisco ACI or NX-OS modes, delivering automated, policy-based fabrics in ACI or robust layer 2/3 technologies in NX-OS. It's worth noting that they handle VXLAN with BGP-EVPN, segment routing, MPLS, and NX-APIs for programmable networks, making them ideal for multinode applications across bare-metal, virtual, and cloud setups.

Designed without a midplane, the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series ensures optimal airflow and power efficiency while supporting comprehensive line cards and fabric modules for interfaces from 1- to 400-Gigabit Ethernet. Configurations scale impressively—up to 256 400GE ports or 1024 100GE ports—across 4-, 8-, and 16-slot chassis. With nonblocking performance and latency under 5 microseconds, these switches meet the high demands of spine-leaf or three-tier architectures. All details here draw directly from the official Cisco datasheet: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/nexus-9000-series-switches/datasheet-c78-729404.html.

In practice, network engineers deploying Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches appreciate the high availability through redundant supervisors, system controllers, power supplies, and up to 6 fabric modules. They're future-ready, too, with pluggable transceivers boasting high MTBF and support for multispeed ports on the same chassis.

Key Features of the N9K-C9500 Series

What sets the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series apart? Its feature set targets high-performance, scalable networking without compromise. Here's a breakdown of standout capabilities from the datasheet:

• Dual Operating Modes: Cisco ACI for policy-driven automation or NX-OS for traditional layer 2/3 operations, including VXLAN with BGP-EVPN, segment routing, and MPLS.
• No-Midplane Architecture: Enhances airflow and power efficiency, paired with unique fabric modules and fan trays per chassis model (4-, 8-, or 16-slot).
• High-Density Connectivity: Pluggable transceivers support 1/10/25/40/50/100/200/400GE, with multispeed ports enabling flexible deployments.
• Telemetry and Automation: Extensive NX-APIs for programmability, plus comprehensive telemetry for monitoring modern workloads.
• Redundancy and Reliability: Up to 6 fabric modules, redundant components, and power supplies rated 80PLUS Platinum or equivalent.

Notably, the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series delivers nonblocking fabric performance at all speeds, with latency quoted at <=5 microseconds. Power efficiency shines through, too—<3.5W per 10GE port, <14W for 40GE, and <22W for 100GE. These aren't just numbers; they translate to lower OpEx in dense data center environments.

High availability doesn't stop at hardware. The design supports spine nodes in ACI fabrics or core/aggregation roles in L2/L3 networks, ensuring uptime for critical applications. You'll find these switches powering end-of-row access for servers or border gateways with ease.

Technical Specifications

Diving into the specs, the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series (N9K-C9500 Series) packs impressive scale and efficiency. Reference the official datasheet for full verification: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/nexus-9000-series-switches/datasheet-c78-729404.html.

Performance Metrics

• Latency: <=5 microseconds across all port speeds.
• Fabric Modules: Up to 6 per chassis.

Maximum Port Capacities

High-density options make these modular switches versatile for aggregation and spine roles:

Power and Efficiency

• Power Supplies: 80PLUS Platinum or equivalent.
• Power per Port: 10GE <3.5W, 40GE <14W, 100GE <22W.

Chassis options include the 4-Slot (N9K-C9504), 8-Slot, and 16-Slot models, each with tailored fabric modules and fan trays. This modularity allows precise scaling—start small for access layers, expand for spine-leaf topologies. In real-world setups, such specs mean handling terabit-scale throughput without bottlenecks.

Use Cases and Applications

How do you deploy a Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switch in practice? The datasheet outlines scenarios that highlight its flexibility:

• Spine Nodes in Spine-Leaf Fabrics: Perfect for ACI or NX-OS environments, leveraging up to 256 400GE ports for massive east-west traffic.
• Core or Aggregation Nodes: In L2/L3 networks, with high-density 10/40/100/400GE for nonblocking performance.
• Border Gateways: Secure L2/L3 boundaries using VXLAN BGP-EVPN and MPLS.
• End-of-Row Access Layer: Connect servers with 1/10/25GE densities up to 2304 ports.

Imagine a cloud provider scaling multinode apps—these switches bridge bare-metal racks to virtual overlays effortlessly. Or consider a three-tier enterprise network: the N9K-C9500 Series as aggregation handles 1024 100GE ports at <5μs latency. It's not hype; the no-midplane design keeps cooling costs down, vital for high-density racks.

Ordering Information

Ready to procure? The Cisco Nexus 9500 Series offers straightforward SKUs for chassis starts. From the datasheet:

• N9K-C9504: 4-Slot Chassis.

Build out with line cards, supervisors, fabric modules (up to 6), and 80PLUS Platinum power supplies. 8-Slot and 16-Slot chassis expand capacity for larger fabrics. Always cross-check configurations via the official datasheet or Cisco partners to match your 400GE or 100GE needs.

Conclusion

The Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches (N9K-C9500 Series) deliver authoritative performance for data center demands—low latency, massive scale, and operational efficiency. Whether in ACI policy fabrics or NX-OS programmability, they future-proof networks with support for emerging speeds.

Don't overlook the power savings or redundancy that keep downtime at bay. For full details, consult the official Cisco datasheet: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/nexus-9000-series-switches/datasheet-c78-729404.html. Planning a deployment? Reach out to Cisco for tailored advice on your spine-leaf or aggregation setup.

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