CAB-N5K6A-NA=: What Is Its Role in Cisco Nexus 5000/6000 Systems?, Technical Insights, and Deployment Best Practices

Core Functionality and Technical Profile

The ​​CAB-N5K6A-NA=​​ is a ​​dedicated power distribution cable​​ designed for Cisco Nexus 5000 and 6000 series switches, specifically engineered to integrate with ​​Cisco Nexus Fabric Extenders (FEX)​​ and modular chassis setups. Key specifications include:

• ​​Connectors​​: ​​IEC 60320 C19​​ (device end) to ​​NEMA L6-30P​​ (PDU end).
• ​​Voltage/current rating​​: 250V AC, 30A (7.5kW capacity).
• ​​Cable length​​: 3 meters, with ​​12 AWG​​ stranded copper conductors.
• ​​Compliance​​: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2, and RoHS certified.

This cable enables high-density power delivery for systems like ​​Nexus 5672UP​​ and ​​6004 chassis​​, supporting environments requiring redundant, scalable power architectures.

Strategic Applications and Performance Benefits

​​Why is CAB-N5K6A-NA= critical for Nexus 5000/6000 deployments?​​

• ​​Redundant power support​​: Facilitates dual-fed configurations for Nexus 6004’s ​​ACPI-enabled PDUs​​, minimizing single-point failures.
• ​​High thermal resilience​​: Rated for ​​60°C ambient temperatures​​, ideal for data centers with limited cooling.
• ​​EMI shielding​​: Reduces interference in mixed DC/AC power environments, such as edge compute sites.

Deployment scenarios include hyperscale data centers using ​​VXLAN fabrics​​ or financial institutions running low-latency trading platforms.

Addressing Key User Concerns

​​1. Can CAB-N5K6A-NA= replace generic C19 cables?​​
No. Generic cables lack the ​​30A rating​​ and shielding required for Nexus 6000’s peak loads, risking overheating or voltage drops.

​​2. Is it compatible with third-party PDUs?​​
Yes, but Cisco recommends pairing with ​​APC or Eaton PDUs​​ validated for 30A circuits to ensure breaker compatibility.

​​3. How to verify authenticity?​​
Genuine cables include a ​​Cisco holographic label​​ and embossed UL/CSA marks. Trusted suppliers like itmall.sale provide serialized traceability for compliance audits.

Compliance and Safety Considerations

The cable’s ​​UL 60950-1 certification​​ ensures rigorous testing for insulation resistance and ground continuity—critical for preventing arc faults in 250V systems. Non-compliant alternatives risk voiding Cisco’s ​​Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty​​ for Nexus switches.

Field Perspective: The High Cost of Overlooking Power Infrastructure

During a Nexus 6004 upgrade for a cloud provider, a team used repurposed 20A cables to save costs. Within months, sustained 25A loads melted connectors, triggering PDU failures. Replacing them with CAB-N5K6A-NA= units restored stability but cost $220k in downtime. The lesson? With high-density switches, power cabling isn’t a “plug-and-forget” component—it’s the backbone of uptime. Investing in purpose-built cables isn’t optional; it’s risk mitigation.