Introduction to Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches

In the fast-evolving world of data centers, the Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches stand out as a powerhouse for modern networking demands. Part of the fixed Cisco Nexus 9000 platform, these switches leverage Cisco Cloud Scale technology to deliver cost-effective cloud-scale deployments, support for more endpoints, and wire-rate security with telemetry. Built on a modern system architecture, they handle high performance while adapting to the needs of highly scalable data centers and growing enterprises.

It's worth noting that the Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series is an extension of the Nexus 9300-FX series, offering higher bandwidth capacity. They enable seamless migrations from 1-Gbps and 10-Gbps speeds to 25-Gbps at the server level, and from 10- and 40-Gbps to 50- and 100-Gbps at the aggregation layer. Customers get investment protection through large buffers, flexible Layer 2 and Layer 3 scalability, and robust performance tailored for virtualized data centers and automated cloud environments.

Cisco provides two operational modes: NX-OS for standard Nexus setups and ACI for policy-based automation. All details here are drawn directly from the official Cisco datasheet at https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/nexus-9000-series-switches/datasheet-c78-742282.html.

Key Features of Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series

The Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches pack an impressive array of features that make them ideal for demanding network fabrics. Here's a breakdown of the standout capabilities:

• Industry-leading Cisco ACI support: Enables automated, policy-based management in ACI mode.
• VXLAN EVPN fabrics with hierarchical multi-site: Supports scalable overlay networks across sites.
• Three-tier BGP architectures for IPv6 fabrics: Facilitates complex IPv6 deployments.
• Segment routing for traffic engineering: Optimizes paths in large-scale environments.
• Comprehensive Layer 3 routing protocols: Includes BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIPv2, PIM-SM, SSM, and MSDP.
• Day zero automation with Power On Auto Provisioning (POAP): Speeds up deployment without manual intervention.
• Integrations with Ansible, Chef, Puppet, SALT: Streamlines orchestration in DevOps workflows.
• YANG and OpenConfig model support via RESTCONF/NETCONF: Ensures model-driven programmability.
• Pervasive APIs for CLI functions: Allows deep automation of command-line operations.
• Flexible TCAM for ACL templates: Provides customizable access control.
• MACsec on all ports >=1Gbps: Delivers IEEE 802.1ae MACsec encryption for wire-rate security.
• Intelligent Buffer Management: Handles congestion in high-density traffic scenarios.

These features don't just sit on paper—they translate to real-world reliability. For instance, the support for breakout on all ports means you can flexibly adapt to varying server and aggregation needs without hardware swaps.

Technical Specifications

When it comes to raw power, the Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series doesn't disappoint. Referencing the official datasheet, here are the core technical specs presented for quick reference:

Key highlights include flexible port speeds of 1/10/25/40/50/100-Gbps, with MACsec encryption available on all ports >=1Gbps. The platform's large buffers and high scalability shine in leaf-spine fabrics, ensuring low latency even under bursty workloads. In practice, that 7.2 Tbps bandwidth and 2.5 bpps packet rate mean these switches can scale to support thousands of endpoints without breaking a sweat.

Notably, the Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series offers investment protection by allowing transparent migrations to higher speeds, preserving your existing infrastructure investments.

Use Cases and Applications

Where do Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches truly excel? They're designed for environments pushing the boundaries of scale and automation. Consider these primary use cases straight from the datasheet:

• Cost-effective cloud-scale deployments
• Highly scalable data centers
• Growing enterprises needing endpoint expansion
• Virtualized data centers with dynamic workloads
• Automated cloud environments leveraging policy-driven ops
• Migration to 25-Gbps server speeds from legacy 1/10-Gbps
• Upgrading to 100-Gbps at the aggregation layer from 10/40-Gbps
• Building robust leaf-spine fabrics

Imagine a growing enterprise transitioning its data center: You deploy a Cisco Nexus 93360YC-FX2 model with 96 x 1/10/25-Gbps fiber ports for servers and 12 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 uplinks for aggregation. ACI mode automates provisioning via POAP, while VXLAN EVPN handles multi-site overlays. It's not hype—these switches address real pain points like bandwidth bottlenecks and security gaps in hybrid clouds.

Available Models and Ordering Information

Cisco offers a targeted lineup of Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series models to fit diverse rack space and port needs. All configurations support the full feature set, including those high-speed ports and MACsec. Here's the ordering information from the datasheet:

• Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2: 36 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 ports
• Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2-E: 36 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 ports
• Cisco Nexus 93240YC-FX2: 48 x 1/10/25-Gbps fiber ports and 12 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 ports
• Cisco Nexus 93360YC-FX2: 96 x 1/10/25-Gbps fiber ports and 12 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 ports
• Cisco Nexus 93216TC-FX2: 96 x 100M/1/10GBASE-T ports and 12 x 40/100-Gigabit QSFP28 ports

These form factors—1RU, 1.2RU, or 2RU—make them rack-friendly for dense deployments. Whether you're eyeing the compact Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 for aggregation or the port-rich Cisco Nexus 93360YC-FX2 for top-of-rack, each model delivers up to 7.2 Tbps of bandwidth.

Conclusion

The Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches represent a forward-thinking choice for data center networking, blending massive 7.2 Tbps bandwidth, 2.5 bpps performance, and advanced features like MACsec encryption and ACI support into compact form factors. With flexible ports, automation tools, and scalability for leaf-spine and EVPN fabrics, they're built to future-proof your infrastructure.

Ready to scale your cloud or data center? Dive into the full specs in the official Cisco datasheet at https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/nexus-9000-series-switches/datasheet-c78-742282.html and explore models like the Cisco Nexus 93360YC-FX2 today. Your network's next evolution starts here.

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