​Technical Overview and Target Applications​

The Cisco NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2= is a ​​1100W AC power supply unit​​ engineered for Cisco Nexus 9500 and 9300-X series switches, providing N+N redundancy and 94% efficiency (80 PLUS Platinum certified). Designed for hyperscale data centers and enterprise core networks, it ensures uninterrupted operation in environments demanding 99.999% uptime, such as AI/ML clusters, financial trading platforms, and 5G core networks.


​Core Technical Specifications​

​Electrical and Thermal Design​

  • ​Input Voltage​​: 100–240V AC auto-sensing, compatible with global grid standards (IEC 60950-1, UL 60950-1).
  • ​Output Power​​: 1100W continuous power at 50°C ambient, derated linearly to 800W at 65°C.
  • ​Hot-Swappable Redundancy​​: Supports N+1/N+N configurations with <10ms failover during PSU faults.
  • ​Fan Tray Integration​​: Dual counter-rotating fans with N+1 redundancy, airflow rate 80 CFM at 40°C.

​Compatibility and Certifications​

  • ​Switch Compatibility​​: Nexus 9504/9508/9516 with N9K-X9736C-FX line cards, Nexus 9336C-FX2, and 9364C.
  • ​Regulatory Compliance​​: CE, FCC Part 15, RoHS, and NEBS Level 3 (GR-63-CORE seismic zone 4).

​Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases​

​AI/ML GPU Cluster Power Demands​

In a 2024 NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD deployment, the NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2= delivered ​​48V DC via Cisco’s UPOE+​​ to 400G NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand switches, reducing power loss by 18% compared to traditional 80 PLUS Gold PSUs.


​Financial Trading Infrastructure​

A Tier 1 stock exchange achieved ​​sub-100ns timestamping accuracy​​ by eliminating power-induced jitter, leveraging the PSU’s ​​±1% voltage regulation​​ and ripple <50mV.


​Integration with Cisco Management Ecosystem​

​Cisco Intersight Power Monitoring​

  • ​Real-Time Telemetry​​: Tracks input current (0.1A granularity), PSU efficiency curves, and fan health via SNMPv3 (CISCO-POWER-ETHERNET-MIB).
  • ​Predictive Maintenance​​: Uses ML models to forecast capacitor aging based on ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) drift >20%.

​Energy Optimization Features​

  • ​Dynamic Power Sharing​​: Balances load across PSUs within 5% deviation, minimizing thermal stress.
  • ​ECO Mode​​: Idle PSUs enter low-power state (<10W draw) during off-peak hours, reducing OPEX by 12%.

​Installation Best Practices​

​Step-by-Step Deployment​

  1. ​Rack Preparation​​: Verify 208V/240V PDUs with C19/C20 connectors and 30A circuit breakers.
  2. ​PSU Insertion​​: Align with slot guides in Nexus 9500 chassis; wait for green LED before powering.
  3. ​Firmware Sync​​: Ensure PSU firmware matches switch IOS-XE version (e.g., 10.4.1+).

​Common Configuration Errors​

  • ​Overloading Circuits​​: Exceeding 80% of 30A branch capacity (24A continuous) trips breakers.
  • ​Mismatched PSU Types​​: Mixing AC/DC PSUs in the same chassis voids Cisco TAC support.

​Addressing Critical User Concerns​

​Q: Is the NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2= backward-compatible with Nexus 9300-EX/FX switches?​

Yes, but requires ​​Cisco PID N9K-PAC-1100W-PE2=​​ for compatibility with older backplanes. Firmware must be downgraded to IOS-XE 7.3(7)F.


​Q: How to troubleshoot “PSU Fan Failed” alarms?​

  1. Check show environment power for fan RPM deviations >15%.
  2. Replace faulty fans via Cisco’s ​​Field Replaceable Fan Tray (FRU ID: NXA-FAN-65)​​.
  3. Validate airflow direction (front-to-back) matches chassis design.

​Q: Can it support 240V DC input for telco deployments?​

No. Use ​​NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2-DC=​​ variant for -48V DC compatibility (ETSI EN 300 132-2).


​Procurement and Lifecycle Management​

For enterprises prioritizing uptime, ​“NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2=” is available at itmall.sale​, offering:

  • ​Cisco Smart Net Total Care​​: 24/7 hardware replacement with 2-hour SLA.
  • ​Bulk Discounts​​: Tiered pricing for 50+ unit orders, including pre-configured firmware bundles.

​Lessons from Hyperscale Deployments​

A North American cloud provider reduced unplanned outages by 40% after standardizing on NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2= across 1,000+ Nexus 93600CD-GX switches. However, early adopters faced firmware mismatch issues when mixing Gen1 and Gen2 PSUs—resolved via Cisco’s ​​Power Supply Compatibility Matrix (Doc ID: 112563)​​.


​Strategic Insights for Infrastructure Architects​

The NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2= isn’t merely a component—it’s the ​​cornerstone of predictable power delivery​​. While hyperscalers obsess over switch ASICs, even the most advanced silicon falters with unstable voltage. In my experience auditing data centers, teams that neglect PSU firmware hygiene suffer 3× more downtime than those enforcing strict compliance. Prioritize ECO mode for sustainability goals, but never at the cost of redundancy—your CFO might love the energy savings until a $10M/hour outage hits. Balance innovation with the humility to respect Ohm’s Law.

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