N3K-C31108PC-V: How Does Cisco\’s Hybrid Port Switch Bridge 10G/100G Data Center Needs? What Makes It a Cost-Effective Upgrade Path?


Core Architecture & Performance Capabilities

The ​​Cisco Nexus N3K-C31108PC-V​​ is a ​​1RU Layer 2/3 switch​​ optimized for ​​mixed-speed data center environments​​, combining ​​48x10G SFP+ ports​​ and ​​6xQSFP28 uplinks​​ (supporting 40G/100G connectivity). Key technical highlights include:

  • ​Switching Capacity​​: ​​1.28 Tbps​​ with ​​960 Mpps forwarding rate​​, ensuring wire-speed performance for latency-sensitive workloads like virtualization and AI/ML pipelines.
  • ​Port Flexibility​​: QSFP28 ports can be split into ​​4x25G or 4x10G​​ via breakout cables, expanding total usable ports to ​​72x10G​​ or ​​24x25G + 48x10G​​.
  • ​Power Efficiency​​: Dual 500W hot-swappable power supplies (AC/DC options) with ​​PHY-less design​​, reducing energy consumption by 15% compared to traditional switches.

Competitive Edge Over Similar Models

​Hybrid Speed Versatility​

Unlike the ​​N3K-C3172TQ​​ (48x10GBase-T + 6xQSFP+), the N3K-C31108PC-V prioritizes ​​fiber-centric deployments​​ with SFP+ ports, eliminating copper cabling limitations in high-density racks. Its ​​VXLAN/EVPN integration​​ supports seamless multi-tenant cloud architectures.

​Cost-Effective Scalability​

  • ​Buffer Management​​: ​​9MB shared packet buffer​​ prevents congestion during traffic bursts in financial trading platforms.
  • ​Third-Party Optics Support​​: Validated with ​​QSFP-100G-SR4​​ and ​​QSFP-40G-LR4​​ transceivers, reducing TCO by 40% versus Cisco-branded modules.
Feature N3K-C31108PC-V N3K-C3172TQ
Primary Port Types 48 SFP+ + 6 QSFP28 48 10GBase-T + 6 QSFP+
Max Uplink Speed 100G 40G
Typical Use Case Cloud spine layers Enterprise campus core
Power Draw (Max) 440W 440W

Deployment Scenarios & Operational Insights

​AI/ML Workload Backbones​

The switch’s ​​sub-1μs latency​​ and ​​RoCEv2 support​​ make it ideal for GPU cluster interconnects. A 2024 deployment guide recommends pairing it with ​​NVIDIA ConnectX-6 adapters​​ and ​​QSFP-100G-AOC10M active optical cables​​ for <2W per-port power consumption.

​Firmware Limitations​

Non-XL variants require ​​NX-OS image compression​​ for upgrades beyond version 9.x due to ​​2GB bootflash constraints​​. The ​​N3K-C31108PC-V-XL​​ (16GB storage) avoids this limitation for future-proof operations.


Procurement Strategy via ITmall.sale

ITmall.sale offers ​​certified refurbished N3K-C31108PC-V units​​ at ​**​9,800​∗∗​(739,800​**​ (73% below Cisco’s 9,800​(7336,480 list price), including:

  • ​Lifetime Warranty​​: Covers fan modules and power supplies, with tested compatibility for third-party optics.
  • ​Immediate Availability​​: Forward airflow (​​-FA​​) and reverse airflow (​​-RF​​) models in stock for colocation deployments.
  • ​Pre-Configured Firmware​​: Ships with NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(2) to avoid BIOS checksum errors during setup.

FAQs: Critical Implementation Queries

​Q: Can the QSFP28 ports operate at 25G without breakout cables?​
A: Yes—via auto-negotiation when connected to 25G devices like Intel E810 NICs.

​Q: Is third-party DAC support reliable?​
A: Cisco’s Validated Design program certifies ​​Arista CAB-Q-100G-3M​​ cables, though firmware updates may require genuine Cisco DACs.

​Q: What’s the end-of-support timeline?​
A: Cisco plans to retire the series by ​​2026-2027​​, but refurbished units remain viable through ​​2030​​ with ITmall.sale’s firmware patches.


For enterprises balancing ​​10G access layer demands​​ and ​​100G spine-tier readiness​​, the N3K-C31108PC-V delivers unmatched flexibility. Explore certified inventory and expert guidance at ​ITmall.sale’s Cisco Nexus portfolio​ to modernize data center networks without budget overruns.

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