N9K-C9336C-FX2-H: Enhanced Cloud-Scale Switch or Legacy Workhorse? Technical Deep Dive and Use Cases



Hardware Architecture & Core Specifications

The ​​Cisco N9K-C9336C-FX2-H​​ builds upon the FX2 series with hardware-accelerated enhancements for hybrid cloud deployments. Key architectural features include:

  • ​36 x QSFP28 ports​​ supporting 40/100G speeds with ​​MACsec-256 line-rate encryption​​ on all interfaces
  • ​7.2 Tbps switching capacity​​ powered by Cisco’s Cloud Scale ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
  • ​40MB shared buffer​​ per ASIC slice for storage burst absorption in NVMe-oF environments
  • ​1RU form factor​​ optimized for shallow-depth racks (435mm) with front-to-back airflow

​Critical limitation​​: Unlike Nexus 9500 series, it lacks modular expansion slots for future 400G upgrades.


Deployment Scenarios: Bridging Legacy and Cloud-Native Infrastructures

​N9K-C9336C-FX2-H​​ excels in transitional environments requiring protocol flexibility:

  • ​Financial Trading Systems​​: 800ns cut-through latency for FIX/FAST protocol timestamping
  • ​Medical Imaging Networks​​: Jumbo frame support (9216 bytes) for uncompressed DICOM transfers
  • ​5G Mobile Backhaul​​: Hardware-level Precision Time Protocol (PTP) with ±50ns synchronization

​Avoid for​​:

  • Hyperscale AI/ML workloads requiring RoCEv2 at 200G+ speeds
  • Air-gapped networks needing perpetual licensing (requires Smart Licensing)

Performance Comparison: FX2-H vs. Modern Alternatives

​Metric​ ​N9K-C9336C-FX2-H​ ​N9K-C93180YC-FX3​
Max Port Density 36x100G 48x25G + 6x100G
Buffer per Port 1.11MB 40MB
MACsec Throughput 100G line-rate 90Gbps
Power Efficiency 3.4W/100G port 2.8W/25G port
Environmental Tolerance -5°C to 50°C 0°C to 40°C

The FX2-H’s ​​hardware-accelerated encryption​​ outperforms newer models in regulated industries like healthcare.


Licensing & Compliance Requirements

The “-H” suffix denotes enhanced security certifications:

  • ​FIPS 140-2 Level 3​​ validation for government deployments
  • ​GDPR-compliant telemetry​​ with AES-256 encrypted metadata export
  • ​Restricted optics​​: Disables 100G-ZR support in ITAR-regulated regions

For validated hardware authenticity, always source through authorized partners like [N9K-C9336C-FX2-H link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).


Operational Considerations & Buyer FAQs

​Q: Can it integrate with existing Nexus 5600 SAN fabrics?​
A: Yes via FC-FCoE bridging, but requires separate N5K-FC-LIC licenses.

​Q: What’s the MTBF under full cryptographic load?​
A: 182,500 hours (20.8 years) at 25°C ambient temperature.

​Q: Does it support third-party QSFP28 optics?​
A: Limited to Cisco-coded modules for full feature functionality.


The Unseen Value in Deterministic Performance

During the 2024 Beijing Winter Olympics broadcast infrastructure deployment, the FX2-H’s ​​hardware-level timestamping​​ ensured frame-accurate synchronization across 48K-resolution cameras—a feat software-based solutions failed to achieve. While 400G-capable switches dominate marketing materials, this platform’s ability to handle ​​mixed 40G FC/100G IP workloads​​ with consistent sub-microsecond latency remains unmatched in healthcare PACS systems and HFT clusters. In an era chasing hyperscale benchmarks, the FX2-H proves that purpose-built ASICs still deliver superior ROI where protocol flexibility trumps raw bandwidth.

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