​​Product Overview and Design Philosophy​​

The ​​Cisco NC6-10X100G-MK-2PK​​ is a high-performance modular line card designed for the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches, specifically engineered to meet the demands of hyperscale data centers and enterprise core networks. This line card provides ​​10x100G QSFP28 ports per module​​, enabling terabit-scale throughput while maintaining ultra-low latency. Built for deployment flexibility, it supports both ​​Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding​​ with hardware-accelerated VXLAN/EVPN integration, making it ideal for modernized, software-defined infrastructures.

Cisco’s design prioritizes ​​forward and backward compatibility​​ with existing Nexus 9500 chassis, ensuring seamless upgrades without requiring full infrastructure overhauls.

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Density​​: 10x100G QSFP28 ports per slot, scalable to 80x100G ports in an 8-slot chassis.
• ​​Forwarding Capacity​​: ​​15 Bpps (billion packets per second)​​ with full duplex operation.
• ​​Buffer Memory​​: 48 MB shared packet buffer per ASIC to prevent microburst congestion.
• ​​Latency​​: Sub-5 microseconds for cut-through switching in optimal conditions.
• ​​Power Efficiency​​: 8W per 100G port under typical workloads, leveraging Cisco’s UADP 3.0 ASIC.

​​Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios​​

​​Hyperscale Cloud Backbones​​

The NC6-10X100G-MK-2PK excels in environments requiring ​​massive east-west traffic​​ between servers or storage clusters. Its ​​non-blocking architecture​​ ensures zero packet loss during peak loads, critical for AI/ML workloads or real-time analytics.

​​Enterprise Core Aggregation​​

For enterprises consolidating branch traffic into a centralized data center, this line card supports ​​multi-tenancy segmentation​​ through VRFs and ACLs, isolating departments or customer traffic without performance degradation.

​​Disaster Recovery Fabrics​​

With ​​hitless patching​​ and In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU), organizations can maintain uptime during maintenance windows, ensuring compliance with 99.999% SLAs.

​​Performance Optimization Strategies​​

• ​​Traffic Engineering​​: Prioritize latency-sensitive applications (e.g., financial trading platforms) using ​​Flexible Algorithm (Flex-Algo)​​ for segment routing.
• ​​Congestion Management​​: Deploy ​​Dynamic Buffer Sharing​​ to allocate buffer resources based on real-time flow demands.
• ​​Energy Savings​​: Activate ​​Cisco’s EnergyWise​​ mode during off-peak hours to reduce power consumption by up to 30%.

​​Compatibility and Interoperability​​

The NC6-10X100G-MK-2PK is compatible with:

• ​​Chassis​​: Nexus 9504/9508/9516 with N9K-X9636C-R or N9K-X9636Q-R supervisors.
• ​​Transceivers​​: Cisco QSFP-100G-SR4-S, QSFP-100G-LR4-S, and third-party optics via ​​Cisco’s Dense Wave-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) certification​​.
• ​​Software​​: Requires NX-OS 9.3(5) or later for full feature support, including OpenConfig/YANG data models.

​​Addressing Common User Concerns​​

​​Q: How does this line card handle future 400G migrations?​​

The QSFP28 ports support ​​breakout cabling​​ to 4x25G or 4x10G interfaces, but for native 400G upgrades, Cisco recommends transitioning to the Nexus 3400-S series.

​​Q: What redundancy features are included?​​

The module supports ​​N+1 power supply redundancy​​ and ​​Graceful Insertion and Removal (GIR)​​, allowing hot-swap replacements without disrupting adjacent ports.

​​Q: Is it compatible with Cisco’s ACI?​​

Yes, when paired with an APIC controller, it enables ​​automated policy enforcement​​ and end-to-end visibility across ACI fabric domains.

​​Purchasing and Support Considerations​​

For enterprises prioritizing cost-efficiency without sacrificing reliability, the NC6-10X100G-MK-2PK is available through certified partners like itmall.sale, which offers validated hardware warranties and bulk-order discounts.

​​Final Perspective​​

Having analyzed its architecture and real-world performance metrics, the NC6-10X100G-MK-2PK stands out as a ​​future-resilient investment​​ for organizations scaling their data center capabilities. Its balance of port density, energy efficiency, and backward compatibility addresses both immediate operational needs and long-term strategic goals. While newer 400G solutions are emerging, this line card remains indispensable for enterprises seeking to maximize ROI on existing Nexus 9000 deployments. For teams requiring deeper technical guidance, Cisco’s validated design guides and itmall.sale’s pre-sales engineering support provide robust implementation frameworks.