NXA-PAC-3200W-PI=: Cisco’s 3200W Platinum-Certified Power Supply for High-Density Data Center Operations

Overview of the NXA-PAC-3200W-PI=

The ​​NXA-PAC-3200W-PI=​​ is a high-efficiency, hot-swappable AC power supply engineered for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches, including the Nexus 9504, 9508, and 93180YC-FX platforms. Designed for hyperscale data centers and enterprise core networks, this unit delivers 3200W of continuous power with 94% efficiency, adhering to 80 Plus Platinum standards. Its modular design supports N+N redundancy and real-time power telemetry, making it ideal for environments prioritizing uptime and energy sustainability.

Technical Specifications and Design Architecture

• ​​Input Voltage​​: 200–240 VAC (high-line), 50/60 Hz, with active power factor correction (PFC >0.99).
• ​​Output​​: 3200W at 12V DC (266A), compliant with ​​IEC 62368-1​​ and ​​EN 55032 Class A​​ EMI standards.
• ​​Efficiency​​: 94% at 50% load, 91% at 100% load (80 Plus Platinum certification).
• ​​Cooling System​​: Three-stage variable-speed fans with ​​Acoustic Mode​​ (35 dBA at 40% load) and ​​Thermal Overspeed Protection​​.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Nexus 9300-GX, 9500-Modular, and 9200 Series switches.

​​Key Features​​:

• ​​Digital Monitoring​​: ​​PMBus 1.3​​ interface for real-time voltage, current, and temperature reporting via Cisco NX-OS or DCNM.
• ​​Dual Input Feeds​​: Independent AC inputs for grid redundancy, supporting ​​Phase Balancing​​ in three-phase systems.
• ​​Fault Tolerance​​: ​​Hot-swap​​ capability with <10 ms interruption during replacement.

Deployment Scenarios and Operational Benefits

1. Hyperscale Data Center Power Optimization

The ​​NXA-PAC-3200W-PI=​​ powers high-density configurations like the Nexus 9336C-FX2 (36x 100G ports) at full load. A cloud provider reduced its PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) from 1.45 to 1.28 by replacing legacy 2200W PSUs, saving $1.2M annually in energy costs (Cisco Energy Impact Report, 2023).

2. Financial Trading Network Resilience

In latency-sensitive trading environments, dual PSUs in ​​N+N​​ configuration ensure zero downtime during grid fluctuations. A stock exchange mitigated 12 power sag events in Q1 2023 without triggering failover to UPS.

3. Edge Data Center Deployments

With a wide operating temperature range (-5°C to 55°C), the PSU supports edge sites lacking precision cooling. A telecom operator deployed it in 500+ micro-data centers for 5G MEC workloads.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

Q: How does the PI= variant differ from standard 3200W PSUs?

​​A:​​ The ​​PI=​​ designation indicates ​​Platinum Efficiency​​ and ​​Intelligent Power Management​​, including adaptive load balancing and predictive failure analytics via Cisco Intersight.

Q: Can it operate in mixed-voltage environments?

​​A:​​ No. The PSU requires 200–240 VAC input. For 100–120 VAC regions, use ​​NXA-PAC-3000W-AC​​ models with auto-sensing capabilities.

Q: What redundancy configurations are supported?

​​A:​​ The PSU supports ​​Grid Redundant (N+N)​​, ​​PSU Redundant (N+1)​​, and ​​Combined Redundant​​ modes. In N+N, each PSU connects to separate AC circuits for fault isolation.

Procurement and Compatibility Guidance

For guaranteed compatibility and Cisco TAC support, the ​​NXA-PAC-3200W-PI= is available here​​. Ensure chassis slot compatibility (e.g., Nexus 9508 requires 4x PSUs for full redundancy) and validate facility power capacity (30A circuits recommended).

Operational Best Practices

• ​​Load Balancing​​: Use Cisco DCNM’s ​​Power Calculator​​ to distribute loads evenly across phases in three-phase systems.
• ​​Firmware Updates​​: Schedule semi-annual upgrades via ​​Cisco FXOS​​ to address security vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-20136 (PMBus exploitation).
• ​​Environmental Monitoring​​: Set SNMP traps for inlet temperature (>40°C) and fan speed (<3,000 RPM).

Performance Benchmarks

• ​​Efficiency​​: 94.2% at 230V, 50% load (TÜV SÜD validated).
• ​​Hold-Up Time​​: 18 ms at 100% load, exceeding ​​EN 61000-4-29​​ sag immunity standards.
• ​​MTBF​​: 250,000 hours (calculated per Telcordia SR-332, Case 3).

Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

• ​​Harmonic Distortion​​: Activate ​​Active Harmonic Mitigation​​ to reduce THDi to <5% in aging grids.
• ​​Fan Contamination​​: Deploy ​​Cisco ACI Filter Kits​​ in dusty environments to extend fan lifespan by 40%.
• ​​Legacy Integration​​: Use ​​Cisco Nexus Dashboard​​ to unify power policies across Nexus 9000 and legacy MDS 9000 fabrics.

Final Insight

The ​​NXA-PAC-3200W-PI=​​ redefines power infrastructure as a strategic asset rather than a passive component. In an era where data center sustainability metrics directly impact corporate valuations, its blend of efficiency, intelligence, and resilience addresses both operational and ESG priorities. While skeptics may question the upfront cost, the long-term ROI—measured in uptime, energy savings, and reduced carbon footprints—positions this PSU not just as a hardware module, but as a cornerstone of modern data center economics.