Description
Drive Overview
The Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX is a remarkable piece of networking hardware designed to meet the growing demands of data centers, enterprises, and organizations seeking reliable and high-performance solutions. This particular component, part of the Nexus 9500 Series, is a Line Card designed for the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches. It comes equipped with 48 ports and supports a range of optical fiber connectivity options, including 25/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet. In addition, it offers flexibility through 4 Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) expansion modules. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the features, benefits, applications, and technical specifications of the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card.
Key Features of Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX
Before we delve into the details of the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card, let’s explore the key features that make it an outstanding choice for networking solutions.
48 Ports for Versatility
The Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card provides 48 ports, making it an excellent choice for environments that require multiple connections. These ports support various data rates, from 1 Gigabit to 100 Gigabit Ethernet, offering the flexibility needed for a diverse range of network setups.
Optical Fiber Connectivity
One of the standout features of this Line Card is its support for optical fiber connectivity. Fiber optics offer numerous advantages over traditional copper cabling, including higher bandwidth, longer distances, and resistance to electromagnetic interference. The Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card is equipped to meet the demands of modern high-speed networks.
Support for 25/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet
The Line Card supports multiple Ethernet speeds, including 25, 40, and 100 Gigabit per second. This is crucial for organizations that require high bandwidth to support data-intensive applications and services. Whether you’re transmitting large data files or running high-definition video streaming, this Line Card has the speed you need.
Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) Expansion Modules
The Line Card features 4 Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) expansion modules, providing further flexibility and scalability for your network. These expansion modules allow you to adapt to changing network requirements and easily increase your network’s capacity.
Low Current (LC) Gigabit Ethernet
The Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card is designed with energy efficiency in mind. It offers low current (LC) Gigabit Ethernet, helping organizations reduce their power consumption and operating costs. This is an important consideration for sustainable and cost-effective networking solutions.
Compatibility with Cisco Nexus 9500 Series
This Line Card is specifically designed for compatibility with the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches. This synergy ensures seamless integration, maximum performance, and efficient management of your network infrastructure.
Now that we’ve explored the standout features, let’s take a closer look at the technical specifications and applications of the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card.
Port Monitoring and Management
The N9K-X97160YC-EX Cisco Nexus 9500 48 Ports QSFP+ LC Expansion Module provides a range of port monitoring and management capabilities that enable network administrators to monitor and control the module’s performance and usage. Here are some of the key features related to port monitoring and management:
- Port Monitoring: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module supports several port monitoring features, including traffic monitoring, port mirroring, and NetFlow. Network administrators can use these features to monitor traffic patterns, diagnose network issues, and optimize network performance.
- Management Interfaces: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides a range of management interfaces, including a console port, USB ports, and Ethernet management ports. These interfaces enable network administrators to manage the module’s configuration, monitor its performance, and troubleshoot issues.
- Cisco NX-OS Software: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module runs on the Cisco NX-OS software, which provides a range of network management features, including CLI-based configuration, SNMP-based management, and XML-based management. The software also supports the Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), which is a web-based tool that enables network administrators to manage and monitor their Cisco network infrastructure.
- Hot-Swappable Design: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module has a hot-swappable design, which means that it can be replaced or added to a switch while the switch is still running. This feature enables network administrators to add or replace modules without disrupting network operations.
- Port Security: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides several port security features, including port security, DHCP snooping, and IP Source Guard. These features enable network administrators to control access to network resources and prevent unauthorized access.
- Quality of Service (QoS) Features: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides a range of QoS features, including classification, marking, queuing, and scheduling. These features enable network administrators to prioritize network traffic based on its importance and ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.
High-Speed Connectivity Options
The N9K-X97160YC-EX is a Cisco Nexus 9500 series switch expansion module that provides 48 ports of QSFP+ connectivity. The module is designed to support high-speed data center connectivity and provides several options for high-speed connectivity. Here are some of the high-speed connectivity options provided by the N9K-X97160YC-EX module:
- 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GbE): The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides 48 ports of 40GbE QSFP+ connectivity. 40GbE is a high-speed Ethernet standard that provides four times the bandwidth of 10GbE.
- 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE): The N9K-X97160YC-EX module also supports 100GbE connectivity through QSFP28 ports. 100GbE provides even higher bandwidth than 40GbE, making it suitable for high-performance data center environments.
- Breakout Support: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides support for breakout cables, which allow the QSFP+ ports to be split into four 10GbE or four 25GbE interfaces. This provides flexibility for data center operators who require different Ethernet speeds and connectivity options.
- Fibre Channel Support: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module also provides Fibre Channel support, with speeds of up to 16 Gbps. This allows Fibre Channel traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks using Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocols.
- Virtualization Support: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides support for virtualization technologies such as Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN), Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE), and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE). This allows data center operators to create virtual networks and improve network efficiency.
Benefits of Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card
Now that we’ve explored the technical specifications and potential applications of the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card, let’s delve into the benefits that this networking component offers:
High Performance
The Line Card’s support for 25/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet ensures that your network can handle the demands of data-intensive applications and services. It provides the necessary bandwidth to support fast data transfers, reducing latency and enhancing the user experience.
Flexibility and Scalability
With 48 ports and 4 Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) expansion modules, this Line Card offers the flexibility to adapt to your organization’s changing needs. You can easily expand your network capacity and accommodate new connections as your business grows.
Energy Efficiency
The inclusion of Low Current (LC) Gigabit Ethernet is a significant benefit in terms of energy efficiency. It helps reduce power consumption, which not only contributes to cost savings but also aligns with sustainability initiatives.
Compatibility
The Line Card is designed for seamless integration with the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches and runs on the Cisco NX-OS. This compatibility ensures that you can leverage the full potential of your networking hardware without compatibility issues or performance bottlenecks.
Reliability
The inclusion of redundant and hot-swappable power supplies ensures that your network remains operational, even in the event of a power supply failure. This high level of reliability is crucial for mission-critical applications.
Support for Fiber Optics
Optical fiber offers numerous advantages over traditional copper cabling, including higher data rates, longer distances, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. The Line Card’s support for optical fiber connectivity makes it suitable for environments where these advantages are essential.
Ethernet Standards and Protocols
The N9K-X97160YC-EX is a 48-port QSFP+ LC expansion module designed for use with the Cisco Nexus 9500 series switches. This module supports a variety of Ethernet standards and protocols to provide high-speed connectivity options. Here is an explanation of the Ethernet standards and protocols supported by the N9K-X97160YC-EX module:
- Ethernet Standards: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module supports a range of Ethernet standards, including 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE), 25 Gigabit Ethernet (25GbE), 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GbE), and 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE). These Ethernet standards are used to transfer data over Ethernet networks at different speeds.
- Ethernet Protocols: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module supports a variety of Ethernet protocols, including Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN), Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE), and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE). These protocols are used to create virtual networks and provide connectivity between different network segments.
- Fibre Channel Support: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module also supports Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), which allows Fibre Channel traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks.
- Quality of Service (QoS): The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides advanced QoS capabilities, including classification, marking, queuing, and scheduling. These features are used to prioritize network traffic and ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.
- Multicast Support: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module supports multicast traffic forwarding and provides support for multicast protocols such as Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM), Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP), and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
- Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features: The N9K-X97160YC-EX module provides support for Layer 2 features such as VLAN tagging, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). It also supports Layer 3 features such as IP routing, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).
General Information about this Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Part Number or SKU# N9K-X97160YC-EX
- Type: Networking
- Product Type: Expansion Module
Technical Information for 48 Ports Module
- Capacity:48 Ports
- Product Name: Nexus 9500 NX-OS line card
- Application/Usage Data Networking
- Application/Usage Optical Network
Media & Performance of Expansion Module
- Media Type Supported Optical Fiber
- Ethernet Technology 25 Gigabit Ethernet
- Ethernet Technology 40 Gigabit Ethernet
- Ethernet Technology 100 Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology 100GBase-X
- Network Technology 40GBase-X
I/O Expansions 48 Ports
- Number of Total Expansion Slots 52
- Expansion Slot Type QSFP+
- Expansion Slot Type SFP+
Miscellaneous
- Cisco Fabric Modules:
- N9K-C9504-FM-E
- N9K-C9508-FM-E
- N9K-C9516-FM-E
- Cisco Nexus Chassis Switches:
- 9504
- 9508
- 9816
In summary, the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Nexus 9500 Series 48 Ports NX-OS Line Card is a powerful networking component designed to meet the demands of modern data centers, enterprises, and organizations. Its impressive features, including 48 ports, support for multiple Ethernet speeds, compatibility with Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches, and energy efficiency through Low Current (LC) Gigabit Ethernet, make it a standout choice for networking solutions.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your data center’s performance, support high-speed networking in your enterprise, or meet the needs of specialized applications like high-performance computing, the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card offers the flexibility, reliability, and performance required.
By understanding its technical specifications, potential applications, and the benefits it brings to your network, you can make an informed decision about whether the Cisco N9K-X97160YC-EX Line Card is the right choice for your networking needs. Its compatibility with Cisco Nexus switches and adherence to industry standards make it a valuable addition to any network infrastructure.
