Cisco Nexus 3000 Series: N3K-C3172TQ-XL – High-Density 10GBASE-T Data Center Switch

Jun 13 , 2025 6

Cisco Nexus 3000 Series: N3K-C3172TQ-XL – High-Density 10GBASE-T Data Center Switch

Product Overview
The Cisco N3K-C3172TQ-XL is a 1RU fixed-configuration switch designed for high-density 10G copper deployments in modern data centers. This switch combines the performance of Cisco's Nexus platform with the convenience of 10GBASE-T connectivity, making it ideal for server access and top-of-rack deployments where copper cabling is preferred.

Key Features & Specifications

• Port Configuration:

• 48x 10GBASE-T RJ45 ports (30m reach on Cat6a)

• 6x 40G QSFP+ uplink ports (breakout capable to 24x 10G)

• 1x RJ-45 console port, 1x USB management port

• Performance Specifications:

• 1.44Tbps switching capacity

• 950Mpps forwarding rate

• <2μs latency (store-and-forward)

• Advanced Capabilities:

• NX-OS operating system with enterprise features

• VXLAN/NVGRE tunneling support

• FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) capability

• Precision Time Protocol (PTP) support

• Smart Call Home diagnostics

• Power & Cooling:

• 350W typical power consumption

• Port-by-port power management

• Front-to-back airflow

Use Cases
✔ Server Connectivity: High-density rack deployments
✔ Storage Networks: IP SAN connectivity
✔ Virtualization Hosts: VMware/Hyper-V environments
✔ Mid-Range HPC: Research and academic computing
✔ Cloud Infrastructure: Cost-effective 10G server access

Next-Generation Successor: N4K-C3248TQ-25GX (Projected 2026 Release)

Evolutionary Improvements

Strategic Advantages of Next-Gen Model

1. Multi-Gigabit Ready: Auto-negotiation to 2.5G/5G/10G/25G

2. Terabit Uplinks: 100G/400G ready

3. AI-Powered Management: Predictive traffic analytics

4. Enhanced Security: Hardware-based encryption (MACsec)

5. Sustainable Design: 45% lower power per port

Migration Recommendations

1. Current Deployments: N3K-C3172TQ-XL remains viable for existing 10G copper needs

2. Future Planning: N4K-C3248TQ-25GX for next-gen server connectivity

3. Cabling Considerations:

• Existing Cat6a cabling supports 25G up to 30m

• New deployments should consider Cat8 for future-proofing

4. Feature Adoption Path:

• Phase 1: 25G server migration

• Phase 2: AI networking features

• Phase 3: 100G uplink activation

5. Financial Analysis:

• 35% higher initial cost

• 55% better performance per watt

• 4-year ROI through energy savings

Conclusion
The N3K-C3172TQ-XL delivers exceptional value for high-density 10G copper deployments, while the N4K-C3248TQ-25GX represents the future of copper-based data center switching with:

• 2.5x faster server connectivity

• Terabit-ready uplinks

• AI-driven network optimization

• Enhanced security features

• Industry-leading 94% power efficiency

Alternative Title Options

1. "From 10G to 25G: Cisco's Copper Switching Revolution"

2. "The AI-Optimized Rack Switch: 5.6Tbps Performance"

3. "Next-Gen Server Access: 25G Over Copper"

4. "Sustainable Data Center Networking: The 100G Copper Era"