Cisco Nexus 9000 Series: N9K-C9348GC-FXP – High-Density Multi-Purpose Data Center Switch

Jun 12 , 2025 108

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series: N9K-C9348GC-FXP – High-Density Multi-Purpose Data Center Switch

Product Overview
The Cisco N9K-C9348GC-FXP is a 1RU fixed-configuration switch designed for modern data center and enterprise edge deployments requiring flexible connectivity options. This versatile switch combines high-density copper and fiber connectivity with advanced features for converged network environments.

Key Features & Specifications

• Port Configuration:

• 48x 1G/10GBASE-T RJ45 ports

• 6x 40/100G QSFP28 uplink ports

• 2x 1G/10G management ports

• Performance Specifications:

• Switching capacity: 3.6Tbps (full duplex)

• Forwarding rate: 2.7B packets per second

• Latency: <2μs (cut-through mode)

• Advanced Capabilities:

• Unified ports (LAN/SAN/management)

• Hardware-accelerated VXLAN/NVGRE

• FCoE and iSCSI optimization

• Cisco TrustSec security

• Embedded telemetry with 500μs granularity

Use Cases
✔ Enterprise Data Centers: Server access and storage connectivity
✔ Private Cloud: Virtualized infrastructure networking
✔ Mid-Size Campus: High-performance core switching
✔ Edge Computing: Distributed workload processing
✔ Branch Consolidation: All-in-one connectivity solution

Next-Generation Successor: N9K-C9364DC-FX2 (Projected 2025 Release)

Evolutionary Improvements

Strategic Advantages of Next-Gen Model

1. AI-Ready Architecture: Hardware support for distributed ML workloads

2. Unified Fabric 2.0: Seamless LAN/SAN/ML traffic integration

3. Quantum-Resilient Security: Enhanced cryptographic capabilities

4. Deterministic Performance: <500ns latency variation

5. Sustainable Design: 50% lower power per bit

Migration Recommendations

1. Current Deployments: N9K-C9348GC-FXP remains optimal for 10G environments

2. Future Planning: N9K-C9364DC-FX2 for upcoming 25G/400G requirements

3. Performance-Sensitive Apps: Prioritize upgrade for latency-critical workloads

4. Hybrid Environments: Maintain compatibility during transition

5. Sustainability Goals: Leverage new model's energy efficiency features

Conclusion
The N9K-C9348GC-FXP delivers exceptional value for today's converged enterprise networks, while the N9K-C9364DC-FX2 will address tomorrow's challenges with:

• 4x greater port density

• AI-optimized data plane

• Next-gen security features

• Significant power savings

• Carrier-class determinism

Alternative Title Options

1. "Cisco's Converged Switching Evolution: From 10G to 400G"

2. "The Future of Data Center Switching: Cisco's N9K-C9348GC-FXP Successor"

3. "AI-Ready Enterprise Switching: Cisco's Next-Gen Portfolio"

4. "Sustainable Data Center Networking: Cisco's Path to 12.8Tbps"