"Same Family, Different Focus": N9K-C9372PX vs N9K-C9372PX-E, a Battle of Port Density and Feature Depth

Aug 08 , 2025 5

1. "Same Family, Different Focus": N9K-C9372PX vs N9K-C9372PX-E, a Battle of Port Density and Feature Depth

In Cisco’s Nexus 9300 series, the N9K-C9372PX (hereinafter "9372PX") and N9K-C9372PX-E (hereinafter "9372PX-E") are like "siblings with distinct roles"—sharing a fixed-configuration architecture and base ASIC capabilities but differing in port density and feature modules to precisely cover "high-density access" and "enhanced aggregation" scenarios. This article breaks down their real-world differences across 15 dimensions to help you match them to your needs.

2. Performance Metrics: Base Performance Matched, Detail Capabilities Diverge

Both use simplified ASICs, but 9372PX-E optimizes key performance through hardware tweaks:

• Processing Speed:

• Per-slot bandwidth: 100Gbps (fixed configuration) for both, 1.6Tbps total capacity (48×25G ports + 4×100G uplinks);

• Latency: 9372PX at 0.8μs, 9372PX-E optimized to 0.7μs (improved ASIC forwarding engine reduces packet processing layers);

• VXLAN throughput: 9372PX supports 8M PPS, 9372PX-E boosts to 10M PPS (ideal for high-concurrency UDP traffic).

• Running Memory:

• Base memory: 16GB DDR3 (non-expandable) for both; 9372PX-E supports larger flow tables (1.2 million ACL rules vs 9372PX’s 800,000), suited for multi-policy enterprise networks.

• Storage Capacity:

• Onboard storage: 8GB eMMC (9372PX-E expandable to 32GB, 9372PX only 16GB);

• Expansion: Both support USB2.0 external drives (max 500GB), but 9372PX-E’s USB3.0 interface increases transfer speed to 50MB/s.

3. Feature Sets: Overlapping Basics, Layered Enhancements

Both support basic L2 features (VLAN, STP, QoS), but 9372PX-E adds "modular features" for on-demand enhancement:

• 9372PX:

• Fixed 48×25G SFP28 + 4×100G QSFP28 uplinks, optimized for "high-density access";

• Native PoE++ (30W/port, 720W max) for APs, phones, and cameras;

• Basic security (802.1X, port security), no hardware encryption (e.g., IPSec).

• 9372PX-E:

• Same port configuration but adds an "enhanced security engine" (supports MACsec, dynamic ARP inspection);

• Hardware-based QoS (1024 queues vs 9372PX’s 512), enabling fine-grained prioritization of voice, video, and data;

• Integrated NetFlow/IPFIX traffic analysis (1:1000 sampling), supporting real-time monitoring.

4. Design & Appearance: "Compact Practicality" vs "Functional Enhancement"

• 9372PX:

• Dimensions: 1RU × 44mm width × 430mm depth (8kg), front panel with 48×25G SFP28 + 4×100G QSFP28 uplinks (compact layout);

• Redundancy: Optional single power supply, no redundant fans (natural cooling), fitting small offices;

• Cooling: Front-to-rear through-flow, silent operation, office-friendly.

• 9372PX-E:

• Dimensions: 1RU × 44mm width × 450mm depth (20mm deeper than 9372PX), same port layout but with "status indicator lights" for security/QoS;

• Redundancy: Dual power supplies (1+1) + redundant fans (N+1), hot-swappable, requiring 500mm-deep racks;

• Cooling: Optimized airflow (bottom-in/top-out), suitable for high-load environments.

5. User Experience: Real Operational Differences

• 9372PX:

• Strengths: Ultra-simple CLI (core L2 commands only), "show interface" focused on key metrics (traffic/errors), IT staff proficient in 1 week;

• Pain points: Weak security (no MACsec), relies on external firewalls; limited QoS (512 queues), causing congestion for mixed 4K video/voice traffic.

• 9372PX-E:

• Strengths: "Graphical management plugin" (enhanced Web UI) with drag-and-drop QoS configuration and traffic topology views, accessible to non-experts;

• Pain points: Slightly higher complexity (new security parameters), 2-week learning curve for new engineers; storage expansion requires additional SSD (≈¥2,000).

6. Cost-Effectiveness: Matching Features to Budget

• Initial Cost: 9372PX ~¥320k (48×25G+4×100G), 9372PX-E ~¥380k (same ports+E features), ~18% price difference.

• Expansion Costs:

• Both lack expansion slots; 9372PX-E’s USB3.0 supports larger drives (500GB→1TB), reducing long-term log storage costs by ~30%.

• Maintenance Costs:

• 9372PX requires separate firewalls (annual fee ~¥50k); 9372PX-E integrates MACsec, saving firewall costs;

• 9372PX-E’s granular QoS reduces congestion-related outages, cutting labor costs by ~1 hour/day.

7. Product Advantages: Scenario-Driven "Best Fit"

• 9372PX: Compact config (48×25G+4×100G), PoE++ (720W), low-cost ops; ideal for campus access, small branch aggregation, and AP/camera deployments.

• 9372PX-E: Enhanced security (MACsec), granular QoS (1024 queues), traffic analysis (NetFlow); suited for large campus cores and multi-service scenarios (voice+video+data).

8. System Upgrade: Details Determine Success (Key Section)

Upgrade Scenario: Migrating from NX-OS 9.2(5) to 10.4(3)F (IPv6 SRv6/hardware QoS enhancements).

Upgrade Process & Challenges:

1. Pre-Check Phase:

• 9372PX: Use show interface transceiver vendor to verify Cisco-certified optics;

• 9372PX-E: Sync security engine firmware pre-upgrade (software upgrade module security-engine force).

• 9372PX Issue: Third-party optics (non-Cisco 25G SFP28) fail due to driver incompatibility;

• 9372PX-E Issue: Security engine requires separate firmware (≥10.4(2)), triggering "security function error" if un-updated.

• Fixes:

2. Backup & Rollback:

• 9372PX: Split backups (configs to TFTP, logs to U盘);

• 9372PX-E: Use copy running-config scp://admin@192.168.1.100/ for encrypted SSH transfers, dual USB disks for backup.

• 9372PX Issue: 8GB eMMC may overflow when backing up configs/logs;

• 9372PX-E Issue: USB3.0 backups risk interruption from power fluctuations.

• Fixes:

3. Downtime Control:

• 9372PX: Use NSF/SSO for sub-30-second downtime via active-standby alternation;

• 9372PX-E: Disable security engine pre-upgrade (conf t ; no macsec enable), re-enable post-upgrade.

• 9372PX Issue: Full reboots cause 5-10 minute outages for core apps;

• 9372PX-E Issue: Rolling upgrades may temporarily disable MACsec during security engine updates.

• Fixes:

4. Post-Upgrade Validation:

• 9372PX: Add temporary IPv6 routes (ipv6 route 0.0.0.0/0 2001:db8::1) during migration;

• 9372PX-E: Validate QoS policies with show policy-map, gradually adjust to 1024 queues.

• 9372PX Issue: Strict IPv6 checks drop unrouted IPv6 traffic, breaking legacy devices;

• 9372PX-E Issue: Outdated QoS policies mismatch 1024 queues, causing video conferencing prioritization errors.

• Fixes:

9. Product Use Cases

• 9372PX Scenarios:

• Campus access layer: 300+ APs/phones, PoE++ (720W) eliminates extra power cabling;

• Small branch aggregation: MPLS VPN with 50ms BFD failover, ensuring ERP stability.

• 9372PX-E Scenarios:

• Large campus core: 500+ mixed media terminals, MACsec secures wireless AP traffic, 1024 queues prioritize video calls;

• Multi-service node: NetFlow analyzes 4K video/VOIP/OA traffic, dynamically adjusting QoS.

10. Detailed Pros & Cons

11. Conclusion: How to Choose?

• 9372PX: For small networks (<3,000 endpoints), cost-sensitive deployments, or basic access needs (APs/cameras).

• 9372PX-E: For multi-service environments (voice+video+data), enhanced security requirements, or granular traffic management.