Cisco Nexus N9KC9232C vs N9KC9332C: Technical Comparison

May 07 , 2025 47

1. Product Overview  

The N9KC9232C and N9KC9332C are highperformance 100G switches from Cisco’s Nexus 9000 series, designed for data center core/aggregation and highperformance computing (HPC). Both feature a compact 1RU form factor with 32x 100G QSFP28 ports but differ in hardware architecture, performance optimization, and use cases.  

N9KC9232C Key Features  

ASIC: Broadcom Tomahawkbased, delivering reliable linerate forwarding.  

Performance: 3.2Tbps throughput with cutthrough switching (~1μs latency).  

Scalability: Supports VXLAN/EVPN for overlay networking in standard data centers.  

Best For: Costsensitive deployments with predictable traffic (virtualization, enterprise storage).  

N9KC9332C Key Features  

ASIC: Cisco Cloud Scale custom silicon, optimized for largescale data centers.  

Enhanced Buffering: 12MB shared buffer (vs. 9MB on 9232C), ideal for bursty traffic.  

Advanced Features: Finegrained QoS, telemetry (ERSPAN, DME), and better scaling for AI/ML or lowlatency trading.  

Best For: Highperformance environments (HPC, AI workloads, largescale EVPN fabrics).  

2. Use Case Comparison  

1. Virtualization & General Data Center  

N9KC9232C: Suitable for midsized VMware/Nutanix deployments or traditional SAN/NAS storage.  

N9KC9332C: Better for largescale hybrid clouds with stringent QoS/telemetry needs.  

2. HPC & AI/ML Workloads  

N9KC9232C: Handles basic RDMA (RoCEv2) but may drop packets under bursty conditions.  

N9KC9332C: Superior for AI training or distributed storage (e.g., Lustre) due to deeper buffers.  

3. LowLatency Trading (Financial Services)  

N9KC9232C: Adequate for standard lowlatency needs.  

N9KC9332C: Preferred for highfrequency trading (HFT) with optimized traffic shaping.  

4. LargeScale VXLAN/EVPN Fabrics  

N9KC9232C: Fits smalltomid EVPN deployments (hundreds of leaves).  

N9KC9332C: Ideal for hyperscale EVPN (multitenant clouds) with higher MAC/ACL scale.  

4. Selection Guide  

Choose N9KC9232C if: Budget is a priority, and workloads are predictable (e.g., enterprise IT, private clouds).  

Choose N9KC9332C if: You need advanced QoS, telemetry, or handle burstheavy traffic (AI, HPC, financial apps).  

5. Final Verdict  

Both switches deliver 100G density, but the N9KC9332C excels in performancesensitive scenarios thanks to its Cisco ASIC and larger buffers. The N9KC9232C remains a costeffective choice for standard data center deployments.