Basics of Cisco Nexus

Cisco Nexus

NX-OS is Data Center class operating system, designed for maximum scalability and application availability. Has a wide variety of Platform-

 

Nexus 9500 modular switches

Nexus 9300 fixed switches

Nexus  7000 – 7004, 7009, 7010, 7018, 7710, 7718

Nexus  6000 – 6001, 6004

Nexus  5000 – 5010, 5020, 5548, 5596,

Nexus  4000 - only the model 4001

Nexus  3000 - 3064

Nexus  2000 – 2232PP, 2248PQ etc.

Nexus  1000V

Cisco MDS 9000

Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS)

 

Brief

Nexus 9000 Series data center switches deliver proven high performance and density up to 400G, as well as low latency and exceptional power efficiency in a range of form factors. The switches are highly programmable and offer industry-leading software-defined networking for data center automation

Nexus 7k is a core switch, high end data center switch. Nexus 5k is an aggregation/end of rack switch for the datacenter.

 

Nexus 5k is a pure L2 switch. New 5K models like 5548 UP can work as partial L3 switch with a L3 daughter card installed. Nexus 7k is a full blown Data Center switch with Layer 3 capabilities based on Line card chosen.

 

A FEX is a Nexus 2000 series switch. In a very high level explanation, this switch is a switchport module in a separate 1U chassis, which is configured and controlled from a Nexus 5000/7000. There is 1 drawback: the switchports on the FEX can only be used for host ports. It’s not possible to connect other switches to a FEX port because of the fact that BPDUguard is enabled by default. It’s not possible to disable BPDUguard. Switchports on the FEX can be used for layer 2 and layer 3 connections.