Description
Overview of Cisco N9K-X9736PQ ACI Spine Line Card
The Cisco N9K-X9736PQ is a crucial component of the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series, specifically designed as an ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) Spine Line Card. This line card plays a pivotal role in data center networking, providing high-speed connectivity and facilitating the expansion of optical networks.
Purpose of an ACI Spine Line Card
An ACI Spine Line Card, such as the Cisco N9K-X9736PQ, acts as a core component in a data center’s spine-and-leaf architecture. It serves to interconnect various elements within the data center, facilitating communication, scalability, and high-speed data transfer.
Understanding the Technical SpecificationsCisco Nexus 9500 Series
- Nexus 9500 Series: The line card is a part of the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series, which is a family of data center switches known for their scalability, performance, and support for ACI.
36 Ports 40 Gigabit QSFP
- 36 Ports: The line card features 36 ports, providing connectivity for various devices within the data center.
- 40 Gigabit QSFP: Each port supports 40 Gigabit speeds and utilizes Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP) technology for high-performance networking.
Optical Network Expansion Module
- Optical Network Expansion Module: The line card is designed as an Optical Network Expansion Module, emphasizing its role in expanding and enhancing optical networking capabilities within the data center.
Non-blocking Architecture
- Non-blocking: The line card operates on a non-blocking architecture, ensuring that each port can achieve its maximum speed simultaneously without causing data bottlenecks.
Importance of 40 Gigabit QSFP in NetworkingHigh-Speed Data Transfer
- 40 Gigabit QSFP connections provide high-speed data transfer, essential for data-intensive applications and large-scale data center operations.
Bandwidth Scalability
- The use of QSFP technology allows for scalability in bandwidth, accommodating the increasing demands of modern data center environments.
Versatility
- QSFP ports are versatile and support various optical and copper transceivers, offering flexibility in connecting different types of network infrastructure.
Application in Data Center NetworkingSpine-and-Leaf Architecture
- ACI Spine Line Cards are specifically designed for the spine layer in a spine-and-leaf architecture, facilitating efficient communication between different leaf switches and end devices.
Scalability and Expansion
- The Cisco N9K-X9736PQ supports the growth and expansion of data centers, providing additional ports and high-speed connectivity for increasing demands.
Benefits of Cisco N9K-X9736PQ ACI Spine Line CardHigh-Performance Networking
- The line card delivers high-performance networking, ensuring efficient data transfer and low-latency communication within the data center.
Scalability and Flexibility
- Designed for scalability, it allows data centers to expand their network infrastructure without compromising on performance.
ACI Integration
- Being part of the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series, the line card seamlessly integrates with the ACI architecture, providing a holistic and automated approach to data center networking.
Redundancy and High Availability
Redundancy and high availability are critical considerations when designing a network infrastructure that requires high levels of availability and reliability. The Cisco Nexus 9500 series is a modular switch platform that is designed to provide high performance and scalability for data center networks.
The N9K-X9736PQ is a 36-port 40G service module for the Cisco Nexus 9500 series switch. It provides high-density 40G connectivity for server and storage environments and supports a range of protocols including Ethernet, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and Fibre Channel.
Redundancy is the concept of building in backup systems or components to ensure that if one component fails, there is another component that can take over its functionality. In the context of the N9K-X9736PQ module, redundancy can be achieved through several means, including:
- Module redundancy: The Nexus 9500 chassis can accommodate multiple service modules, and a single module can be configured as a backup for another module. If the primary module fails, the backup module can take over its functionality.
- Power redundancy: The Nexus 9500 chassis supports redundant power supplies, which can be configured in an N+1 or 2N redundancy mode. This means that if one power supply fails, the other power supply or supplies can take over its functionality.
- Network redundancy: The N9K-X9736PQ module supports a range of protocols for network redundancy, including virtual PortChannels (vPC), Multichassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG), and FabricPath. These protocols allow for redundant network paths and automatic failover in the event of a link or switch failure.
High availability refers to the ability of a system or component to remain operational and accessible for extended periods, with minimal downtime. In the context of the N9K-X9736PQ module, high availability can be achieved through a range of means, including:
- Modular design: The Nexus 9500 switch platform is designed for high availability, with modular components that can be easily replaced or upgraded without affecting the overall system. This allows for maintenance and upgrades to be performed with minimal disruption to network traffic.
- Redundant components: As mentioned above, the N9K-X9736PQ module supports redundant power supplies and module redundancy, which can help to minimize downtime in the event of a failure.
- Fault tolerance: The N9K-X9736PQ module includes features such as In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU), which allow for software upgrades to be performed without disrupting network traffic. It also supports advanced features such as virtualization, which can help to improve fault tolerance and minimize downtime.
Key Features and Benefits of Nexus 9500 Series Service Module
The N9K-X9736PQ Cisco Nexus 9500 36 Ports 40G Service Module is a high-performance module that provides flexible and scalable connectivity for data center networks. It is designed to meet the needs of today’s data center environments and support high-bandwidth applications and services.
Some key features and benefits of this service module include:
- High-density port connectivity: The N9K-X9736PQ provides 36 ports of 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity in a single module, offering high-density port connectivity to support the growing demand for bandwidth.
- Flexible port configuration: The module supports different port configurations, including 40G, 4x10G, and 12x10G, providing flexibility to meet a wide range of network requirements.
- High-performance forwarding: The N9K-X9736PQ is designed to deliver high-performance forwarding capabilities, with a forwarding rate of up to 1.44 Tbps and a packet forwarding rate of up to 1.08 Bpps.
- Advanced features: The module supports advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), virtual PortChannel (vPC), and Cisco FabricPath, enabling the creation of highly resilient and scalable networks.
- Investment protection: The N9K-X9736PQ is designed to be compatible with the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series modular switches, offering investment protection and future-proofing for network deployments.
- Easy management: The module is easy to manage and configure, with support for Cisco Nexus Data Broker, which enables the collection and distribution of network traffic data to various tools and applications.
- Energy efficiency: The N9K-X9736PQ is designed for energy efficiency, with support for features such as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and Cisco EnergyWise, which help reduce power consumption and lower operating costs.
General Information about this Cisco N9K-X9736PQ
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# N9K-X9736PQ
- Product Name: Nexus 9500 ACI Spine Line Card
- Device Type: Expansion module
Technical Information
- Application/Usage: Data Networking
- Application/Usage: Optical Network
I/O Expansions:
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 36
- Expansion Slot Type: QSFP+
Miscellaneous
- Compatibility- Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches
In summary, the Cisco N9K-X9736PQ ACI Spine Line Card is a vital component within the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series, serving as a cornerstone for data center networking. Its 36 ports with 40 Gigabit QSFP connections, Optical Network Expansion Module design, and non-blocking architecture make it an essential element for high-performance, scalable, and flexible data center operations.
