Description
Product Overview for the Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL: Gigabit Ethernet Switch
In the realm of high-performance networking, the Cisco Nexus 3524-XL, represented by the N3K-C3524P-XL model, stands out as a powerful and versatile solution. This 24-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch is designed to meet the demands of modern networking environments, offering scalability, manageability, and advanced features. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of the Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL, exploring its key features, specifications, applications, and the pivotal role it plays in unleashing high-performance networking.
Key Features of Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL:24 Ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet:
The N3K-C3524P-XL boasts 24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, providing high-speed connectivity for data-intensive applications and services. This feature caters to the increasing demand for faster and more efficient data transfer in modern networks.
Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) Support:
The inclusion of Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) technology enhances the flexibility of the switch. SFP+ modules allow for various types of optical and copper connections, enabling organizations to choose the most suitable media for their specific network requirements.
24 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot:
The presence of 24 expansion slots dedicated to 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections offers scalability and adaptability. These expansion slots enable organizations to expand their network infrastructure seamlessly as the need for additional connections arises.
Manageable and Modular Design:
The N3K-C3524P-XL is designed to be manageable and modular, allowing administrators to configure and monitor the switch efficiently. The modular design facilitates customization based on the specific needs of the network.
Optical Fiber Connectivity:
Optical fiber support ensures reliable and high-performance connectivity. This is particularly crucial in environments where long-distance and high-bandwidth connections are essential for seamless data transfer.
Layer 3 (L3) Support:
The switch provides Layer 3 (L3) support, indicating its capability to operate at the network layer of the OSI model. This enables advanced routing functionalities, contributing to efficient data forwarding and network management.
1U High Rack-Mountable:
The switch is compactly designed to be 1U high, making it suitable for rack-mounted deployment. This space-efficient form factor is advantageous for organizations looking to optimize their rack space while maintaining a high-density networking solution.
Specifications of Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL:Port Configuration:
24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed data transfer.
SFP+ Compatibility:
Support for Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) technology, enhancing connectivity flexibility.
Expansion Slots:
24 expansion slots dedicated to 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections, offering scalability.
Manageability:
Manageable design for efficient configuration and monitoring.
Modular Design:
Modular construction to facilitate customization based on network requirements.
Optical Fiber Connectivity:
Support for optical fiber connections, ensuring reliable and high-performance connectivity.
Layer 3 (L3) Support:
Layer 3 support for advanced routing functionalities.
Rack-Mountable:
1U high rack-mountable design for space-efficient deployment in standard server racks.
Applications of Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL:Data Center Networking:
The N3K-C3524P-XL is well-suited for data center environments where high-performance networking is essential. Its 24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, SFP+ compatibility, and Layer 3 support cater to the demands of data-intensive applications and services.
Enterprise Networks:
Enterprise networks benefit from the scalability and manageability of the N3K-C3524P-XL. The switch’s modular design allows for customization based on the specific connectivity requirements of diverse enterprise applications.
Telecommunication Infrastructure:
Telecommunication networks leverage the switch’s high-speed connectivity and optical fiber support for efficient and reliable data transfer. The N3K-C3524P-XL contributes to the performance of telecommunication infrastructures where connectivity is paramount.
Service Provider Networks:
Service providers deploying high-density networking solutions find the N3K-C3524P-XL advantageous. Its 24 expansion slots and 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports accommodate the connectivity needs of service provider environments with a focus on efficiency and performance.
Role of Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL in High-Performance Networking:
Enabling High-Speed Data Transfer:
The primary role of the N3K-C3524P-XL is to enable high-speed data transfer with its 24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. This capability is crucial for meeting the demands of data-intensive applications and services in modern networking environments.
Facilitating Scalable Network Expansion:
With 24 expansion slots dedicated to 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections, the switch facilitates scalable network expansion. Organizations can seamlessly add more connections as the network grows, ensuring adaptability to evolving connectivity requirements.
Supporting Connectivity Flexibility with SFP+:
The support for Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) technology introduces connectivity flexibility. Organizations can choose the most suitable media for their specific network requirements, whether optical or copper, enhancing adaptability.
Optical Fiber Connectivity for Reliability:
The switch’s support for optical fiber connectivity contributes to the reliability of network connections. Optical fiber is known for its high bandwidth and immunity to electromagnetic interference, making it a preferred choice for reliable and high-performance networking.
Layer 3 Support for Advanced Routing:
The inclusion of Layer 3 support signifies the switch’s capability to operate at the network layer of the OSI model. This introduces advanced routing functionalities, allowing for efficient data forwarding and network management.
Manageable Design for Efficient Configuration:
The manageable and modular design of the N3K-C3524P-XL ensures efficient configuration and monitoring. Administrators can tailor the switch to meet specific network requirements, optimizing its performance within the network infrastructure.
Space-Efficient Rack-Mountable Design:
The 1U high rack-mountable design of the switch is space-efficient, making it suitable for deployment in standard server racks. This design optimizes rack space, a valuable consideration for data centers and networking environments with limited space.
Benefits of Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL:
High-Performance Connectivity:
The N3K-C3524P-XL delivers high-performance connectivity with its 24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, meeting the demands of data-intensive applications and services.
Scalability for Growing Networks:
The switch’s 24 expansion slots facilitate scalable network expansion, allowing organizations to add connections as the network grows, ensuring adaptability to evolving connectivity requirements.
Connectivity Flexibility with SFP+:
SFP+ compatibility provides connectivity flexibility, allowing organizations to choose the most suitable media for their specific network requirements, whether optical or copper.
Reliable Optical Fiber Connectivity:
Support for optical fiber connectivity enhances the reliability of network connections, making it suitable for environments where high-performance and long-distance connections are crucial.
Advanced Routing Functionalities with Layer 3 Support:
The inclusion of Layer 3 support introduces advanced routing functionalities, contributing to efficient data forwarding and network management.
Efficient Configuration and Monitoring:
The manageable and modular design ensures efficient configuration and monitoring, allowing administrators to tailor the switch to meet specific network requirements.
Space-Efficient Rack-Mountable Design:
The 1U high rack-mountable design optimizes rack space, making it suitable for deployment in standard server racks, a valuable consideration for environments with limited space.
Advanced Security Features
The N3K-C3524P-XL Cisco Nexus 3524-XL Switch Chassis is a high-performance, scalable switch that provides advanced security features to ensure that your network is secure and protected against threats. Some of these features include:
- Access Control Lists (ACLs): ACLs provide administrators with the ability to define and enforce security policies, such as allowing or denying specific types of network traffic.
- Network Admission Control (NAC): NAC is a security feature that ensures that only authorized devices are allowed to access the network. NAC can be used to enforce security policies and prevent unauthorized devices from accessing the network.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): The switch supports VPN, which provides secure and encrypted communication between remote devices and the network. VPN can be used to protect sensitive information from being intercepted and read by unauthorized parties.
- 802.1X Authentication: The switch supports 802.1X authentication, which is a security protocol that allows administrators to control access to the network based on user credentials.
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): The switch can integrate with SIEM tools to provide centralized management of security events and alerts. This allows administrators to quickly respond to security threats and prevent security incidents from happening.
- Advanced Threat Defense (ATD): The switch supports ATD, which provides advanced threat detection and protection features, such as malware detection and intrusion prevention. ATD helps administrators to identify and respond to security threats in real-time.
High Availability and Redundancy
The N3K-C3524P-XL Cisco Nexus 3524-XL Switch Chassis is designed to provide high availability and redundancy to ensure that the network remains up and running, even in the face of failures. Some of the high availability and redundancy features include:
- Redundant Power Supplies: The switch has redundant power supplies, which provide a backup power source in case of a failure. This ensures that the switch remains up and running, even if one of the power supplies fails.
- Hot-swappable Components: The switch’s components, such as line cards and power supplies, are hot-swappable, allowing administrators to replace them without having to shut down the switch.
- Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF): NSF provides fast failover in case of a switch failure, ensuring that network traffic continues to flow without interruption.
- Virtual PortChannel (vPC): vPC allows administrators to configure two switches as a single virtual switch, providing redundancy and high availability. In case of a switch failure, traffic can be redirected to the other switch, ensuring that the network remains up and running.
- Fabric Extender (FEX): FEX allows administrators to extend the switch fabric to remote devices, providing increased scalability and redundancy. In case of a FEX failure, traffic can be redirected to another FEX, ensuring that the network remains up and running.
Network Scalability and Flexibility
The N3K-C3524P-XL Cisco Nexus 3524-XL Switch Chassis provides network scalability and flexibility, making it an ideal solution for organizations that need to expand and scale their network infrastructure. Some of the key features include:
- Modular Design: The switch has a modular design, which allows administrators to add or remove line cards and power supplies as needed. This makes it easy to scale the switch as network demands change.
- Multiple Line Cards: The switch supports multiple line cards, providing administrators with a wide range of connectivity options, including SFP+ ports, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and Fibre Channel.
- Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN): VXLAN provides a flexible and scalable way to create virtual networks, allowing administrators to extend their network infrastructure without having to add additional physical switches.
- Fabric Extender (FEX): FEX allows administrators to extend the switch fabric to remote devices, providing increased scalability and flexibility. This makes it easy to add new devices to the network without having to add additional switches.
- Virtual PortChannel (vPC): vPC allows administrators to configure two switches as a single virtual switch, providing increased network scalability and flexibility. This makes it easy to add new devices to the network without having to add additional switches.
General Information about this Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# N3K-C3524P-XL
- Product Line Nexus
- Product Series 3000
- Product Model 3524-XL
- Product Name Nexus 3524-XL Switch, 24 SFP+
- Product Type: Switch Chassis
Interfaces/Ports
- Modular Yes
- Port/Expansion Slot Details 24 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot
Media & Performance
- Media Type Supported Optical Fiber
- Ethernet Technology Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology 10GBase-X
I/O Expansions
- Number of Total Expansion Slots 24
- Expansion Slot Type SFP+
- Shared SFP Slot No
- Number of SFP+ Slots 24
Network & Communication
- Layer Supported 3
Management & Protocols
- Manageable Yes
Power Description
- Power Source Power Supply
- Redundant Power Supply Supported Yes
In summary, the Cisco N3K-C3524P-XL emerges as a powerhouse in the realm of high-performance networking, offering a versatile solution for modern connectivity demands. With its 24 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet, SFP+ compatibility, scalability, and Layer 3 support, the switch plays a pivotal role in enabling efficient and reliable data transfer. Whether deployed in data center environments, enterprise networks, telecommunication infrastructures, or service provider networks, the N3K-C3524P-XL contributes to high-density and high-performance networking. Its benefits, including high-performance connectivity, scalability, connectivity flexibility, reliable optical fiber support, advanced routing functionalities, efficient configuration, and space-efficient design, position it as a key player in unleashing the full potential of high-performance networking within the Cisco Nexus 3524-XL series.
