N2248PQ-4-FEX Cisco Nexus Fabric Extender

Overview of Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX Nexus 2000 Fabric Extender

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extender is a high-density data center access platform engineered to extend Cisco Nexus switching architectures while simplifying server connectivity and management. Designed for enterprise data centers, cloud environments, virtualization platforms, and mission-critical workloads, this Fabric Extender (FEX) provides 48 high-speed 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet host interfaces alongside four 40 Gigabit QSFP+ uplinks. With support for Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), redundant power supplies, the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX delivers scalable, reliable, and efficient networking for modern infrastructures.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: N2248PQ-4-FEX
• Product Family: Cisco Nexus 2000 Series
• Product Type: Fabric Extender (FEX)

Technical Specifications

• Interface: SFP+ Fabric Extender
• Host Ports: 48 × 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+
• FCoE Support: Available on all host interfaces
• Deployment: Enterprise Data Center and Server Access Layer
• Fabric Connectivity: High-speed Nexus Fabric Extender architecture

Performance Specifications

• Switching Capacity: Up to 1280 GBPS
• Forwarding Performance: Up to 952 Million Packets Per Second (Mpps)
• Oversubscription Ratio: 3:1
• Enterprise-Class Low Latency: Optimized for demanding workloads

Power Specifications

• Maximum Power Consumption: Approximately 650 Watts
• Power Redundancy: Dual Hot-Swap PSU
• Continuous Enterprise Operation: Supported

Supported Networking Technologies

• 1 Gigabit Ethernet
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• 40 Gigabit Ethernet
• Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
• Unified Fabric Architecture
• High-Speed Server Connectivity

Data Center Bridging Features

• IEEE 802.1Qaz
• IEEE 802.1Qbb
• IEEE 802.1p
• Priority Flow Control
• Enhanced Transmission Efficiency
• Lossless Ethernet Support

Redundant Power Design

• Dual hot-swappable power supplies
• 1+1 redundant power architecture
• AC power supply support
• DC power supply support
• High availability for enterprise environments

Cooling System

• Front-to-back airflow option
• Back-to-front airflow option
• Port-side exhaust configuration
• Port-side intake configuration
• Optimized thermal management

Highlights of Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX Nexus SFP+ Fabric Extender

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX Nexus 2000 Series SFP+ Fabric Extender is engineered to deliver enterprise-class networking performance with a design tailored for Cisco Nexus 2000 series architectures. Built on Cisco’s advanced fabric extender technology, this device ensures scalable throughput, reliable integration, and seamless deployment in structured infrastructures. Its design supports modern workloads, delivering consistent bandwidth, optimized traffic management, and enhanced flexibility for mission-critical applications across diverse industries.

High-Speed SFP+ Connectivity

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX provides high-speed SFP+ connectivity through multiple ports, ensuring efficient communication across enterprise environments. With support for advanced protocols, it delivers stable coverage and improved throughput. Enterprises benefit from reduced latency, enhanced responsiveness, and reliable performance for servers, storage systems, and applications operating simultaneously in demanding conditions.

Integration with Cisco Nexus Series

The fabric extender integrates seamlessly with Cisco Nexus switches, offering flexible expansion options. This integration supports advanced traffic management, virtualization features, and high availability. Enterprises benefit from streamlined deployment, reduced complexity, and scalable solutions that adapt to evolving networking requirements across enterprise and data center environments with minimal disruption.

Advanced Security Architecture

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX incorporates advanced security mechanisms to safeguard enterprise networks. Features such as secure boot, hardware root of trust, and encryption support protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats. Enterprises achieve compliance with industry standards, ensuring reliable protection for sensitive data and mission-critical applications with minimal risk exposure and enhanced resilience.

Optimized Performance for Virtualization

With support for SR-IOV and virtualization offloads, the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX enables versatile communication across enterprise networks. Its architecture ensures consistent bandwidth for diverse applications. Enterprises benefit from optimized traffic flow, reduced latency, and improved scalability in virtualization-centric environments where performance consistency is essential for mission-critical workloads and distributed infrastructures.

Traffic Management and QoS Capabilities

Quality of Service features allow administrators to prioritize critical applications such as storage traffic, voice, and video. The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX ensures that latency-sensitive workloads receive dedicated bandwidth, reducing jitter and packet loss. Enterprises achieve improved user experiences, optimized performance, and reliable communication across diverse applications with enhanced control over traffic distribution and prioritization.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Design

Energy-efficient design minimizes power consumption while maintaining high performance. The extender’s optimized thermal design ensures simplified deployment without overheating risks. Enterprises benefit from reduced cooling requirements, improved sustainability, and extended hardware lifespan in high-density environments where efficiency and reliability are critical for long-term operations.

Scalability for Enterprise Growth

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX provides scalability to meet growing enterprise demands. With multiple SFP+ ports and advanced offload capabilities, businesses can expand their networks without significant infrastructure changes. Enterprises achieve cost-effective scaling, ensuring that networking capabilities evolve alongside organizational growth with minimal disruption and consistent performance across diverse workloads.

Mission-Critical Workloads

Reliability is a cornerstone of the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX design. Redundant architecture and robust connectivity ensure continuous operation even during hardware failures. Enterprises benefit from minimized downtime, consistent service availability, and enhanced resilience for mission-critical workloads requiring uninterrupted connectivity across distributed environments and global deployments.

Deployment Flexibility Across Environments

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX offers deployment flexibility across diverse environments. Its compatibility with Cisco modular platforms allows seamless integration into enterprise, campus, and branch networks. Enterprises can tailor configurations for redundancy, scalability, or performance optimization, ensuring adaptability to evolving business needs with simplified management and streamlined workflows.

High-Density Applications

High-density applications such as virtualization clusters and storage backbones benefit from the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX’s design and advanced networking capabilities. Enterprises achieve simplified cabling, reduced infrastructure costs, and improved manageability in environments requiring large-scale device connectivity with consistent performance delivery and reliable throughput across critical workloads.

Future-Proof Networking Solution

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX is designed as a future-proof solution, meeting evolving enterprise needs. Its compatibility, scalability, and advanced features ensure relevance as technology advances. Businesses can invest confidently, knowing the extender will support networking requirements for years to come across diverse industries with minimal upgrade requirements and enhanced adaptability.

Enhanced Performance for Storage Networking

Storage networking platforms benefit from the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX’s QoS and port support. Storage traffic receives prioritized bandwidth, ensuring clear communication and reduced latency. Enterprises achieve improved collaboration between storage systems, optimized performance, and reliable connectivity for mission-critical storage networks across global deployments with consistent quality and seamless integration.

Cloud and Edge Deployments

Cloud and edge deployments require reliable connectivity and scalability. The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX provides secure integration for high-speed cloud adoption and edge device connectivity. Enterprises benefit from seamless cloud adoption, reduced latency, and improved efficiency in distributed environments with consistent throughput and reliable performance across diverse workloads.

Comprehensive Manageability Features

Manageability features such as centralized monitoring, configuration management, and diagnostics simplify administration. The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX ensures that IT teams can efficiently manage large-scale deployments. Enterprises achieve reduced operational overhead, improved visibility, and enhanced control over network infrastructures with streamlined workflows and simplified management processes across complex environments.

Support for Emerging Technologies

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX supports emerging technologies such as NVMe over Fabrics and advanced storage protocols. Its design ensures reliable connectivity, while advanced traffic management provides high-speed performance. Enterprises benefit from future-ready infrastructure, enabling seamless adoption of new technologies without significant upgrades or disruptions across diverse industries and global deployments.

Resilient Architecture for Enterprise Networks

The resilient architecture of the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX ensures consistent performance under demanding conditions. Redundant connectivity and advanced traffic management features safeguard enterprise networks. Enterprises achieve improved uptime, reduced risk, and enhanced reliability for mission-critical applications requiring continuous availability and consistent performance across distributed infrastructures.

Data-Intensive Workloads

Data-intensive workloads such as analytics and cloud applications benefit from the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX’s connectivity and QoS features. Enterprises achieve optimized performance, reduced latency, and improved scalability for workloads requiring consistent bandwidth and reliable communication across distributed environments and mission-critical infrastructures.

Enterprise-Class Reliability and Uptime

Reliability is a key advantage of the Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX. Its robust architecture ensures continuous operation even during hardware failures. Enterprises benefit from minimized downtime, consistent service availability, and enhanced resilience for mission-critical workloads requiring uninterrupted connectivity across diverse environments and global deployments with consistent performance.

Enhanced Monitoring Capabilities

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX enhances monitoring by providing real-time visibility into network performance. Administrators can track device health, traffic patterns, and application usage, ensuring proactive management. Enterprises achieve improved efficiency, reduced risk, and enhanced reliability across diverse deployment scenarios with simplified troubleshooting and proactive alerts.

Secure Role-Based Access Control

The extender’s role-based access control ensures that only authorized personnel can configure or manage devices. Enterprises achieve improved security, reduced risk of misconfiguration, and enhanced compliance with industry standards across diverse environments with consistent enforcement of access policies.

Universal Device Compatibility

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX is compatible with a wide range of Cisco Nexus platforms, ensuring seamless integration into diverse infrastructures. Enterprises benefit from deployment flexibility, reduced complexity, and enhanced scalability across enterprise and campus networks with simplified device onboarding and configuration.

Reliable Performance in Demanding Conditions

The Cisco N2248PQ-4-FEX ensures reliable performance even in demanding industrial conditions. Its robust construction and centralized management provide enterprises with confidence in their infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and consistent performance across mission-critical applications requiring continuous availability and resilience.