N3K-C36180YC-R Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R Layer 3 Ethernet Switch Qsfp 48 Ports

Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R Nexus Layer 3 Ethernet Switch Overview

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R is a high-performance Layer 3 Ethernet switch designed for enterprise-grade networking environments. Engineered for reliability and speed, this switch ensures seamless connectivity for demanding applications.

Key Features of the Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / SKU: N3K-C36180YC-R
• Device Category: Network Switch
• Port Configuration: 48 high-speed ports
• Optimized for Layer 3 routing and advanced networking

Technical Specifications

• Network Device Type: Ethernet Switch
• Form Factor: 1RU Rackmount
• Maximum Data Transfer Rate: 100 Gbps
• Total Ports: 57 including management and console ports
• Supported Data Link Protocols: Gigabit Ethernet
• Power Consumption: Up to 771 Watts
• Installed Flash Memory: 128 GB

Interfaces and Connectivity

This model offers a versatile array of ports suitable for modern data centers and high-demand networking:

• 48 ports supporting 10/25G speeds
• 6 QSFP28 ports for ultra-high-speed connectivity
• Dedicated management and console ports for simplified administration
• USB ports for flash memory and configuration backup

Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R L3 Ethernet Switch Category

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R Nexus C36180YC-R Layer 3 Ethernet Switch category represents a high-density, low-latency switching platform engineered for modern data center architectures. These switches are purpose-built to support demanding enterprise, cloud, and service provider environments where scalability, performance, and reliability are critical. Featuring forty-eight QSFP ports, the Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R series is optimized for high-bandwidth aggregation, spine-leaf topologies, and advanced Layer 3 routing deployments. This category focuses on switches designed to simplify network operations while delivering consistent throughput and predictable latency across large-scale infrastructures.

The Cisco Nexus 3600 Series, and specifically the C36180YC-R models, are positioned to handle east-west traffic patterns common in virtualized, containerized, and microservices-based environments. By combining hardware-based forwarding with a robust software feature set, these switches enable organizations to build resilient and programmable networks that align with current and future data center strategies. The category encompasses solutions that integrate seamlessly with Cisco NX-OS, providing operational consistency across the broader Nexus ecosystem.

High-Density QSFP Port Architecture

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category is defined by its forty-eight QSFP ports, which provide exceptional port density within a compact form factor. These ports are designed to support multiple high-speed Ethernet standards, enabling flexible configurations for 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This flexibility allows network architects to adapt the switch to a wide range of deployment scenarios, from high-performance computing clusters to large-scale enterprise data centers.

QSFP-based designs in this category allow for efficient cable management and reduced power consumption per gigabit, making them suitable for environments where space and energy efficiency are key considerations. The port architecture supports breakout configurations, enabling a single QSFP port to be divided into multiple lower-speed connections. This capability enhances scalability and protects investment by allowing gradual network upgrades without replacing core switching infrastructure.

Optimized for Spine-Leaf Topologies

The Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R switches within this category are particularly well-suited for spine-leaf architectures, which have become the standard design for modern data centers. In spine roles, the high port density and consistent latency characteristics ensure uniform connectivity across all leaf switches. In leaf roles, the same capabilities support dense server connectivity and high-bandwidth uplinks to the spine layer.

By supporting non-blocking architectures and predictable forwarding performance, this category enables organizations to scale horizontally without introducing performance bottlenecks. The design aligns with best practices for scalable data center networking, ensuring that application performance remains consistent as workloads grow.

Advanced Layer 3 Switching and Routing Capabilities

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category emphasizes robust Layer 3 functionality, making these switches suitable for complex routing environments. Support for advanced routing protocols allows seamless integration into enterprise and service provider networks. These switches are designed to handle large routing tables and rapid convergence, ensuring high availability and minimal disruption during network changes.

Layer 3 capabilities in this category support modern application architectures that rely on dynamic traffic patterns and distributed workloads. Hardware-based routing ensures that performance remains consistent even under heavy traffic loads, while software-driven control planes provide flexibility and programmability.

Support for Modern Data Center Protocols

The Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R switches support a wide range of data center networking protocols that enhance scalability and resiliency. Features such as Equal-Cost Multi-Path routing enable efficient use of available bandwidth, while support for overlay technologies allows seamless integration with virtualized network environments. These capabilities make the category suitable for private cloud, hybrid cloud, and multi-tenant deployments.

By enabling protocol interoperability and advanced traffic engineering, this category helps organizations optimize network utilization and improve overall application responsiveness. The result is a network infrastructure that can adapt quickly to changing business requirements.

Performance, Latency, and Throughput Characteristics

Performance is a defining attribute of the Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category. These switches are engineered to deliver high throughput with low and predictable latency, which is essential for latency-sensitive applications such as real-time analytics, financial trading, and high-performance computing. The hardware architecture is designed to minimize packet processing delays while maintaining wire-speed forwarding across all ports.

The consistent performance profile ensures that applications experience minimal jitter and packet loss, even during peak traffic periods. This reliability is critical for environments where service-level agreements depend on stable and predictable network behavior.

Non-Blocking Switching Fabric

The non-blocking switching fabric found in the Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R category ensures that all ports can operate at full line rate simultaneously. This capability eliminates internal bottlenecks and allows organizations to fully utilize their high-speed connections. The design supports simultaneous ingress and egress traffic without degradation, making it suitable for dense server environments and high-bandwidth inter-switch links.

This architecture is particularly valuable in data centers that host diverse workloads with varying traffic patterns. By maintaining consistent performance regardless of traffic distribution, the switches in this category provide a stable foundation for mission-critical applications.

Cisco NX-OS Software and Operational Consistency

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category is built around Cisco NX-OS, a data center-class operating system known for its stability and rich feature set. NX-OS provides a consistent operational model across the Nexus portfolio, simplifying deployment, configuration, and management. This consistency reduces operational complexity and shortens the learning curve for network administrators.

NX-OS supports modular processes and advanced telemetry, enabling proactive monitoring and rapid troubleshooting. These capabilities help organizations maintain high availability and quickly identify potential issues before they impact services.

Automation and Programmability Features

Automation is a key focus of the Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R category. NX-OS provides extensive programmability options through APIs and scripting interfaces, allowing integration with orchestration platforms and automation frameworks. This enables organizations to implement infrastructure-as-code practices and streamline network provisioning.

By automating repetitive tasks and enabling policy-based configurations, the switches in this category help reduce human error and improve operational efficiency. Automation also supports faster deployment of new services, aligning network operations with agile business practices.

Scalability and Future-Ready Design

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category is designed with scalability in mind, ensuring that network infrastructures can grow without disruptive upgrades. High port density and support for multiple Ethernet speeds allow organizations to expand capacity incrementally. This future-ready design helps protect capital investments and extend the lifecycle of network hardware.

As data center traffic continues to grow, the ability to scale horizontally and vertically becomes increasingly important. The switches in this category provide the foundation needed to support emerging technologies and evolving application requirements.

Support for High-Bandwidth Workloads

Workloads such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics place significant demands on network infrastructure. The Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R category is engineered to support these high-bandwidth workloads by providing ample throughput and low-latency connectivity. This ensures that data-intensive applications can operate efficiently without network-induced delays.

By supporting advanced traffic patterns and high-speed interconnects, this category enables organizations to deploy next-generation workloads with confidence.

Reliability, Redundancy, and High Availability

Reliability is a cornerstone of the Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category. These switches are designed to operate continuously in mission-critical environments, with features that enhance uptime and resilience. Redundant components and robust hardware design help ensure uninterrupted operation even in the event of component failures.

High availability features are complemented by software mechanisms that support rapid failover and graceful recovery. This combination of hardware and software resilience makes the category suitable for environments where downtime is unacceptable.

Enterprise-Grade Hardware Engineering

The hardware engineering behind the Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R switches emphasizes durability and consistent performance. Components are selected and tested to meet stringent quality standards, ensuring reliable operation under sustained workloads. Thermal management and power efficiency are carefully balanced to support high-density deployments.

This focus on enterprise-grade design ensures that switches in this category can be deployed with confidence in demanding data center environments.

Deployment Flexibility Across Data Center Environments

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category offers deployment flexibility that accommodates a wide range of data center designs. Whether used in enterprise data centers, colocation facilities, or cloud service provider environments, these switches can be tailored to meet specific operational requirements. Their compact form factor and high port density make them suitable for space-constrained deployments.

Flexibility extends beyond physical deployment to include configuration and feature support. This allows organizations to standardize on a single switch category while addressing diverse networking needs across different environments.

Integration with Existing Cisco Nexus Ecosystem

Integration with the broader Cisco Nexus ecosystem is a key advantage of the C36180YC-R category. These switches work seamlessly with other Nexus platforms, enabling consistent policy enforcement and unified management. This interoperability simplifies network design and supports cohesive end-to-end architectures.

By leveraging a common operating system and shared features, organizations can reduce complexity and improve operational efficiency across their entire data center network.

Use Cases and Industry Applications

The Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category addresses a wide range of use cases across industries. In enterprise environments, these switches support high-performance application delivery and secure data center interconnects. In service provider and cloud environments, they enable scalable multi-tenant architectures and efficient traffic aggregation.

Industries such as finance, healthcare, education, and technology benefit from the combination of performance, scalability, and reliability offered by this category. The ability to support diverse workloads makes these switches a versatile choice for modern networking challenges.

Support for Virtualization and Cloud Architectures

Virtualized and cloud-based environments rely on high-speed, low-latency networks to deliver consistent application performance. The Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R category is designed to meet these requirements by supporting advanced networking features that integrate with virtualization platforms. This ensures seamless connectivity between physical and virtual resources.

By enabling efficient traffic management and scalable connectivity, the switches in this category help organizations build agile and responsive cloud infrastructures.

Security and Network Segmentation Capabilities

Security is an essential consideration in modern data center networks, and the Cisco N3K-C36180YC-R category incorporates features that support robust network segmentation and traffic control. By enabling logical separation of workloads and enforcing policies at the network level, these switches help protect sensitive data and applications.

Integration with Cisco security frameworks allows organizations to implement comprehensive security strategies without compromising performance. This makes the category suitable for environments with strict compliance and regulatory requirements.

Policy-Based Traffic Management

Policy-based traffic management features in the Cisco Nexus C36180YC-R category allow administrators to define and enforce network policies consistently. These policies help prioritize critical traffic, manage congestion, and maintain service quality. By aligning network behavior with business priorities, organizations can optimize resource utilization.

This approach enhances both security and performance, ensuring that the network supports organizational objectives effectively.