N7K-M348XP-25L Cisco Nexus 7000 48-Port SFP+ Ethernet Switch

Cisco Nexus 7000 48 Ports SFP+ Slots Ethernet Switch 

The Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L is designed to enhance the switching capacity of Cisco Nexus 7000 and Nexus 7700 Series chassis. Featuring 48 high-speed SFP/SFP+ interfaces, this expansion module offers outstanding network throughput, advanced virtualization capabilities, and enterprise-grade security features for mission-critical applications.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: N7K-M348XP-25L
• Product Type: Ethernet Switch Expansion Module

Technical Specifications

• Series: Cisco Nexus M3-Series
• 48 physical Ethernet ports
• SFP and SFP+ transceiver compatibility
• Dual-speed operation supporting 1GbE and 10GbE
• 48 high-density SFP/SFP+ network interfaces
• Supports both 1GbE and 10GbE Ethernet connectivity
• Hot-swappable modular design for simplified maintenance
• Optimized for enterprise data centers and service provider deployments
• Wire-rate switching with advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities

Memory Capacity

• 8 GB onboard DRAM

Extensive Routing Capacity

• Up to 1,000,000 IPv4 routing entries
• Up to 350,000 IPv6 routing entries

Queue Configuration

• 4 ingress queues per port
• 8 egress queues per port

Comprehensive Virtualization Support

• VXLAN support
• VPLS support
• Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV)
• Virtual PortChannel (vPC)
• FabricPath technology

Compatibility

• 4-slot chassis
• 9-slot chassis
• 10-slot chassis
• 18-slot chassis

Supported Cisco Nexus 7700 Chassis

• 2-slot chassis
• 6-slot chassis
• 10-slot chassis
• 18-slot chassis

Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L 7000 48 Ports SFP+ Switch Overview

The Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L Nexus 7000 48 Ports SFP+ Expansion Slots Ethernet Switch represents a high-performance modular line card designed for the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series chassis. This switch is engineered to deliver scalable, resilient, and efficient networking capabilities for enterprise data centers and service provider environments. With 48 SFP+ ports, it provides extensive connectivity options for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, ensuring that organizations can meet the demands of modern workloads, virtualization, and cloud integration. The expansion slots allow for flexible deployment, supporting diverse configurations and enabling seamless growth as network requirements evolve.

Architecture and Design of Cisco Nexus 7000 Series

The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series is built on a modular architecture that emphasizes scalability and operational efficiency. The N7K-M348XP-25L line card integrates seamlessly into this architecture, offering high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Its design supports advanced features such as virtual device contexts, fabric extensibility, and integrated system management. The modularity ensures that enterprises can adapt to changing demands without replacing entire systems, reducing costs and improving sustainability. The chassis-based design also enhances airflow and cooling, contributing to energy efficiency in large-scale deployments.

Scalability and High-Density Connectivity

With 48 SFP+ ports, the N7K-M348XP-25L provides unmatched density for 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections. This scalability is critical for data centers that must support thousands of virtual machines, cloud applications, and storage systems. The ability to expand port capacity without compromising performance ensures that organizations can future-proof their infrastructure. The expansion slots further enhance scalability by allowing additional modules to be integrated, supporting diverse networking needs such as Layer 2 and Layer 3 services, multicast, and advanced security.

Energy Efficiency and Cooling

The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series, including the N7K-M348XP-25L, is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Intelligent airflow management and modular cooling systems reduce power consumption while maintaining optimal operating temperatures. This efficiency lowers operational costs and supports sustainability initiatives, making the switch suitable for organizations that prioritize green IT practices. The chassis design ensures that heat is dissipated effectively, even in high-density configurations, protecting hardware longevity and reliability.

Performance Features of Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L

Performance is at the core of the Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L. It delivers low latency, high throughput, and advanced traffic management capabilities. These features are essential for mission-critical applications, financial transactions, and real-time communications. The switch supports advanced queuing mechanisms, congestion management, and traffic shaping, ensuring that workloads are prioritized appropriately. Its hardware-based forwarding architecture minimizes delays and maximizes packet processing efficiency.

Low Latency and High Throughput

The N7K-M348XP-25L is optimized for environments where speed and reliability are paramount. Low latency ensures that applications such as high-frequency trading, video conferencing, and cloud workloads perform without interruption. High throughput allows the switch to handle massive amounts of data traffic, supporting large-scale enterprise operations and service provider networks. These capabilities make it a cornerstone for organizations seeking uncompromising performance.

Advanced Traffic Management

Traffic management is a critical aspect of modern networking, and the N7K-M348XP-25L excels in this area. It supports quality of service (QoS) policies that prioritize mission-critical traffic, ensuring that applications receive the bandwidth they require. Congestion management features prevent bottlenecks, while traffic shaping optimizes resource utilization. These capabilities enable organizations to deliver consistent performance across diverse workloads, from storage replication to multimedia streaming.

Security Capabilities of Cisco Nexus 7000 Line Cards

Security is a fundamental requirement in enterprise networking, and the Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L integrates advanced security features to protect data and infrastructure. It supports access control lists, role-based access, and secure management protocols. These features safeguard against unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats. The switch also integrates with Cisco’s broader security ecosystem, enabling centralized policy enforcement and threat detection.

Access Control and Role-Based Security

The N7K-M348XP-25L supports granular access control mechanisms that restrict network access based on user roles and policies. Role-based security ensures that only authorized personnel can configure or manage the switch, reducing the risk of insider threats. Access control lists provide fine-grained traffic filtering, blocking malicious or unauthorized traffic before it reaches critical systems.

Integration with Cisco Security Ecosystem

Cisco’s security ecosystem includes solutions such as Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco Secure Firewall. The N7K-M348XP-25L integrates seamlessly with these solutions, enabling centralized policy enforcement and real-time threat detection. This integration enhances visibility across the network, allowing administrators to respond quickly to security incidents. By leveraging Cisco’s ecosystem, organizations can build a layered defense strategy that protects against evolving cyber threats.

Deployment Scenarios for Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L

The versatility of the N7K-M348XP-25L makes it suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios. Enterprises, service providers, and cloud operators can leverage its capabilities to build resilient and scalable networks. Its modular design allows it to be deployed in core, aggregation, or access layers, depending on organizational needs. The switch supports diverse workloads, including virtualization, cloud computing, and storage networking.

Enterprise Data Centers

In enterprise data centers, the N7K-M348XP-25L provides high-density connectivity for servers, storage systems, and virtualization platforms. Its scalability ensures that enterprises can support growing workloads without compromising performance. Advanced traffic management and security features make it ideal for mission-critical environments where uptime and reliability are paramount.

Service Provider Networks

Service providers require networking solutions that can scale to support millions of subscribers and diverse services. The N7K-M348XP-25L delivers the performance, scalability, and security required for these environments. Its modular design allows service providers to adapt to changing demands, whether deploying broadband services, mobile backhaul, or cloud offerings. The switch’s high throughput and low latency ensure that subscribers receive consistent service quality.

Cloud and Virtualization Environments

Cloud and virtualization environments demand flexible, scalable, and resilient networking solutions. The N7K-M348XP-25L supports these environments by providing high-density connectivity and advanced traffic management. Its integration with Cisco’s virtualization technologies enables seamless workload mobility and resource optimization. Organizations can leverage the switch to build private, public, or hybrid cloud infrastructures that deliver consistent performance and security.

Cisco NX-OS Operating System

The N7K-M348XP-25L runs on Cisco NX-OS, a robust and feature-rich operating system designed for data center environments. NX-OS provides advanced features such as virtual device contexts, modularity, and programmability. Its intuitive interface simplifies configuration and management, while its reliability ensures consistent performance. NX-OS also supports automation frameworks, enabling organizations to adopt DevOps practices and improve agility.

Centralized Monitoring with Cisco Prime

Cisco Prime provides centralized monitoring and management capabilities for the N7K-M348XP-25L. Administrators can monitor performance, configure devices, and enforce policies from a single interface. Real-time visibility into network operations enables proactive issue resolution, reducing downtime and improving service quality. Cisco Prime also supports reporting and analytics, providing insights into network utilization and performance trends.

Future-Proofing with Cisco N7K-M348XP-25L

Future-proofing is a critical consideration for organizations investing in networking infrastructure. The N7K-M348XP-25L is designed to support evolving technologies and workloads, ensuring that organizations can adapt to future demands. Its modular design, scalability, and integration with Cisco’s ecosystem make it a long-term investment. Organizations can leverage the switch to build networks that support emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and edge computing.

Support for Emerging Technologies

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning require high-performance networking solutions. The N7K-M348XP-25L provides the scalability and performance required to support these workloads.