N9K-C9272Q Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch, 72 Ports

Cisco Nexus 9272Q 40GbE Data Center Switch Overview

• Enterprise-grade managed switch engineered for high-density data center fabrics
• Designed to support scalable spine-leaf architectures and cloud-ready deployments
• Optimized for ultra-low latency and high-throughput networking environments

Product Identification and Classification

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Reference: Nexus 9272Q
• SKU / Part Number: N9K-C9272Q
• Device Category: Managed Ethernet Switch
• Port Configuration: 72-Port Platform

High-Speed Network Interface Capabilities

QSFP+ Connectivity Options

• 72 × 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ interfaces
• Supports bandwidth-intensive workloads and east-west traffic
• Ideal for virtualization, big data, and high-performance computing

Switching Performance Metrics

• Total Switching Capacity: 5.76 Tbps
• Packet Forwarding Rate: Up to 4.5 billion packets per second
• MAC Address Table: Supports approximately 92,000 entries

Management and Control Interfaces

Out-of-Band and Local Management Ports

• 1 × RJ-45 dedicated management interface
• 1 × SFP management port for flexible connectivity
• 1 × RS-232 console port for serial access
• 1 × USB Type-A port for configuration and diagnostics

Administrative Advantages

• Streamlined monitoring and maintenance
• Enhanced control for mission-critical network operations

Cooling System and Airflow Design

Integrated Fan Modules

• 2 × N9K-C9300-FAN3-B fan modules pre-installed
• Back-to-front airflow design
• Port-side exhaust supporting forward airflow configurations

Thermal Efficiency Benefits

• Improved heat dissipation in dense rack environments
• Consistent performance under sustained network loads

Power Architecture and Redundancy

Included Power Supply Units

• 2 × NXA-PAC-1200W-PE power supplies
• High-efficiency 1200W PSUs
• Back-to-front airflow matching the cooling system

Power Reliability Features

• Redundant power design for continuous uptime
• Suitable for enterprise and carrier-grade installations

Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch Category

The Cisco N9K-C9272Q Nexus 9272Q 72 Ports Managed Switch category represents a high-density, high-performance data center switching solution designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern enterprise, cloud, and service provider networks. This category focuses on fixed-configuration switches engineered for scalability, low latency, and deterministic performance in spine, leaf, or aggregation layer deployments. Cisco Nexus 9272Q switches are purpose-built to support massive east-west traffic flows, virtualization-heavy workloads, and bandwidth-intensive applications such as big data analytics, private cloud infrastructures, and high-performance computing environments. With a strong emphasis on programmability, reliability, and operational efficiency, this category addresses the evolving requirements of data center architectures that prioritize automation, high availability, and seamless scalability.

High-Density 40 Gigabit Ethernet Architecture

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q category is defined by its dense port configuration, offering seventy-two 40 Gigabit Ethernet ports within a compact rack-mountable form factor. This high port density enables organizations to consolidate network layers while maintaining exceptional throughput and minimizing hardware footprint. By supporting 40GbE connectivity at scale, the Nexus 9272Q is well suited for data center designs that require high bandwidth aggregation from multiple leaf switches or direct connectivity to high-performance servers and storage systems. The architecture is optimized to deliver consistent performance even under heavy traffic loads, ensuring predictable latency and sustained throughput across all ports.

Optimized for Spine-and-Leaf Topologies

The Nexus 9272Q category aligns seamlessly with modern spine-and-leaf network architectures, which have become the standard for scalable data center design. In spine deployments, the switch delivers non-blocking, high-speed interconnectivity between leaf switches, ensuring uniform latency and maximizing east-west traffic efficiency. In leaf roles, the switch can aggregate high-bandwidth server connections while maintaining line-rate forwarding. This flexibility allows network architects to deploy the Cisco Nexus 9272Q in multiple roles without compromising performance or architectural consistency.

Non-Blocking Fabric Design

A key characteristic of the Cisco Nexus 9272Q category is its non-blocking fabric, which ensures that all ports can operate at full line rate simultaneously. This design eliminates bottlenecks and supports demanding workloads that generate sustained high-volume traffic. Non-blocking performance is particularly critical in environments where virtualization, containerization, and distributed applications rely on consistent network responsiveness to maintain application performance and user experience.

Low Latency Switching Performance

Low and predictable latency is a defining attribute of this category, making the Nexus 9272Q suitable for latency-sensitive applications such as real-time analytics, financial trading platforms, and clustered computing environments. The switch’s hardware-based forwarding and optimized packet processing pipelines minimize delay, enabling rapid data transfer across the network fabric and supporting workloads that depend on fast, deterministic network behavior.

Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Capabilities

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch category delivers comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 feature sets that support complex network designs and advanced routing requirements. These switches provide robust VLAN support, advanced spanning tree capabilities, and extensive multicast features to enable efficient traffic segmentation and control. At the Layer 3 level, the category supports dynamic routing protocols that facilitate scalable and resilient network topologies, allowing seamless integration into large-scale data center environments.

Scalable Routing and Forwarding

Scalability is central to the design of the Nexus 9272Q category, with support for large routing tables and high numbers of MAC addresses, IP routes, and ARP entries. This scalability ensures that the switch can accommodate growth in network size and complexity without requiring frequent hardware upgrades. Enterprises and service providers benefit from the ability to expand their infrastructures while maintaining consistent performance and operational stability.

Multicast and Traffic Optimization

Multicast support within this category enables efficient distribution of data to multiple endpoints, which is essential for applications such as streaming media, financial data feeds, and distributed computing. By optimizing multicast traffic handling, the Nexus 9272Q reduces unnecessary bandwidth consumption and improves overall network efficiency. Advanced traffic management features further enhance performance by prioritizing critical applications and ensuring fair bandwidth allocation.

Support for Modern Data Center Protocols

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q category supports a wide range of modern data center protocols that enhance scalability and resilience. These capabilities enable network engineers to design flexible architectures that can adapt to changing application requirements and traffic patterns. Protocol support is tightly integrated with the switch’s hardware and software architecture, ensuring reliable operation and consistent performance across diverse deployment scenarios.

NX-OS Software and Operational Intelligence

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch category is powered by Cisco NX-OS software, a modular and resilient operating system designed specifically for data center environments. NX-OS provides a consistent command-line interface and feature set across the Nexus portfolio, simplifying deployment, configuration, and ongoing management. The software’s modular design enhances system stability by isolating processes, reducing the risk of widespread failures and improving overall uptime.

Automation and Programmability

Automation is a core focus of the Nexus 9272Q category, with extensive support for programmability and integration with automation frameworks. NX-OS enables network administrators to automate repetitive tasks, enforce configuration consistency, and accelerate service provisioning. This capability reduces operational overhead and minimizes the potential for human error, which is especially valuable in large-scale data center environments where manual configuration can be time-consuming and error-prone.

API and DevOps Integration

The category supports open APIs and programmable interfaces that integrate with DevOps tools and workflows. This integration allows network operations to align more closely with application development and deployment cycles, enabling faster response to changing business requirements. By supporting infrastructure as code principles, the Cisco Nexus 9272Q category helps organizations transition toward more agile and responsive IT operations.

Telemetry and Visibility

Enhanced telemetry and monitoring capabilities are integral to the Nexus 9272Q category, providing real-time visibility into network performance and health. Streaming telemetry enables proactive monitoring and rapid troubleshooting by delivering granular data to analytics platforms. This level of visibility supports informed decision-making and helps maintain optimal network performance even as workloads and traffic patterns evolve.

Reliability, Redundancy, and High Availability

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch category is engineered for high availability, incorporating multiple redundancy features that minimize downtime and ensure continuous operation. Redundant power supplies and cooling components allow the switch to remain operational even in the event of hardware failures. These design elements are essential for mission-critical data center environments where network outages can have significant operational and financial impacts.

Resilient Hardware Design

The hardware architecture of the Nexus 9272Q emphasizes durability and reliability, with enterprise-grade components designed for sustained operation under heavy workloads. Hot-swappable components simplify maintenance and reduce service disruption, enabling administrators to replace faulty parts without taking the switch offline. This resilience supports long-term deployment in demanding environments.

Fault Isolation and Recovery

NX-OS software enhances reliability through advanced fault isolation and recovery mechanisms. By isolating software processes, the operating system reduces the likelihood that a single fault will affect the entire system. Automated recovery features further improve uptime by enabling rapid response to detected issues, ensuring that the network remains stable and available.

Support for High-Availability Network Designs

The Cisco Nexus 9272Q category supports high-availability network designs that include redundancy at both the hardware and protocol levels. These capabilities enable network architects to build resilient infrastructures that can withstand failures and maintain service continuity. High availability is particularly critical in data centers that support essential business applications and services.

Energy Efficiency and Data Center Optimization

Energy efficiency is an important consideration in the design of the Cisco Nexus 9272Q Managed Switch category. By delivering high port density and performance within a compact form factor, these switches help reduce overall power consumption per gigabit of throughput. Efficient cooling and power management features further contribute to lower operational costs and improved sustainability.

Optimized Airflow and Thermal Management

The Nexus 9272Q category offers airflow options that align with data center cooling strategies, supporting efficient thermal management and reducing hotspots within racks. Proper airflow design ensures that the switch operates within optimal temperature ranges, extending hardware lifespan and improving reliability. This focus on thermal efficiency is essential for high-density deployments where heat management is a critical concern.

Reduced Footprint and Cabling Complexity

By consolidating high-bandwidth connectivity into a single device, the Cisco Nexus 9272Q category reduces the overall number of switches required in a data center. This consolidation minimizes rack space usage and simplifies cabling, leading to cleaner installations and easier maintenance. Reduced cabling complexity also improves airflow and accessibility within network racks.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

The combination of performance, efficiency, and reliability within the Nexus 9272Q category contributes to a lower total cost of ownership over the lifecycle of the switch. Organizations benefit from reduced energy costs, simplified management, and fewer hardware upgrades, making this category a cost-effective choice for scalable data center networking.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco N9K-C9272Q Nexus 9272Q 72 Ports Managed Switch category supports a wide range of deployment scenarios across enterprise, cloud, and service provider environments. These switches are well suited for private and hybrid cloud infrastructures, where high bandwidth and low latency are essential for virtualized workloads. They also excel in high-performance computing environments that demand deterministic network performance and scalability.

Enterprise Data Centers

In enterprise data centers, the Nexus 9272Q category provides a robust foundation for application delivery, virtualization platforms, and storage networks. Its scalability and feature set enable enterprises to support business growth while maintaining reliable and secure network operations. The switch’s compatibility with existing Cisco ecosystems further simplifies integration and management.

Cloud and Service Provider Networks

Cloud providers and service operators benefit from the high-density and automation capabilities of the Nexus 9272Q category. These features enable rapid provisioning of network resources and efficient scaling to meet customer demand. The switch’s performance and reliability support multi-tenant environments and high-volume traffic loads common in cloud infrastructures.

High-Performance and Research Environments

Research institutions and organizations running high-performance computing workloads rely on the Nexus 9272Q category for its low latency and non-blocking performance. These attributes ensure efficient communication between compute nodes and storage systems, supporting complex simulations, data analysis, and scientific research applications that require fast and reliable network connectivity.