C1-N9K-C93180YC-EX Cisco ONE Nexus Switch (48 Ports)

Product Overview

The Cisco C1-N9K-C93180YC-EX ONE Nexus Switch is a high-performance, enterprise-grade Layer 3 managed switch designed for modern data centers. Built for scalability, reliability, and ultra-fast connectivity, this Nexus 9300 Series switch delivers exceptional network efficiency for cloud, virtualization, and mission-critical environments.

General Specifications

Manufacturer Information

• Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Part Number: C1-N9K-C93180YC-EX
• Product Line: Cisco Nexus
• Series: 9300 Series
• Model: 93180YC-EX
• Product Type: Layer 3 Managed Network Switch

Interfaces and Port Configuration

Ethernet Ports

• 48 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports
• 6 × 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports

Port Design Highlights

• Modular architecture for flexible expansion
• No dedicated uplink ports required
• No stack ports for simplified topology

Media and Performance Capabilities

Supported Media Types

• Optical Fiber connectivity for long-distance, high-speed data transmission

Networking Technologies

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GBase-X)
• 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GBase-X)

Expansion and Connectivity Options

Expansion Slot Overview

• Total Slots: 54 high-speed expansion slots
• Slot Types: SFP+ and QSFP+

Slot Breakdown

• 48 × SFP+ slots for 10GbE connections
• 6 × QSFP+ slots for 40GbE uplinks
• No shared SFP slots for dedicated bandwidth

Network Layer and Management Features

Layer Support

• Advanced Layer 3 switching for intelligent routing and traffic management

Management Capabilities

• Fully manageable switch for centralized control
• Optimized for enterprise and data center deployments

Power and Reliability

Power Specifications

• Powered by internal power supply units
• Redundant power supply support for high availability

Cisco Nexus 93180YC-EX: The Data Center

The Cisco C1-N9K-C93180YC-EX, commonly known as the Nexus 93180YC-EX switch, represents a pivotal 1-Rack-Unit (1RU) platform within Cisco's renowned Nexus 9000 Series. Engineered for the modern data center, this 48-port fixed configuration switch is designed to deliver exceptional performance, operational simplicity, and architectural flexibility. It serves as a fundamental building block for a wide range of deployment scenarios, from high-density Top-of-Rack (ToR) server aggregation to high-performance leaf switches in spine-leaf (Clos) architectures. Built with Cisco's cloud-scale ASIC technology, the 93180YC-EX provides consistent low latency, deep buffers, and advanced feature sets required for virtualized, bare-metal, and cloud-native applications. This category encompasses not just the hardware, but the transformative role it plays in creating agile, programmable, and efficient network infrastructures for enterprises, cloud providers, and service providers alike.

Technical Specifications and Hardware Architecture

At its core, the Nexus 93180YC-EX is a marvel of integrated networking engineering, packing immense port density and switching capacity into a compact, power-efficient form factor. Understanding its hardware DNA is key to appreciating its capabilities.

Port Configuration and Interface Flexibility

The switch's port layout is its most defining characteristic, offering a versatile mix to meet diverse connectivity demands.

48 x Downlink Ports: 25/10/1 Gigabit Ethernet

The forty-eight main ports are universally capable, supporting 1GbE, 10GbE, and 25GbE speeds. This auto-sensing flexibility allows for seamless migration from legacy 1GbE server NICs to high-performance 10GbE and 25GbE connections without changing switch hardware. These ports use SFP28 optics or Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, providing cost-effective choices for short-reach and long-reach connectivity.

6 x Uplink Ports: 100/40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28

For upstream connectivity to spine switches or core network aggregation points, the switch is equipped with six QSFP28 ports. These can operate natively as 40GbE or 100GbE ports. Furthermore, using breakout cables, each QSFP28 port can be split into 4x 10GbE or 4x 25GbE connections, effectively offering an additional 24 x 10/25GbE ports. This breakout capability makes the 93180YC-EX an incredibly dense aggregation platform, supporting up to 72 x 10/25GbE ports in a single RU when fully utilized.

Performance and Switching Capacity

The switch is powered by Cisco's Cloud Scale ASIC, delivering non-blocking line-rate performance across all ports simultaneously.

Switching Capacity: 3.6 Tbps
Forwarding Rate: Over 1.2 billion packets per second (Bpps)
Buffer Memory: Equipped with a deep packet buffer (36MB shared) that is crucial for handling transient congestion, elephant flows, and storage traffic, preventing packet loss and ensuring smooth application performance.
Latency: Consistently low latency, typically sub-1 microsecond for cut-through switching, which is vital for high-frequency trading, clustered databases, and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.

Deployment Models and Use Cases

The versatility of the Nexus 93180YC-EX allows it to excel in multiple architectural roles within the data center and beyond.

Top-of-Rack (ToR) Server Access Switch

As a ToR switch, it connects directly to a rack of servers, providing high-bandwidth access. Its 48 ports can connect to a mix of 1GbE, 10GbE, and 25GbE servers, while the six high-speed uplinks provide ample bandwidth to the spine or core, preventing oversubscription. Features like Power over Ethernet (PoE+) options on some models and support for FEX (Fabric Extender) connectivity add to its access layer utility.

Leaf Switch in Spine-Leaf (Clos) Fabric

This is its most prominent role in modern data centers. In a spine-leaf architecture, every leaf switch (like the 93180YC-EX) connects to every spine switch, creating a predictable, scalable, and low-latency fabric. Its high uplink density (6 x 100G) makes it ideal for this, ensuring multiple non-blocking paths to the spine. It terminates Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) tunnels, enabling software-defined network overlay creation for multi-tenancy and segmentation.

Medium-Density Aggregation or Small Core

For mid-sized data centers or campus core networks, the 93180YC-EX can serve as a powerful aggregation or core switch. Its deep buffers and high throughput make it suitable for aggregating multiple access switches or handling traffic from wireless controllers and network services appliances.

Software and Feature Capabilities

The hardware is empowered by Cisco's NX-OS operating system, a mature, robust, and feature-rich platform built for the data center.

Cisco NX-OS: The Foundation

NX-OS provides carrier-class reliability, with features like in-service software upgrades (ISSU), stateful process restart, and modularity that isolates processes for enhanced stability. Its CLI is familiar to Cisco IOS users but is optimized for data center operations.

Virtualization and Network Segmentation

The switch excels at creating logical network segments for security, compliance, and multi-tenancy.

VXLAN EVPN Fabric

The 93180YC-EX is a full participant in VXLAN-based overlay networks using Ethernet VPN (EVPN) control plane. This allows the creation of Layer 2 and Layer 3 virtual networks that are decoupled from the physical underlay, enabling massive scale, tenant isolation, and flexible workload placement across the data center.

VRF and ACLs

Support for multiple Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances enables routing table isolation. Combined with robust Access Control Lists (ACLs) and security group tagging, it provides granular security policies.

Automation and Programmability

Modern network operations demand automation, and the 93180YC-EX is built for it.

Python & Scripting: On-box Python scripting allows for automation of configuration and operational tasks.
Model-Driven Programmability: Support for gRPC, NETCONF, and RESTCONF APIs with YANG data models enables programmatic management and integration with orchestration tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef.
Open NX-OS: Provides a Linux environment with Docker container support, allowing users to run custom or third-party applications directly on the switch for edge analytics and decision-making.

High Availability and Reliability Features

For mission-critical environments, the switch incorporates numerous features to maximize uptime.

Hardware Redundancy: Hot-swappable, redundant power supplies and fan trays with front-to-back or back-to-front airflow options.
Software Redundancy: ISSU allows software upgrades with no disruption to data plane traffic.
L2/L3 Protocol Stability: Features like Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), and Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF) with Stateful Switchover (SSO) ensure rapid convergence and minimal disruption during link or control plane events.

Ecosystem and Integration

The 93180YC-EX does not operate in isolation; it is part of a broader Cisco and industry ecosystem.

Cisco ACI Integration

When used within an Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) fabric, the switch operates under the policy-based, intent-driven management of the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC). In this mode, it becomes a leaf node in an ACI fabric, automatically configured by centralized policies that define application requirements.

Open Ecosystem

Support for open standards like VXLAN EVPN, BGP, and open APIs ensures it can integrate into multi-vendor environments and be managed by third-party orchestration and automation platforms.