N9K-C9316D-GX Cisco Switch L3 16 Prot 10 Gigabite Rack-mountable

High-Density Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX Switching Platform

The Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX is a data center–class Layer 3 switch designed for environments that demand ultra-high throughput, low latency, and scalable connectivity. Built for rack-mount deployment, this Nexus series model delivers advanced performance for modern spine, leaf, and aggregation architectures.

Manufacturer & Product Identity

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Series: Nexus 9000
• SKU / Part Number: N9K-C9316D-GX
• Device Category: Enterprise & Data Center Switch
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable chassis

Port Configuration & Connectivity Options

Ultra-Fast Ethernet Interfaces

• 16 high-speed QSFP-DD ports supporting 400 Gigabit Ethernet
• Optimized for next-generation data center fabrics
• Ideal for spine-leaf, AI/ML workloads, and high-performance computing

Supported Port Breakout & Speed Flexibility

• Native support for 40G, 100G, and 400G Ethernet
• Breakout configurations across ports 1–16
• Multiple fan-out options including:
  • 2x200G, 4x100G, and 2x100G
  • 8x50G, 4x50G, and 2x50G
  • 4x25G and 4x10G with QSA support

Management, Storage & System Access

Out-of-Band Management Interfaces

• 1x RJ45 management port for dedicated control access
• 1x SFP management interface for flexible monitoring
• USB port for local configuration and maintenance
• RS232 console port for serial connectivity

Integrated Storage & System Resources

• Embedded 128 GB solid-state drive for system files and logs
• 32 GB DRAM for high-speed packet processing
• Multi-core CPU architecture with 4 processing cores

Cooling Architecture & Airflow Design

Efficient Thermal Management

• Default front-to-back airflow for hot-aisle/cold-aisle layouts
• Includes six NXA-FAN-35CFM-PI fan modules
• Optimized cooling for continuous high-load operations

Fan Module Alternatives

• NXA-FAN-35CFM-PI for front-to-back airflow
• NXA-FAN-35CFM-PE for back-to-front airflow scenarios

Power Supply Configuration & Redundancy

Pre-Installed Power Modules

• Two redundant 1100W power supplies included
• Model: NXA-PAC-1100W-PI2
• Designed for high availability and fault tolerance

Available Power Supply Options

• Port-side intake power supplies:
  • NXA-PAC-1100W-PI2 (AC)
  • NXA-PDC-1100W-PI2 (DC)
  • NXA-PHV-1100W-PI (HV AC/DC)
• Port-side exhaust power supplies:
  • NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2 (AC)
  • NXA-PDC-1100W-PE2 (DC)
  • NXA-PHV-1100W-PE (HV AC/DC)

Switching Performance & Throughput

High-Capacity Data Handling

• Total switching bandwidth of up to 12.8 Tbps
• Forwarding rate reaching 4.3 billion packets per second
• Engineered for low-latency, non-blocking performance

Scalability & Network Intelligence

• MAC address table capacity of 256,000 entries
• Supports up to 896,000 IPv4 host routes with longest prefix match
• IPv4 LPM routing scale up to 896,000 routes
• Multicast route support for up to 32,000 entries

Enterprise-Grade Data Center Switching with Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX Series

The Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX Nexus 9316D-GX switch category represents a specialized class of compact, high-performance Layer 3 data center switches engineered for modern enterprise, cloud, and service provider environments. Designed to deliver consistent low latency, deterministic performance, and advanced programmability, this category focuses on rack-mountable switches that combine dense 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with the architectural advantages of Cisco’s Nexus 9000 family. These switches are purpose-built for environments that demand reliability, scalability, and deep integration with software-defined networking frameworks.

As part of the broader Cisco Nexus portfolio, the 9316D-GX category emphasizes streamlined data center design, enabling organizations to deploy powerful switching capabilities within limited rack space. The focus on 16-port configurations allows precise capacity planning while maintaining enterprise-grade throughput and resilience. This category aligns with modern data center requirements where efficient power usage, compact form factors, and robust Layer 3 routing features are essential.

Architectural Design and Hardware Form Factor

The architectural design of the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category reflects Cisco’s long-standing approach to modular yet compact switching platforms. The rack-mountable form factor ensures seamless integration into standard 19-inch racks, making these switches suitable for both new data center builds and existing infrastructure upgrades. The hardware design prioritizes airflow optimization, component durability, and serviceability, ensuring consistent performance under sustained workloads.

This category benefits from purpose-built ASICs that deliver predictable forwarding behavior across all ports. The internal architecture supports wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding, allowing organizations to deploy these switches in roles ranging from access-layer aggregation to specialized leaf-node deployments in spine-leaf topologies. The balance between port density and processing capability makes this category particularly relevant for environments that require deterministic traffic handling.

Compact Footprint for Space-Constrained Deployments

One of the defining characteristics of the Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX category is its compact footprint. By focusing on a 16-port design, these switches optimize rack space without sacrificing enterprise-grade capabilities. This compactness allows deployment in edge data centers, colocation facilities, and remote enterprise locations where space efficiency is a critical consideration.

The reduced physical footprint also simplifies cable management and airflow planning. Network architects can design cleaner, more efficient racks while maintaining the flexibility to scale horizontally by adding additional switches as demand grows. This approach aligns with modern data center practices that favor modular growth over monolithic infrastructure.

High-Performance Switching Silicon

The switching silicon underpinning this category is designed to deliver consistent throughput across all 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports. This ensures that latency-sensitive applications, such as real-time analytics, financial trading platforms, and unified communications, operate reliably under load. The silicon architecture supports advanced buffering and queue management, which helps mitigate congestion and maintain quality of service.

By integrating high-performance ASICs, the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category achieves a balance between raw performance and power efficiency. This makes it suitable for organizations that seek to reduce operational costs while maintaining high network availability.

Layer 3 Capabilities and Advanced Routing Features

The Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX category is firmly positioned as a Layer 3 switching solution, offering comprehensive routing features that support complex network topologies. These switches are designed to operate seamlessly in environments that require dynamic routing, policy-based traffic control, and high availability. The Layer 3 capabilities enable organizations to consolidate network functions, reducing the need for separate routing devices.

Support for advanced routing protocols allows these switches to integrate smoothly into existing enterprise and service provider networks. This category emphasizes scalability and resilience, ensuring that routing tables and control-plane operations remain stable even as network complexity increases.

Dynamic Routing Protocol Support

Switches within this category support industry-standard dynamic routing protocols that enable efficient path selection and rapid convergence. These capabilities are essential for maintaining uptime in large-scale environments where link failures or topology changes are inevitable. By leveraging dynamic routing, network operators can ensure optimal traffic flows without manual intervention.

The robust routing feature set allows deployment in both traditional three-tier architectures and modern spine-leaf designs. This flexibility makes the category suitable for organizations transitioning from legacy networks to more agile data center architectures.

Scalability for Growing Networks

Scalability is a core design principle of the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category. The Layer 3 architecture supports large routing tables and efficient control-plane processing, enabling growth without performance degradation. This is particularly important for enterprises experiencing rapid expansion or adopting cloud-based workloads that require dynamic connectivity.

The ability to scale routing and forwarding resources ensures that these switches remain viable as network demands evolve. This future-ready approach reduces the need for frequent hardware replacements, contributing to a lower total cost of ownership.

High Availability and Redundancy Mechanisms

High availability is a critical requirement for modern networks, and this category incorporates features that minimize downtime. Redundancy mechanisms, fast convergence, and robust failover capabilities help ensure continuous operation. These features are particularly valuable in mission-critical environments where network outages can have significant business impact.

The emphasis on reliability makes this category suitable for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and large-scale enterprise IT, where network stability is paramount.

10 Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity and Use Cases

The Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX category is centered around 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, addressing the needs of bandwidth-intensive applications. The 10GbE ports provide a balance between performance and cost efficiency, making them ideal for server connectivity, storage networks, and high-speed inter-switch links. This category supports environments where predictable throughput and low latency are essential.

By focusing on 10 Gigabit Ethernet, these switches enable organizations to modernize their networks without immediately transitioning to higher-speed interfaces. This approach allows for incremental upgrades while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure.

Optimized for Server and Application Connectivity

The 10GbE ports within this category are well-suited for connecting high-performance servers and application clusters. This makes the switches an excellent choice for virtualization platforms, containerized workloads, and private cloud deployments. The consistent performance characteristics ensure that applications receive the bandwidth they require.

In addition to server connectivity, these switches support east-west traffic patterns common in modern data centers. This capability is critical for distributed applications that rely on frequent inter-node communication.

Support for Storage and Converged Networks

Storage networking is another key use case for the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category. The reliable 10GbE connectivity supports storage protocols and converged network designs, enabling organizations to consolidate data and storage traffic onto a single infrastructure. This consolidation simplifies management and reduces hardware sprawl.

The predictable latency characteristics make these switches suitable for environments where storage performance directly impacts application responsiveness. This includes databases, analytics platforms, and enterprise resource planning systems.

Software Integration and Network Automation

Beyond hardware capabilities, the Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX category emphasizes deep software integration and automation. These switches are designed to work seamlessly with Cisco’s network operating systems and management platforms, enabling centralized control and visibility. This focus on software-driven networking aligns with industry trends toward automation and intent-based networking.

The software architecture supports programmability and open APIs, allowing organizations to integrate network operations with DevOps workflows. This reduces manual configuration errors and accelerates deployment timelines.

Compatibility with Modern Network Operating Systems

Switches in this category are designed to operate with Cisco’s advanced network operating systems, providing a consistent management experience across the Nexus portfolio. This consistency simplifies training and reduces operational complexity for IT teams managing large networks.

The operating system support enables advanced features such as telemetry, real-time monitoring, and granular policy enforcement. These capabilities enhance network visibility and troubleshooting efficiency.

Automation and Programmability Benefits

Automation is a key differentiator of this category. Support for programmable interfaces allows network engineers to automate repetitive tasks and implement configuration changes at scale. This reduces operational overhead and improves network agility.

The ability to integrate with orchestration tools and automation frameworks makes these switches suitable for environments adopting infrastructure-as-code practices. This alignment with modern IT methodologies enhances overall operational efficiency.

Security and Traffic Control Features

Security is an integral component of the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category. These switches incorporate features that help protect network infrastructure and control traffic flows. The security capabilities are designed to operate at high speeds without introducing significant latency, ensuring that protection does not come at the expense of performance.

Advanced access control and segmentation features allow organizations to enforce security policies directly at the network layer. This approach reduces reliance on external security appliances and simplifies overall network design.

Policy-Based Traffic Management

Policy-based traffic control enables granular management of data flows within the network. This capability is essential for prioritizing critical applications and ensuring consistent quality of service. The category supports flexible policy definitions that align with business requirements.

By implementing traffic policies at the switch level, organizations can achieve more predictable network behavior and reduce the risk of congestion-related issues.

Segmentation and Isolation Capabilities

Network segmentation is a key strategy for enhancing security and performance. The Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category supports logical segmentation mechanisms that allow multiple isolated network environments to coexist on the same physical infrastructure. This is particularly useful in multi-tenant data centers and private cloud deployments.

The ability to isolate traffic enhances security while maximizing resource utilization. This makes the category suitable for organizations hosting diverse workloads with varying security requirements.

Operational Efficiency and Energy Considerations

Operational efficiency is a significant factor in the design of the Cisco N9K-C9316D-GX category. These switches are engineered to deliver high performance while maintaining efficient power consumption. This balance helps organizations manage operational costs and align with sustainability goals.

The hardware design incorporates efficient cooling mechanisms and power management features that reduce energy waste. This efficiency is particularly valuable in large-scale deployments where power and cooling costs can be substantial.

Power Optimization and Cooling Design

The power optimization features within this category help ensure that energy consumption scales appropriately with network load. Efficient cooling design maintains optimal operating temperatures, extending hardware lifespan and reducing the risk of thermal-related failures.

These characteristics make the switches suitable for dense deployments where thermal management is a critical concern.

Deployment Scenarios and Industry Applications

The Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category is versatile enough to support a wide range of deployment scenarios. From enterprise data centers to service provider networks, these switches provide the performance and reliability required for demanding applications. The compact design and robust feature set make them adaptable to diverse environments.

Industry applications include financial services, healthcare, education, and cloud service providers. In each of these sectors, the combination of Layer 3 capabilities, 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and advanced automation features delivers tangible operational benefits.

Enterprise and Private Cloud Environments

In enterprise and private cloud environments, this category supports virtualization platforms and application clusters with predictable performance. The ability to integrate with automation tools enhances agility and reduces time-to-market for new services.

The reliability and scalability of the switches ensure that enterprise networks can grow alongside business needs.

Service Provider and Colocation Deployments

For service providers and colocation facilities, the Cisco Nexus 9316D-GX category offers a compact yet powerful solution for customer connectivity and aggregation. The advanced routing and segmentation features support multi-tenant architectures while maintaining isolation and security.

The combination of performance, efficiency, and manageability makes this category a strong fit for environments where uptime and scalability are critical.