N9K-C93216TC-FX2= Cisco Nexus Network 96 Ports Managed Switch

Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= 96 Ports Switch Overview

The Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= is a high-performance, fully managed switch designed for enterprise data centers and high-speed networking environments. Featuring a robust front and side-to-back 2U rack-mountable design, this switch combines high port density with advanced Layer 3 capabilities, ensuring optimal scalability and reliability.

Key Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / SKU: N9K-C93216TC-FX2=
• Device Type: 96-Port Managed Layer 3 Switch
• Rack Mount: Front and side-to-back, 2U enclosure

Port Configuration

• 96 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
• 12 x 100G / 40G QSFP28 interfaces
• Management Ports: 1 x SFP+, 1 x RJ-45
• Additional Interfaces: 1 x Serial (RS-232), 1 x USB

Performance & Capacity

• Switching Bandwidth: 4.32 Tbps
• Forwarding Rate: 1.6 Bpps
• Multiple Spanning Tree Instances: 64
• HSRP Groups: 490
• ACL Entries: 5000 ingress / 2000 egress
• Max Links per Port Channel: 32
• Max Port Channels: 512
• ECMP Paths: 64
• VRF Instances: 16,000
• VLANs Supported: 3,967
• IGMP Snooping Groups: 32,000
• Multicast Routes: 32,000
• NAT Entries: 1,023

Routing Protocols

• OSPF, RIP, RIP-2, BGP, EIGRP
• HSRP, PIM-SM, MSDP
• ECMP, MPLS

Advanced Features

• STP and MSTP Support
• ACL Management and Enforcement
• Port Exhaust Prevention
• vPC Technology for Redundancy
• MACsec Encryption Support
• VXLAN, SSM, EVPN Capabilities
• 40MB System Buffer for High Throughput
• Hot-swappable Components: 3 Fan Trays
• Power-On Auto Provisioning (POAP)

Memory and Storage

• RAM: 24 GB
• Built-in Storage: 128 GB SSD

Power and Redundancy

• Power Supply: Internal, hot-plug capable
• Redundancy: Optional dual power configuration
• Supported Voltage: AC 120/230V, 50/60 Hz

Included Components

• 1 x Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= Switch
• 2 x Power Supplies (NXA-PAC-1200W-PI)
• 3 x Cooling Fans (NXA-FAN-160CFM-PI)
• Power Cords
• Console Cable

Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= 96 Ports Managed Layer 3 Switch

The Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= is a high-performance, fully managed network switch designed to meet the growing demands of modern data centers. With 96 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet and a combination of 96 ports supporting Qsfp28 for 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit connectivity, this switch provides scalable, low-latency, and highly reliable networking for enterprise and service provider environments. Its versatile front-and-side-to-back airflow design ensures flexible deployment in various rack configurations, making it an ideal solution for high-density data center applications.

Advanced Hardware Architecture

High-Density Port Configuration

The N9K-C93216TC-FX2= features a total of 192 ports, with 96 QSFP28 ports and 96 10GbE ports, offering a high port density that supports massive amounts of data throughput. This configuration allows data centers to consolidate multiple network tiers into a single switch platform, reducing complexity while improving performance.

Optimized Switching Capacity

Powered by Cisco’s robust NX-OS software, the switch delivers line-rate throughput on all ports, ensuring zero packet loss and low latency even under full load conditions. With high-performance ASICs, the switch supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, including IPv4 and IPv6 routing, VXLAN, and MPLS, providing a versatile foundation for both traditional and modern network topologies.

Front-and-Side-to-Back Airflow Design

The N9K-C93216TC-FX2= supports both front-to-back and side-to-back airflow configurations, allowing seamless integration into existing cooling infrastructures. This design flexibility ensures optimal thermal management, reduces power consumption, and maintains operational reliability even in high-density deployments.

Redundant Power and Cooling Modules

To ensure continuous network availability, the switch comes with dual redundant power supplies and hot-swappable cooling fans. These components support non-disruptive maintenance, allowing IT teams to perform upgrades or replacements without interrupting network operations.

Comprehensive Software and Security Features

NX-OS Operating System

Cisco NX-OS provides a modular, highly reliable operating system designed for mission-critical data center environments. It includes advanced programmability features such as Python scripting, REST APIs, and model-driven telemetry, allowing administrators to automate complex network operations efficiently.

Advanced Security Capabilities

The N9K-C93216TC-FX2= incorporates industry-leading security features, including IEEE 802.1X authentication, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security. These mechanisms help protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access, ensuring a secure networking environment for enterprises and service providers alike.

Segmentation and Micro-Segmentation

The switch supports virtual routing and forwarding (VRF), private VLANs, and VXLAN-based overlays, enabling micro-segmentation for improved network security and isolation. This allows organizations to securely separate workloads in multi-tenant environments or complex enterprise networks.

Comprehensive Access Control

Role-based access control (RBAC) and secure shell (SSH) access ensure that only authorized personnel can make configuration changes. Combined with extensive logging and auditing capabilities, this switch provides complete visibility and control over network operations.

Scalability and Integration

Data Center Interconnects

With support for 100GbE uplinks and QSFP28 transceivers, the Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= enables seamless integration with high-speed data center fabrics. It allows organizations to expand their network capacity without adding additional tiers of switches, simplifying network architecture while increasing bandwidth availability.

Support for Modern Network Architectures

This switch is designed to work in traditional three-tier architectures as well as spine-leaf topologies. With VXLAN EVPN support, IT teams can deploy scalable, multi-tenant networks that support cloud-native applications and microservices, providing a future-proof solution for evolving business requirements.

Interoperability with Cisco Nexus Ecosystem

Being part of the Cisco Nexus family, the N9K-C93216TC-FX2= offers full interoperability with other Nexus switches, including the 9000 series. This ensures consistent management, unified policies, and simplified operations across the data center network, enhancing overall efficiency and reducing operational overhead.

High Availability Features

The switch supports stateful process failover and In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU), allowing software updates and patches without impacting network availability. This high availability capability is critical for data centers running 24/7 mission-critical workloads.

Performance Optimization and Monitoring

Low Latency and High Throughput

The N9K-C93216TC-FX2= is engineered for low latency performance, making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading, high-performance computing (HPC), and real-time analytics. With deep buffer capabilities, the switch efficiently handles burst traffic and large-scale data flows without congestion.

Network Telemetry and Analytics

Advanced telemetry features, including Cisco’s model-driven telemetry and SNMP support, provide real-time insights into network performance. Administrators can monitor traffic patterns, detect anomalies, and proactively troubleshoot issues to maintain optimal network health.

Quality of Service (QoS)

The switch offers extensive QoS policies that prioritize mission-critical traffic. By managing bandwidth allocation, traffic shaping, and congestion management, organizations can ensure reliable application performance and improved user experience.

Programmability and Automation

Cisco NX-OS on the N9K-C93216TC-FX2= supports automation frameworks like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. With programmable interfaces, administrators can implement automated provisioning, configuration management, and policy enforcement, significantly reducing manual operational tasks.

Deployment and Use Cases

Enterprise Data Centers

For enterprise data centers, the N9K-C93216TC-FX2= provides scalable connectivity, robust security, and advanced management features that simplify complex network deployments. It is well-suited for large-scale virtualization, private cloud infrastructure, and high-throughput enterprise applications.

Service Providers and Cloud Networks

Service providers benefit from the switch’s high-density 100GbE connectivity and advanced VXLAN capabilities, enabling multi-tenant network architectures, high-bandwidth aggregation, and efficient backbone transport. It supports both east-west and north-south traffic patterns, optimizing cloud-scale deployments.

High-Performance Computing

With low latency and high throughput, the switch is ideal for HPC environments. It supports parallel processing workloads, large-scale data analytics, and AI/ML training, ensuring reliable network performance for computationally intensive applications.

Campus and Multi-Site Connectivity

The N9K-C93216TC-FX2= can serve as a core or aggregation switch in campus networks, connecting multiple buildings or sites. Its high-capacity uplinks, Layer 3 routing, and advanced QoS features provide seamless interconnectivity, reducing latency and enhancing productivity.

Conclusion of Features and Benefits

Summary of Capabilities

The Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= switch combines high-density connectivity, advanced software features, robust security, and flexible deployment options. With support for 10GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE ports, it delivers scalable, low-latency performance suitable for enterprise, service provider, and cloud data center networks.

Key Advantages

By integrating advanced programmability, telemetry, security, and automation, this switch reduces operational complexity, increases network reliability, and provides a future-ready platform for modern network demands. Its combination of hardware and software capabilities ensures that organizations can build high-performance, scalable, and secure networks efficiently.

Optimized for Modern Networking Demands

The Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2= addresses the needs of today’s high-density, high-bandwidth networks, supporting cloud computing, virtualization, AI workloads, and mission-critical applications. Its versatile deployment options and comprehensive feature set make it a cornerstone for building resilient and scalable network infrastructure.