N9K-C93360YC-FX2 Cisco 96 Ports L3 Managed Qsfp28 Rack-mountable Switch

Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 96-Port L3 Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 is a high-performance, rack-mountable Layer 3 switch designed for enterprise and data center environments. With robust connectivity options and advanced features, it delivers reliable network performance and flexibility.

Key Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model Number: N9K-C93360YC-FX2
• Device Type: Managed Layer 3 Switch
• Port Count: 96 Ports
• Form Factor: 2U Rack-Mountable
• Dimensions: 17.4" W x 22.9" D x 3.4" H
• Weight: 54.45 lbs
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Storage: Built-in 128 GB SSD

Port Configuration & Connectivity

• 96 × 1/10/25G SFP+ ports for high-speed data transmission
• 12 × 40/100G QSFP28 ports for uplinks and aggregation
• 1 × RJ-45 Management port
• 1 × SFP+ Management port
• 1 × USB port for local configuration and updates
• 1 × Serial (RS-232) port for console access

Routing Protocols Supported

• OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
• RIP & RIP-2
• BGP & Multiprotocol BGP
• EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
• HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol)
• PIM-SM (Protocol Independent Multicast – Sparse Mode)
• ECMP, MPLS, RSVP, MSDP

Advanced Features

• Layer 3 switching for seamless routing
• VxLAN and EVPN support for modern data center fabrics
• Support for STP, MSTP, and ACL configurations
• VPC technology for high availability and redundancy
• MACsec encryption for secure communication
• POAP and PSE support for automated provisioning
• 40 MB system buffer for efficient traffic handling
• Equipped with 3 cooling fans for optimal thermal performance

Power and Redundancy

• Power Supply: Internal, hot-pluggable
• Max Supported Power Modules: 2
• Redundancy: Optional for continuous operation

Compliance & Standards

• IEEE 802.1AE – ensuring network security and encryption

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series High-Density Data Center Switching Architecture

The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 belongs to the advanced Nexus 9000 Series, a category of enterprise-grade data center switches engineered to meet the evolving demands of modern cloud-scale, virtualized, and software-defined environments. This category focuses on delivering extremely high port density, low latency, non-blocking throughput, and flexible deployment options that support both traditional and next-generation workloads. Designed for spine, leaf, and top-of-rack architectures, switches in this class enable organizations to build scalable, resilient, and automation-ready networks that align with current and future data center strategies.

Within this category, the emphasis is on combining hardware-based performance with deep programmability and advanced Layer 3 capabilities. The Cisco Nexus 9000 FX2 platform represents a significant evolution, integrating powerful ASICs that provide line-rate performance across all ports while supporting extensive routing tables, telemetry, and security features. This makes the category highly suitable for enterprises, service providers, and cloud operators seeking predictable performance and operational efficiency.

High-Port-Density Switching for Modern Data Centers

The category of high-density rack-mountable switches addresses the increasing need to connect a large number of servers, storage systems, and network fabrics within limited rack space. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 exemplifies this by offering a dense port configuration optimized for both 25 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This density allows data center architects to reduce the number of physical devices required, simplifying cabling, lowering power consumption, and minimizing overall operational costs.

High-port-density switches in this segment are specifically designed to handle east-west traffic patterns that dominate modern application architectures. Microservices, containerized workloads, and distributed databases generate significant lateral traffic, and this category ensures that bandwidth constraints do not become bottlenecks. The result is a more efficient network fabric capable of supporting latency-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive applications simultaneously.

Layer 3 Managed Switching Capabilities

Layer 3 managed switches form a critical subcategory within enterprise networking, offering advanced routing intelligence in addition to traditional switching functions. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 operates as a full-featured Layer 3 switch, supporting dynamic routing protocols, large routing tables, and sophisticated traffic engineering features. This enables organizations to design resilient, scalable networks that can adapt to changing traffic patterns and application requirements.

Unlike basic switching devices, Layer 3 managed switches in this category are capable of performing complex routing decisions at line rate. They support protocols that allow seamless integration into multi-tier data center architectures, providing redundancy, fast convergence, and optimal path selection. This makes the category ideal for mission-critical environments where uptime and performance are non-negotiable.

Advanced Routing and Traffic Management

Switches in this category are engineered to handle large-scale routing with precision. They support extensive IPv4 and IPv6 routing capabilities, enabling organizations to future-proof their networks as address requirements grow. Advanced routing features allow for segmentation, policy-based routing, and efficient load distribution across multiple paths, ensuring consistent application performance.

Traffic management capabilities are also central to this category. By leveraging hardware-based forwarding and intelligent buffering, these switches can prioritize critical traffic, reduce congestion, and maintain low latency even under heavy loads. This is particularly important in environments hosting real-time analytics, financial trading platforms, and latency-sensitive enterprise applications.

Support for Modern Network Architectures

The category is designed with modern data center architectures in mind, including leaf-spine topologies and software-defined networking frameworks. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 integrates seamlessly into these designs, providing predictable performance and simplified scalability. As networks grow, additional switches can be added without rearchitecting the entire fabric, ensuring long-term investment protection.

These switches also support network segmentation and virtualization technologies that allow multiple logical networks to coexist on a single physical infrastructure. This capability is essential for multi-tenant environments, hybrid cloud deployments, and organizations seeking to isolate workloads for security or compliance reasons.

QSFP28 and High-Speed Connectivity Options

High-speed connectivity is a defining characteristic of this category. The inclusion of QSFP28 interfaces enables support for 100 Gigabit Ethernet connections, which are essential for spine-layer aggregation and high-throughput inter-switch links. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 is positioned within a category that balances flexibility and performance, allowing ports to be configured for different speeds depending on deployment needs.

This adaptability makes the category suitable for incremental upgrades. Organizations can deploy switches initially using lower-speed connections and later transition to higher-speed links as demand increases, without replacing the entire switching infrastructure. This approach reduces capital expenditure while maintaining the ability to scale performance over time.

Optimized for East-West and North-South Traffic

Switches in this category are optimized to handle both east-west traffic between servers and north-south traffic entering and leaving the data center. The high bandwidth and low latency provided by QSFP28 connectivity ensure that internal application communication remains efficient, while external connectivity to WANs, clouds, and edge networks is equally robust.

This balanced traffic handling is crucial for hybrid environments where on-premises resources interact frequently with public cloud services. The category supports consistent performance across these interaction points, reducing latency and improving user experience for distributed applications.

Rack-Mountable Design and Data Center Integration

The rack-mountable form factor is a key aspect of this category, ensuring compatibility with standard data center infrastructure. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 is designed for efficient installation in high-density racks, with airflow options and power configurations that align with data center best practices. This design simplifies deployment and maintenance, allowing network teams to integrate the switch into existing environments with minimal disruption.

Rack-mountable switches in this category are engineered for continuous operation in demanding conditions. They feature robust cooling systems, redundant power supplies, and durable components that support long-term reliability. This makes them suitable for enterprise data centers, colocation facilities, and service provider environments where uptime is critical.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Management

Energy efficiency is an increasingly important consideration in modern data centers. Switches in this category are designed to deliver high performance while optimizing power consumption. Advanced ASICs and intelligent power management features help reduce energy usage per gigabit of throughput, contributing to lower operational costs and improved sustainability.

Thermal management is equally important, as high-density switches generate significant heat. The category incorporates optimized airflow designs that support both front-to-back and back-to-front cooling, allowing deployment in a variety of rack configurations. This flexibility ensures compatibility with different data center cooling strategies.

Automation, Programmability, and Software Integration

Modern networking demands automation and programmability, and this category is built to support these requirements. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 operates within an ecosystem that emphasizes software-defined networking, APIs, and centralized management. This allows organizations to automate configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting tasks, reducing manual effort and minimizing the risk of human error.

Programmability enables faster deployment of services and more agile network operations. By integrating with orchestration platforms and automation tools, switches in this category support continuous integration and continuous deployment workflows that align networking with application development cycles.

Telemetry and Visibility

Comprehensive visibility is a defining feature of this category. Advanced telemetry capabilities provide real-time insights into network performance, traffic patterns, and resource utilization. This data enables proactive monitoring and faster issue resolution, improving overall network reliability.

Visibility tools also support capacity planning and optimization efforts. By understanding how bandwidth and resources are used, organizations can make informed decisions about scaling and upgrades, ensuring that the network continues to meet business demands.

Security and Segmentation Capabilities

Security is deeply integrated into this category, with features that support segmentation, access control, and threat mitigation. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 supports secure network designs that isolate workloads and limit the spread of potential threats. This is particularly important in environments hosting sensitive data or operating under strict regulatory requirements.

By combining hardware-based performance with software-driven security policies, the category enables organizations to enforce consistent security controls across the data center fabric without sacrificing performance.

Use Cases Across Enterprise and Cloud Environments

The category encompassing the Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 is versatile, supporting a wide range of use cases across enterprise, service provider, and cloud environments. In enterprise data centers, these switches serve as reliable building blocks for core, aggregation, and access layers, supporting business-critical applications and services.

In cloud and service provider environments, the category supports massive scalability and multi-tenant architectures. High port density, advanced routing, and automation features enable providers to deliver flexible, high-performance services to customers while maintaining operational efficiency.

Support for Virtualization and Container Platforms

Virtualization and containerization are central to modern IT strategies, and this category is designed to support these technologies effectively. The Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2 integrates seamlessly with virtualized environments, providing consistent networking performance for virtual machines and containers.

By supporting advanced network overlays and segmentation, the category ensures that virtualized workloads can communicate securely and efficiently, regardless of their physical location within the data center.

Scalability and Investment Protection

Scalability is a core principle of this category. The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series FX2 platform is designed to grow with organizational needs, supporting incremental expansion without compromising performance. This ensures that initial investments continue to deliver value as workloads and traffic demands increase.

Investment protection is further enhanced by support for multiple speeds and evolving standards. As networking technologies advance, switches in this category can adapt, allowing organizations to extend the lifespan of their infrastructure and maximize return on investment.

Future-Ready Networking Infrastructure

The category positions organizations to embrace future networking trends, including higher-speed Ethernet, increased automation, and deeper integration with cloud platforms. By deploying switches like the Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2, businesses can build a resilient foundation that supports innovation and digital transformation initiatives.

This future-ready approach ensures that the network remains an enabler rather than a constraint, supporting new applications, services, and business models as they emerge.