N7K-M148GT-11 Cisco Nexus 7000 Gigabit Ethernet 48 Ports Switch Module

Cisco N7K-M148GT-11 Nexus 7000: High-Performance Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module

Overview of Cisco N7K-M148GT-11

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Model / Part Number: N7K-M148GT-11
• Device Category: Network Switch Module
• Subtype: Gigabit Ethernet
• Form Factor: Plug-in Module

Port Configuration & Connectivity

• Total Ports: 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps
• Interface Type: RJ-45, 1000Base-T
• Optimized for: High-density Ethernet environments

Performance & Capacity

• IPv4 Routing Capacity: Supports up to 1,000,000 routes
• IPv6 Routing Capacity: Handles up to 350,000 routes
• NetFlow Entries: 512,000 for detailed traffic monitoring
• ACL Capacity: 128,000 Access Control List entries
• MAC Address Table: 128,000 entries for efficient layer 2 switching
• Jumbo Frame Support: Up to 9216 Bytes for enhanced data transfer

Scalability & Network Expansion

• Seamless integration with existing Nexus 7000 chassis
• Supports high-density network configurations
• Expandable architecture for growing enterprise networks

Key Advantages of Cisco N7K-M148GT-11

• Reliable and robust for mission-critical networking
• Enhanced throughput for large-scale deployments
• Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities
• Future-proof design supporting IPv6 routing
• Efficient traffic monitoring via NetFlow

Ideal Use Cases

• Enterprise data centers requiring high port density
• Network core or aggregation layer deployments
• Organizations needing scalable, high-performance Ethernet solutions
• Environments demanding low-latency, high-speed connectivity

High-Density Gigabit Ethernet Switching Modules for Cisco Nexus 7000 Series

The Cisco N7K-M148GT-11 Nexus 7000 Gigabit Ethernet 48 Ports Network Switch Module belongs to a specialized category of high-performance Ethernet line cards engineered for the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series modular switching platforms. This category focuses on delivering reliable, scalable, and high-density Layer 2 and Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity within enterprise core, data center aggregation, and service provider network environments. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the Nexus 7000 architecture, these switch modules extend the platform’s ability to support large-scale network infrastructures that demand predictable performance, advanced traffic management, and continuous availability.

Within this category, Gigabit Ethernet switch modules play a crucial role in connecting servers, access switches, storage devices, and other network resources. The 48-port density enables organizations to maximize port utilization per slot, reducing overall chassis footprint while maintaining robust switching capacity. These modules are optimized for environments where 1 Gigabit Ethernet remains a key connectivity standard due to cost efficiency, device compatibility, or existing cabling infrastructure.

Architectural Integration with Cisco Nexus 7000 Platform

Modular Line Card Design Philosophy

The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series is built around a modular design that allows network architects to select specific line cards and fabric modules to match operational requirements. The N7K-M148GT-11 switch module category aligns with this philosophy by providing a flexible Gigabit Ethernet interface option that can be deployed alongside higher-speed 10G, 40G, or 100G modules within the same chassis. This mixed-speed capability supports gradual network upgrades without forcing a complete infrastructure overhaul.

Each 48-port Gigabit Ethernet module is engineered to communicate efficiently with the Nexus 7000 fabric modules, ensuring low-latency forwarding and consistent throughput across the switching system. The tight integration with the supervisor modules allows centralized control, monitoring, and policy enforcement, which simplifies network operations in large environments.

Fabric Connectivity and Switching Performance

Switch modules in this category are designed to take full advantage of the high-bandwidth backplane architecture of the Nexus 7000 chassis. By leveraging the distributed fabric design, traffic can be forwarded at wire speed with minimal packet loss. This ensures that Gigabit Ethernet connections do not become bottlenecks even when aggregated across multiple line cards.

The architecture supports both Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing within the same module, allowing flexible network design options such as collapsed core or spine-leaf topologies adapted to modular switching environments.

Port Density and Interface Capabilities

48-Port Gigabit Ethernet Configuration

The defining characteristic of this category is the 48-port Gigabit Ethernet interface density per module. This configuration is ideal for connecting a large number of endpoints such as access switches, servers with 1G network interface cards, IP-based appliances, and management networks. High port density reduces the number of required line cards, which in turn lowers power consumption, cooling requirements, and overall capital expenditure.

Each port is capable of operating at 10/100/1000 Mbps, providing backward compatibility with legacy devices while still supporting modern Gigabit Ethernet speeds. This flexibility allows organizations to integrate older equipment into newer Nexus 7000-based infrastructures.

Media Types and Connectivity Options

Modules in this category typically support copper-based Ethernet interfaces using standard RJ-45 connectors, enabling direct use of existing Category 5e or Category 6 cabling. This is particularly beneficial in enterprise environments where extensive copper cabling is already deployed. By utilizing existing cabling infrastructure, organizations can significantly reduce upgrade costs and deployment complexity.

The ability to auto-negotiate speed and duplex settings ensures seamless interoperability with a wide range of connected devices, minimizing configuration errors and simplifying network provisioning.

Layer 2 Switching Features

Advanced VLAN and Bridging Capabilities

Gigabit Ethernet switch modules for the Nexus 7000 Series are designed to support extensive Layer 2 feature sets. This includes support for thousands of VLANs, allowing network administrators to segment traffic logically for security, performance, and organizational requirements. VLAN tagging and trunking enable efficient traffic flow between different parts of the network while maintaining isolation between departments or applications.

Spanning Tree Protocol variants such as STP, RSTP, and MST are supported to prevent network loops and ensure topology stability. These features are critical in large-scale Layer 2 environments where redundancy and fault tolerance are required.

MAC Address Table Scalability

The category emphasizes high MAC address table capacity, enabling the switch module to learn and store a large number of MAC addresses without performance degradation. This is particularly important in environments with many connected endpoints, such as campus networks or data center access layers.

Efficient MAC address learning and aging mechanisms help maintain optimal forwarding performance while reducing unnecessary broadcast traffic.

Layer 3 Routing and IP Services

Integrated Routing Capabilities

Beyond basic switching, this category supports robust Layer 3 routing features. Static routing, dynamic routing protocols, and policy-based routing can be implemented directly on the module, reducing the need for external routing devices. This integrated approach simplifies network design and reduces latency by keeping traffic within the same switching platform.

Support for IPv4 and IPv6 addressing ensures readiness for modern IP deployments and future network expansion.

High Availability Routing Features

High availability is a core design principle of the Nexus 7000 platform, and Gigabit Ethernet switch modules inherit this focus. Redundant supervisor engines, graceful restart capabilities, and nonstop forwarding features help maintain routing stability during maintenance or unexpected failures.

First-hop redundancy protocols such as HSRP or VRRP can be deployed to ensure continuous gateway availability for connected devices.

Quality of Service and Traffic Management

Granular QoS Policies

Quality of Service is a critical aspect of this category, enabling prioritization of latency-sensitive traffic such as voice, video, and real-time applications. The modules support multiple queues per port, allowing administrators to define traffic classes and assign appropriate priority levels.

Classification can be based on Layer 2 or Layer 3 parameters, including VLAN IDs, IP addresses, or protocol types, providing fine-grained control over traffic behavior.

Congestion Management and Control

Advanced congestion management techniques such as weighted round-robin scheduling and congestion avoidance mechanisms help maintain consistent performance during periods of high network utilization. By intelligently managing buffer resources, these modules reduce packet loss and ensure fair bandwidth distribution among competing traffic flows.

Security and Access Control Features

Port-Level Security Mechanisms

Security is a key consideration in enterprise and data center networks, and this category incorporates multiple port-level security features. Administrators can limit the number of MAC addresses learned on a port, preventing unauthorized devices from gaining network access.

Support for features such as 802.1X authentication enables integration with centralized identity management systems, enhancing overall network security posture.

Access Control Lists and Traffic Filtering

Access Control Lists can be applied at the port or VLAN level to filter traffic based on IP addresses, protocols, or other criteria. This allows organizations to enforce security policies directly within the switching infrastructure, reducing reliance on external firewalls for internal traffic segmentation.

Scalability and Investment Protection

Supporting Network Growth

This category is designed to scale with organizational growth. As network demands increase, additional Gigabit Ethernet modules can be added to the Nexus 7000 chassis without disrupting existing services. This modular scalability allows incremental investment aligned with business needs.

The ability to coexist with higher-speed modules ensures that the platform remains relevant as bandwidth requirements evolve.

Long-Term Infrastructure Value

By supporting established Ethernet standards and integrating with a widely deployed switching platform, these modules provide long-term value. Organizations can continue to leverage their Nexus 7000 investment while adapting to changing application and traffic patterns.

The category emphasizes durability, consistent performance, and compatibility, making it suitable for mission-critical network deployments that require stability over extended lifecycles.

Use Cases Across Enterprise and Data Center Environments

Enterprise Core and Aggregation Layers

In enterprise networks, the Cisco Nexus 7000 Gigabit Ethernet switch module category is well-suited for core and aggregation roles where large numbers of access switches converge. High port density and robust switching features ensure reliable connectivity and efficient traffic aggregation.

Data Center Access and Management Networks

Within data centers, these modules are often used for access-layer connectivity to servers, out-of-band management networks, and infrastructure services. The combination of performance, manageability, and security makes them a dependable choice for supporting critical data center operations.

Compatibility with Virtualized and Hybrid Environments

As data centers adopt virtualization and hybrid architectures, Gigabit Ethernet connectivity remains important for management planes, legacy systems, and specialized workloads. This category supports seamless integration into such environments, ensuring consistent network behavior across physical and virtual resources.

Optimized for Mixed-Speed Network Architectures

By enabling 1G connectivity alongside higher-speed links within the same chassis, the category supports mixed-speed architectures that balance cost, performance, and scalability. This approach allows organizations to optimize network design without compromising operational efficiency.