N3K-C3064PQ-10GX Cisco 48 Ports Managed Switch Layer 3 Nexus 3064-X SFP+ Rack Mountable

Cisco Nexus N3K-C3064PQ-10GX Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco Nexus N3K-C3064PQ-10GX is a high-density, Layer 3 managed switch engineered for modern data centers requiring ultra-low latency, scalability, and advanced traffic control. Built within the Nexus 3000 Series, this rack-mountable solution delivers enterprise-grade reliability with powerful switching performance.

Product Identity and General Details

• Brand: Cisco
• Model / SKU: N3K-C3064PQ-10GX
• Category: Data Center Network Switch
• Switch Type: Fully Managed
• Form Factor: 1U Rack-Mount Design

Port Configuration and Interface Options

High-Speed Network Connectivity

• 48 x SFP+ ports supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• 4 x QSFP+ uplink ports for high-bandwidth aggregation
• Designed for top-of-rack (ToR) deployments

Management and Auxiliary Interfaces

• 1 x RJ-45 console port for local administration
• 2 x RJ-45 1000Base-T management ports
• 1 x USB port for configuration and diagnostics

Switching Performance and Capacity

Throughput and Forwarding Capabilities

• Switching fabric capacity up to 1.28 Tbps
• Optimized for low-latency data center workloads
• Supports jumbo frames up to 9216 bytes

Scalability and Network Expansion

• Up to 4096 VLANs for segmented network design
• MAC address table supporting 128,000 entries
• Handles large-scale virtualized environments efficiently

Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features

Traffic Management and Reliability

• Layer 2 switching with full VLAN tagging support
• Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization
• Broadcast, multicast, and unicast storm suppression
• Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED)

Spanning Tree and Loop Prevention

• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
• Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
• Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+)
• Support for up to 64 MST instances

Security, Authentication, and Encryption

Network Protection and Access Control

• Advanced encryption using AES algorithms
• Authentication via RADIUS, TACACS+, and MS-CHAP
• Secure Shell v2 (SSH2) for encrypted remote access
• DHCP snooping for enhanced endpoint security

Monitoring and Remote Administration

• SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 support
• RMON for traffic monitoring and analysis
• CLI and Telnet-based configuration options
• Syslog integration for event tracking

Standards Compliance and Interoperability

IEEE Protocol Support

• IEEE 802.3z, 802.3ae, and 802.3ad (LACP)
• IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging
• IEEE 802.1p traffic prioritization
• IEEE 802.1w and 802.1s spanning tree standards
• IEEE 802.1AB (LLDP) device discovery

Power Supply and Hardware Resilience

Redundant Power Architecture

• Internal hot-plug power supply design
• Supports up to two power supply units
• Optional power redundancy for high availability
• Designed for continuous data center operation

Ideal Use Cases

• High-performance data center networks
• Cloud and virtualization infrastructures
• Enterprise core and aggregation layers
• Low-latency financial and storage networks

Enterprise-Class Data Center Switching Architecture

The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX 48 Ports Managed Switch Layer 3 Nexus 3064-X SFP+ Rack Mountable category represents a specialized class of high-density, low-latency data center switches engineered to support modern enterprise, cloud, and service provider network environments. This category focuses on switches designed to deliver predictable performance, scalable Layer 3 routing, and advanced traffic management capabilities within compact rack-mounted form factors. Built for organizations that demand consistent throughput and operational efficiency, this category aligns with evolving data center architectures where virtualization, east-west traffic, and high-speed interconnects dominate network design.

Within this category, the Nexus 3064-X platform exemplifies a switch engineered for environments where reliability, speed, and manageability are essential. These switches are commonly deployed in top-of-rack, aggregation, and spine-leaf architectures, supporting data center fabrics that prioritize high availability and deterministic performance. By integrating advanced switching ASICs, non-blocking architectures, and enterprise-grade software, this category addresses the increasing complexity of data center networking without compromising operational simplicity.

High-Density 48-Port SFP+ Connectivity

The defining characteristic of the Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category is its emphasis on high-density SFP+ connectivity. With forty-eight 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports, switches in this category are designed to support dense server deployments, high-performance storage networks, and inter-switch links that require consistent bandwidth and low latency. This port density allows organizations to consolidate network infrastructure while maintaining flexibility for diverse optical and copper transceiver options.

High-density connectivity within a single rack-mounted unit reduces cabling complexity and optimizes rack space utilization. This is especially valuable in data centers where physical footprint and power efficiency are critical considerations. The category is well suited for environments that require scalable growth, as the availability of multiple high-speed ports enables seamless expansion without extensive hardware replacement.

Support for Diverse Optical and DAC Transceivers

Switches in this category are designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of Cisco-qualified SFP+ transceivers, including short-range, long-range, and direct attach copper options. This compatibility ensures that network architects can design flexible connectivity models that adapt to varying distance, cost, and performance requirements. The ability to mix and match transceivers within the same switch enhances deployment versatility and supports gradual infrastructure upgrades.

The transceiver flexibility also enables optimized network design for both intra-rack and inter-rack communication. Short-range optics can be used for high-density server connections, while longer-range optics support aggregation or spine connectivity across the data center. This adaptability reinforces the category’s role in modern, scalable network topologies.

Layer 3 Switching and Advanced Routing Capabilities

The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category emphasizes full Layer 3 functionality, enabling switches to operate as intelligent routing devices within the network fabric. These switches support advanced IP routing protocols and features that allow efficient traffic segmentation, load balancing, and fault tolerance. Layer 3 switching capability is essential for reducing broadcast domains, improving convergence times, and enhancing overall network stability.

By integrating Layer 3 features directly into the switch hardware, this category eliminates the need for separate routing devices in many deployment scenarios. This consolidation simplifies network architecture, reduces latency, and lowers operational costs. Enterprises benefit from faster packet forwarding and more granular control over traffic flows, particularly in environments with high east-west traffic patterns.

Support for Modern Data Center Routing Protocols

Switches in this category are designed to support commonly used data center routing protocols that enable scalable and resilient network designs. These protocols facilitate rapid convergence and efficient path selection, ensuring minimal disruption during topology changes or link failures. The ability to integrate seamlessly into existing routing domains makes this category suitable for both new deployments and network upgrades.

Advanced routing capabilities also support network segmentation strategies that enhance security and performance. By enabling multiple virtual routing instances and policy-based routing, this category allows organizations to tailor network behavior to specific application requirements while maintaining centralized control.

Hardware-Based Forwarding for Consistent Performance

A key advantage of the Cisco Nexus 3064-X category is its reliance on hardware-based forwarding mechanisms. Traffic is processed at line rate using dedicated switching ASICs, ensuring consistent low latency even under heavy load. This design is particularly important for latency-sensitive applications such as high-frequency trading, real-time analytics, and virtualized workloads.

Hardware-based forwarding also enhances predictability, allowing network administrators to design infrastructures with confidence in performance outcomes. This predictability is essential for meeting service-level agreements and supporting mission-critical applications.

Low-Latency Design for Performance-Critical Environments

The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category is optimized for ultra-low latency operation, making it a preferred choice for performance-critical data center environments. Low-latency switching is achieved through streamlined packet processing pipelines, minimal buffering, and efficient hardware architecture. This design philosophy ensures that data packets traverse the network with minimal delay, improving application responsiveness and user experience.

Low latency is particularly important in environments where milliseconds can impact business outcomes. Financial services, scientific research, and real-time communication platforms benefit from the consistent and predictable performance delivered by this category of switches.

Non-Blocking Switching Fabric Architecture

The non-blocking architecture featured in this category ensures that all ports can operate at full line rate simultaneously without congestion. This capability is essential for maintaining consistent performance in high-density deployments where multiple devices generate traffic concurrently. The non-blocking design eliminates internal bottlenecks and supports balanced traffic distribution across the network.

By maintaining full throughput under peak load conditions, switches in this category enable reliable scaling as network demand grows. Organizations can add new servers or applications without worrying about performance degradation caused by internal switch limitations.

Optimized Buffer Management

Effective buffer management plays a critical role in maintaining low latency and minimizing packet loss. Switches in the Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category incorporate intelligent buffering strategies that balance throughput and responsiveness. These mechanisms help absorb traffic bursts while preventing excessive queuing delays.

Optimized buffer management is especially beneficial in mixed workload environments where traffic patterns can vary significantly. By adapting to changing conditions, the switch maintains consistent performance across diverse application profiles.

Rack-Mountable Form Factor and Data Center Integration

The rack-mountable design of the Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category ensures seamless integration into standard data center racks. This form factor supports efficient use of space and simplifies installation, maintenance, and cable management. Compact yet powerful, these switches are engineered to deliver enterprise-grade performance within a manageable physical footprint.

Rack-mountable switches are essential for modern data centers that prioritize modularity and scalability. The ability to deploy high-performance networking equipment within existing rack infrastructure reduces deployment time and operational complexity.

Optimized Airflow and Thermal Management

Thermal efficiency is a critical consideration in dense data center environments. Switches in this category are designed with optimized airflow patterns that support front-to-back or back-to-front cooling, depending on configuration. This flexibility allows alignment with data center cooling strategies and helps maintain optimal operating temperatures.

Efficient thermal management contributes to hardware longevity and reduces the risk of performance degradation caused by overheating. By maintaining stable operating conditions, this category supports continuous, reliable operation in demanding environments.

Redundant Power Supply Support

High availability is a core requirement for enterprise networking, and the Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category addresses this through support for redundant power supplies. Redundancy ensures that the switch remains operational even in the event of a power supply failure, minimizing downtime and maintaining network continuity.

This feature is particularly valuable in mission-critical deployments where network availability directly impacts business operations. Redundant power options enhance resilience and align with best practices for data center design.

Advanced Management and Automation Capabilities

Effective network management is essential for maintaining performance, security, and scalability. The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category incorporates advanced management features that enable centralized control, monitoring, and automation. These capabilities simplify day-to-day operations and support proactive network maintenance.

By leveraging industry-standard management interfaces and Cisco’s robust software ecosystem, this category enables seamless integration with existing network management tools. Administrators can gain visibility into network performance, configure policies, and automate routine tasks to improve efficiency.

Support for Cisco NX-OS Software

Switches in this category operate on Cisco NX-OS, a data center–optimized operating system designed for scalability and resilience. NX-OS provides a consistent command-line interface, advanced automation support, and robust feature sets that enhance network reliability. Its modular architecture supports continuous operation and simplifies software updates.

The use of NX-OS ensures that switches in this category align with Cisco’s broader data center portfolio, enabling consistent operational practices across the network. This consistency reduces training requirements and accelerates troubleshooting.

Programmability and API Integration

Modern data centers increasingly rely on automation and programmability to manage complexity. The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category supports programmable interfaces and APIs that enable integration with orchestration platforms and custom management solutions. This capability allows organizations to implement infrastructure-as-code practices and streamline network provisioning.

Programmability enhances agility by enabling rapid configuration changes and automated responses to network events. As a result, this category supports dynamic, application-driven network environments that adapt to changing business needs.

Use Cases Across Enterprise and Cloud Environments

The Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category is versatile enough to support a wide range of deployment scenarios. From enterprise data centers to cloud service provider environments, these switches deliver the performance and reliability required for modern workloads. Their combination of high port density, Layer 3 functionality, and low latency makes them suitable for diverse applications.

Organizations deploying virtualization platforms, containerized applications, and distributed storage systems benefit from the predictable performance and scalability offered by this category. The ability to handle high east-west traffic efficiently supports modern application architectures that rely on frequent inter-service communication.

Top-of-Rack and Spine-Leaf Deployments

In top-of-rack deployments, switches in this category provide high-speed connectivity for servers within a rack while aggregating traffic efficiently. In spine-leaf architectures, they function as leaf or spine nodes, enabling scalable, resilient network fabrics. Their consistent performance characteristics support balanced traffic distribution across the fabric.

The flexibility to operate in multiple roles within the data center architecture enhances the value of this category. Network designers can standardize on a common platform, simplifying inventory management and operational processes.

Support for Virtualized and Bare-Metal Workloads

Whether supporting virtualized environments or bare-metal servers, the Cisco N3K-C3064PQ-10GX category delivers the performance and reliability required for diverse workloads. Features such as VLAN segmentation, routing capabilities, and quality of service controls enable tailored network behavior for different application types.

This adaptability ensures that organizations can support current workloads while remaining prepared for future technology shifts. By investing in this category, enterprises gain a robust networking foundation capable of evolving alongside their business requirements.