N5K-UCS5548UP-FA Cisco 33 Ports Switch

Enterprise-Class Switching Overview

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA is engineered for data center environments that demand stable throughput, advanced traffic handling, and centralized control. Built for consistent performance, this manageable switch supports high-density connectivity while maintaining a compact rack footprint.

Product Identity and Classification

• Brand: Cisco
• Model Reference: N5K-UCS5548UP-FA
• Device Category: Network Switch
• Port Configuration: 33-port architecture

Interface and Port Configuration

Connectivity Capabilities

• Total expansion interfaces: 33
• High-speed SFP+ connectivity for scalable networking
• Designed without uplink or stacking ports for simplified deployment

SFP+ Slot Distribution

• Dedicated SFP+ ports: 32
• No shared SFP slots, ensuring consistent bandwidth allocation

Media Support and Performance Metrics

Transmission Standards

• Supported cabling: Twisted Pair
• Optimized for 10 Gigabit Ethernet environments

Traffic Handling Efficiency

The switch is tailored to handle intensive data flows, making it suitable for virtualization, storage networking, and enterprise backbone connections.

Networking and Layer Support

Advanced Communication Layer

• Operates at Layer 3 for enhanced routing and network segmentation
• Ideal for complex infrastructures requiring intelligent traffic control

Management and Control Features

Administrative Flexibility

• Fully manageable for remote monitoring and configuration
• Supports streamlined network administration workflows

Power Architecture and Reliability

Power Supply Design

• Primary power source: Integrated power supply
• Redundant power supply capability for improved uptime

Physical Design and Rack Compatibility

Form Factor Details

• Rack-mountable construction
• Compatible with standard 1U rack spaces

Dimensions and Weight

• Height: 1.7 inches
• Width: 17.3 inches
• Depth: 29.5 inches
• Approximate weight: 35 lb

Environmental and Compliance Standards

Sustainability Attributes

• Manufactured with environmentally responsible materials
• Complies with RoHS-6 environmental certification

Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch Category

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category represents a highly specialized class of data center networking hardware engineered to deliver unified fabric connectivity, low latency switching, and enterprise-grade manageability. Designed for modern data centers and Cisco Unified Computing System environments, this category focuses on switches that seamlessly integrate LAN, SAN, and unified fabric architectures into a single, scalable switching platform. The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA stands out within this category due to its performance-centric design, flexible port architecture, and advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities that support demanding virtualization, cloud, and mission-critical workloads.

Switches within this category are built to address the evolving requirements of data-intensive enterprises where bandwidth efficiency, deterministic performance, and simplified management are essential. The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category emphasizes reliability and scalability, enabling organizations to deploy resilient network infrastructures that support rapid application growth, virtualization density, and unified storage access without compromising performance or availability.

Unified Fabric Architecture and Design Philosophy

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA category is rooted in Cisco’s unified fabric design philosophy, which consolidates Ethernet and storage traffic onto a single, high-performance switching platform. This approach reduces network complexity while improving operational efficiency by eliminating the need for separate LAN and SAN infrastructures. The 33-port architecture is engineered to support multiple connectivity options, allowing enterprises to adapt their networking strategy as workloads evolve.

Unified fabric capability within this category enables seamless support for Fibre Channel over Ethernet, traditional Ethernet traffic, and converged workloads. This design is particularly beneficial for organizations implementing virtualization platforms, private cloud environments, or hyperconverged infrastructures, where predictable latency and consistent throughput are critical for application performance.

Low-Latency Switching Performance

Low-latency performance is a defining characteristic of the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category. These switches are optimized for environments where microsecond-level latency can have a direct impact on application responsiveness and transaction processing. The architecture supports cut-through switching, advanced buffering mechanisms, and intelligent traffic handling to ensure minimal delay even under high load conditions.

This performance focus makes the category ideal for financial services platforms, real-time analytics, database clusters, and enterprise virtualization environments. By minimizing latency and packet loss, the switches help ensure consistent application behavior and reliable data delivery across the network.

High Bandwidth Density and Port Flexibility

The 33-port configuration within this category provides a balance between port density and bandwidth scalability. Designed to accommodate high-speed connections, the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA supports flexible port usage that allows enterprises to scale connectivity without replacing core infrastructure. This adaptability is essential in environments where network requirements change rapidly due to business growth or digital transformation initiatives.

Port flexibility enables organizations to support multiple connection types and speeds, making the category suitable for mixed workloads and transitional network architectures. This ensures long-term value and investment protection while maintaining compatibility with existing network components.

Advanced Manageability and Control Features

Manageability is a core focus of the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category. These switches are designed to simplify network administration while providing granular control over traffic flows, security policies, and performance monitoring. Centralized management capabilities allow administrators to efficiently configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the network from a unified interface.

The category emphasizes automation-friendly features that reduce operational overhead and human error. By supporting policy-driven configurations and consistent management frameworks, these switches enable IT teams to deploy and maintain complex network environments with confidence.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Capabilities

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA category includes robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching features that support advanced networking topologies. Layer 2 functionality ensures efficient VLAN segmentation, loop prevention, and traffic isolation, which are critical for multi-tenant and virtualized environments. Layer 3 capabilities enhance routing efficiency and enable scalable network designs that support large data center deployments.

These features allow organizations to implement sophisticated network architectures that balance performance, security, and scalability. The integration of Layer 2 and Layer 3 services within a single platform simplifies design and reduces the need for additional networking hardware.

Automation and Policy-Based Management

Automation readiness is a defining aspect of this category. The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA supports policy-based management approaches that streamline configuration and enforcement across the network. This enables consistent application of network policies and reduces the risk of misconfiguration.

Policy-driven automation is particularly valuable in environments with frequent changes, such as cloud infrastructure and DevOps-driven data centers. By enabling rapid provisioning and consistent policy enforcement, the category helps organizations accelerate deployment cycles while maintaining operational stability.

Security and Traffic Segmentation Capabilities

Security is a foundational element of the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category. These switches are designed to support secure data center operations by providing advanced traffic segmentation, access control, and monitoring capabilities. This ensures that sensitive data remains protected while enabling efficient network communication.

The category addresses the need for secure multi-tenant environments by enabling granular segmentation of network traffic. This is essential for organizations operating shared infrastructure or supporting multiple business units within a single data center.

Access Control and Network Isolation

Advanced access control mechanisms within this category allow administrators to define and enforce security policies at the network level. By isolating traffic and controlling access to resources, the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA helps prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of lateral movement within the network.

Network isolation capabilities support compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards, making the category suitable for highly regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, and government.

Monitoring and Visibility Enhancements

Enhanced monitoring and visibility features are integral to the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA category. These capabilities provide real-time insights into network performance, traffic patterns, and potential security threats. By offering detailed visibility, the switches enable proactive management and rapid issue resolution.

Comprehensive monitoring supports capacity planning and performance optimization, ensuring that the network continues to meet business demands as workloads evolve.

Integration with Cisco Unified Computing System

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category is specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with Cisco Unified Computing System environments. This integration enables a cohesive infrastructure where compute, storage, and networking components operate as a unified system.

By aligning network functionality with UCS architecture, the category supports streamlined deployment, simplified management, and consistent performance across the data center. This integration is particularly valuable for organizations adopting converged or hyperconverged infrastructure models.

Optimized Support for Virtualization

Virtualization support is a key focus of this category. The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA is engineered to handle high levels of east-west traffic generated by virtual machines and containers. This ensures that virtualized workloads receive consistent performance regardless of scale.

Optimized virtualization support enables organizations to increase server utilization and reduce infrastructure costs while maintaining predictable network performance.

Scalability for Growing Data Centers

Scalability is a defining characteristic of the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA category. These switches are designed to grow alongside the organization, supporting increasing bandwidth demands and expanding workloads without requiring disruptive infrastructure changes.

This scalability ensures that the network remains capable of supporting future technologies and business initiatives, making the category a long-term investment for enterprise data centers.

Reliability, Availability, and Enterprise Readiness

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category is built to deliver enterprise-grade reliability and availability. Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments, these switches support features that minimize downtime and ensure consistent network access.

High availability mechanisms and resilient design principles ensure that critical applications remain accessible even during maintenance or component failures.

Redundancy and Fault Tolerance

Redundancy is a core design principle within this category. The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA supports features that enable fault tolerance and rapid recovery from hardware or network failures. This ensures uninterrupted service delivery and protects business continuity.

Fault-tolerant design is essential for organizations that rely on always-on applications and cannot afford network outages.

Enterprise Deployment Scenarios

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category is suitable for a wide range of enterprise deployment scenarios, including core data center switching, aggregation layers, and unified fabric environments. Its versatility makes it an ideal choice for organizations seeking a high-performance, manageable, and scalable networking solution.

By supporting diverse workloads and deployment models, this category enables enterprises to build robust network infrastructures that align with current and future business requirements.

Long-Term Value and Investment Protection

The Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA category emphasizes long-term value through its flexible design, advanced feature set, and integration capabilities. Organizations investing in this category benefit from a networking platform that adapts to changing technology trends while maintaining consistent performance.

Investment protection is achieved through scalability, compatibility, and support for emerging networking standards. This ensures that the Cisco N5K-UCS5548UP-FA 33 Ports Manageable Switch category remains relevant and valuable throughout the lifecycle of the data center infrastructure.