N6K-C6004-96Q Cisco Nexus 6004 Managed Switch, 48 Ports

Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q Nexus 6004 Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco Nexus 6004 from the Nexus 6000 family is designed for high-density data center networking, delivering scalable Layer 3 switching with exceptional throughput. Built to support demanding enterprise and cloud environments, this managed switch ensures consistent performance, operational flexibility, and long-term reliability.

Core Product Identification

• Brand: Cisco
• SKU / Part Number: N6K-C6004-96Q
• Product Line: Nexus
• Series: 6000
• Model: 6004
• Device Category: Managed Network Switch

Advanced Switching Architecture

Layer-Based Networking Capabilities

• Engineered as a Layer 3 switch for efficient routing and traffic control
• Supports Layer 4 features for enhanced traffic awareness
• Optimized for modern data center and enterprise backbone deployments

High-Speed Ethernet Performance

• Compatible with 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology
• Configured for ultra-fast data transmission across enterprise networks
• Designed to minimize latency while maintaining high availability

Interface and Port Configuration

Network Port Density

• Total Ports: 48 high-capacity network interfaces
• Connector Type: RJ-45
• Port Layout: 48 × 40 Gigabit Ethernet connections

Scalability Through Modular Expansion

• Expansion Slots: 4 modular line card slots
• Allows flexible upgrades as network demands increase
• Supports customized configurations for evolving infrastructures

Network Management and Control

Comprehensive Manageability

• Fully manageable switch for centralized network administration
• Ideal for environments requiring precise traffic monitoring and control
• Supports enterprise-grade network policies and configurations

Optimized for Mission-Critical Operations

• Built to handle intensive workloads in data centers
• Ensures consistent uptime and predictable performance

Power and Electrical Specifications

Flexible Power Input Options

• Supports 110V AC and 220V AC input voltages
• Designed for global deployment scenarios
• PoE Support: Not available

Redundancy and Reliability

• Includes multiple power supplies for enhanced fault tolerance
• Engineered to reduce downtime in enterprise networks

Included Components

What’s in the Package

• Cisco Nexus 6004 Layer 3 Switch chassis
• 6 × Power Supply units
• 4 × Cooling fans

Environmental and Compliance Standards

Eco-Friendly Design

• Manufactured in compliance with RoHS-6 standards
• Classified as Green Compliant
• Supports sustainable IT infrastructure initiatives

Cisco Nexus 6000 Series Managed Switching Architecture

The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q Nexus 6004 Managed Switch belongs to the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series, a family of data center–class switches designed to deliver high-density, low-latency, and highly scalable Ethernet switching for modern enterprise, service provider, and cloud environments. This category of managed switches is engineered to support evolving application workloads, virtualization-heavy architectures, and east-west traffic patterns that dominate contemporary data centers. The Nexus 6000 Series focuses on providing predictable performance, operational simplicity, and seamless integration with Cisco’s broader data center ecosystem.

Within this category, the Nexus 6004 platform stands out for its compact modular design, delivering exceptional port density and throughput in a relatively small footprint. The managed nature of these switches enables advanced configuration, monitoring, automation, and security capabilities that are essential for organizations operating mission-critical networks. By combining hardware-based forwarding with sophisticated software intelligence, Cisco Nexus 6000 Series switches address the requirements of high-performance computing, large-scale virtualization, and multi-tenant data center designs.

Role of the Nexus 6004 in High-Density Switching Environments

The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q Nexus 6004 Managed Switch is purpose-built to address environments where port density and bandwidth aggregation are critical. This category of switches supports scenarios such as top-of-rack aggregation, spine-layer deployment, and high-speed interconnects between compute clusters. The architecture is optimized to handle massive volumes of traffic with consistent latency, making it suitable for workloads that demand deterministic network behavior.

By integrating advanced switching silicon with Cisco’s NX-OS operating system, the Nexus 6004 category ensures that administrators can deploy, scale, and manage network infrastructure with confidence. The platform supports modern networking paradigms while maintaining compatibility with existing Ethernet standards, allowing gradual upgrades and mixed-speed deployments within the same data center fabric.

Managed Switching Capabilities and Operational Control

Managed switches in the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series category provide extensive control over network behavior, traffic flows, and security policies. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q exemplifies this approach by offering granular configuration options that allow administrators to tailor the network to specific application and business requirements. These capabilities go far beyond basic connectivity, enabling intelligent traffic handling and proactive network management.

Operational visibility is a defining characteristic of this category. Network teams gain access to real-time statistics, historical performance data, and detailed telemetry, allowing them to identify bottlenecks, troubleshoot issues, and plan capacity expansions effectively. The managed nature of the switch ensures that performance optimization and fault resolution can be performed without disrupting critical services.

Advanced Configuration and Policy Enforcement

The Cisco Nexus 6004 Managed Switch category supports sophisticated configuration models that enable consistent policy enforcement across the data center. Administrators can define traffic classes, quality-of-service parameters, and access controls that align with organizational priorities. This level of configurability ensures that latency-sensitive applications receive preferential treatment while less critical traffic is handled efficiently.

Policy-based management also simplifies operations by reducing manual intervention and minimizing configuration errors. Through centralized control mechanisms, changes can be applied uniformly across multiple switches, ensuring predictable behavior and compliance with internal standards. This approach is particularly valuable in large-scale environments where consistency and repeatability are essential.

Automation and Programmability Features

The managed switch category represented by the Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q emphasizes automation and programmability as core design principles. Support for modern automation frameworks and APIs allows network teams to integrate switching infrastructure into broader IT orchestration workflows. This capability reduces operational overhead and accelerates deployment cycles for new applications and services.

Programmability also enhances network agility by enabling dynamic adjustments to traffic patterns and resource allocation. As workloads shift or demand fluctuates, automated processes can respond in real time, ensuring optimal utilization of network resources without manual reconfiguration.

High-Performance Ethernet Switching and Throughput

Performance is a cornerstone of the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series managed switch category. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q is engineered to deliver line-rate forwarding across all supported ports, ensuring that bandwidth-intensive applications operate without congestion. This capability is critical in data centers where large volumes of data move between servers, storage systems, and external networks.

The switch architecture is designed to minimize latency while maintaining high throughput, making it suitable for applications such as real-time analytics, financial trading platforms, and large-scale virtualization. By leveraging hardware-based forwarding and optimized internal fabrics, the Nexus 6004 category provides consistent performance even under peak load conditions.

Scalable Bandwidth for Growing Data Centers

Scalability is a defining feature of this managed switch category. The Cisco Nexus 6004 platform supports incremental expansion, allowing organizations to add capacity as requirements evolve. This scalability ensures that investments in network infrastructure remain viable over time, accommodating new technologies and increasing traffic demands.

High-speed Ethernet support enables seamless integration with modern servers and storage arrays, ensuring that the network does not become a bottleneck as compute and storage performance continues to improve. This forward-looking design aligns with long-term data center growth strategies.

Low-Latency Design Principles

The low-latency characteristics of the Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q managed switch category are achieved through efficient packet processing and optimized internal pathways. This design minimizes delay and jitter, which are critical factors for latency-sensitive workloads. By maintaining predictable performance, the switch supports applications that require tight synchronization and real-time responsiveness.

Consistent latency across ports also simplifies application design and performance tuning, allowing developers and operators to rely on stable network behavior when deploying distributed systems.

Reliability, Redundancy, and High Availability

Reliability is a fundamental requirement for data center networking, and the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series managed switch category is engineered to deliver high availability. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q incorporates design elements that reduce the risk of downtime and ensure continuous operation even in the face of component failures.

This category supports redundant power supplies, cooling systems, and modular components, enabling maintenance and upgrades without interrupting network services. Such resilience is essential for organizations that operate around the clock and cannot tolerate unplanned outages.

Non-Disruptive Maintenance and Upgrades

Managed switches in this category are designed to support non-disruptive software upgrades and hardware servicing. The Cisco Nexus 6004 platform enables administrators to apply updates and perform maintenance tasks while keeping critical traffic flowing. This capability reduces operational risk and supports continuous improvement of the network environment.

By minimizing downtime during maintenance windows, organizations can maintain service-level agreements and deliver consistent performance to end users and applications.

Fault Detection and Recovery Mechanisms

Advanced monitoring and fault detection features are integral to the Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q managed switch category. The system continuously monitors hardware health, link status, and traffic patterns to identify potential issues before they impact operations. Automated recovery mechanisms help restore normal function quickly, reducing the need for manual intervention.

This proactive approach to reliability enhances overall network stability and allows IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than reactive troubleshooting.

Integration with Data Center Fabrics and Architectures

The Cisco Nexus 6000 Series managed switch category is designed to integrate seamlessly into a wide range of data center architectures. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q supports deployment models such as spine-and-leaf fabrics, traditional three-tier designs, and hybrid architectures. This flexibility allows organizations to align their network topology with application requirements and operational preferences.

Integration with Cisco’s broader ecosystem ensures compatibility with complementary technologies, enabling unified management and consistent policy enforcement across the data center.

Support for Virtualization and Cloud Workloads

Virtualization is a key driver of modern data center design, and the Cisco Nexus 6004 managed switch category is optimized to support highly virtualized environments. The platform provides features that enhance visibility and control over virtual machine traffic, ensuring efficient utilization of network resources.

By supporting dynamic workloads and rapid provisioning, the switch category enables organizations to adopt private, hybrid, or multi-cloud strategies without compromising performance or security.

Multi-Tenant and Segmentation Capabilities

Segmentation is essential in environments that host multiple applications, departments, or customers on shared infrastructure. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q managed switch category supports advanced segmentation mechanisms that isolate traffic while maintaining high performance. This capability enhances security and simplifies compliance with regulatory requirements.

Effective segmentation also improves operational efficiency by allowing different teams or tenants to operate independently within the same physical network.

Security Features and Network Protection

Security is deeply embedded in the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series managed switch category. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q provides robust mechanisms to protect data and infrastructure from unauthorized access and malicious activity. These features are essential in data centers where sensitive information and critical applications reside.

By integrating security controls directly into the switching fabric, the platform reduces reliance on external appliances and simplifies overall security architecture.

Access Control and Traffic Monitoring

Managed switches in this category offer fine-grained access control capabilities that regulate who and what can connect to the network. The Cisco Nexus 6004 platform enables administrators to define policies that restrict access based on device, user, or application characteristics. Continuous traffic monitoring provides visibility into network behavior, helping identify anomalies and potential threats.

This layered approach to security ensures that the network remains resilient against both internal and external risks.

Compliance and Audit Support

Organizations operating in regulated industries benefit from the compliance and audit features available in the Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q managed switch category. Detailed logging and reporting capabilities provide the documentation needed to demonstrate adherence to industry standards and internal policies. These features simplify audits and support ongoing governance efforts.

By maintaining comprehensive records of network activity and configuration changes, the switch category enhances transparency and accountability.

Energy Efficiency and Data Center Optimization

Energy efficiency is an increasingly important consideration in data center operations, and the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series managed switch category addresses this need through intelligent power management and efficient hardware design. The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q is engineered to deliver high performance while minimizing power consumption, contributing to lower operational costs.

Optimized airflow and cooling mechanisms further enhance efficiency, supporting sustainable data center practices without compromising reliability or throughput.

Thermal Management and Hardware Design

The physical design of the Cisco Nexus 6004 managed switch category emphasizes effective thermal management. By maintaining optimal operating temperatures, the platform ensures consistent performance and extends hardware lifespan. Efficient cooling reduces the strain on data center HVAC systems, contributing to overall energy savings.

This focus on thermal efficiency aligns with modern data center design principles that prioritize sustainability and cost control.

Long-Term Value and Investment Protection

The Cisco N6K-C6004-96Q managed switch category represents a long-term investment in network infrastructure. Its scalability, programmability, and robust feature set ensure that it remains relevant as technologies evolve. By supporting emerging standards and integrating with future-ready architectures, the platform protects organizational investments and reduces the need for frequent hardware refreshes.

This long-term value proposition makes the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series an attractive choice for organizations seeking reliable, high-performance, and adaptable data center networking solutions.