N3K-C3048-FA-L3 Cisco Nexus 3048 Standard Airflow 48 Ports Managed Switch

Cisco Nexus N3K-C3048-FA-L3 Managed Switch Overview

The Cisco Nexus N3K-C3048-FA-L3 is a high-performance Layer 3 switch engineered for modern data center and enterprise network environments. Built to deliver low latency, consistent throughput, and advanced traffic control, this 48-port managed switch supports scalable network designs while maintaining operational efficiency.

Core Product Details

• Brand: Cisco
• Model / SKU: N3K-C3048-FA-L3
• Device Category: Managed Network Switch
• Switch Type: Fixed configuration
• Layer Capability: Layer 3 routing support

Port Configuration and Connectivity

Designed to handle high-density networking, this Cisco Nexus switch offers extensive port availability for servers, storage systems, and uplink connections.

Standard Network Ports

• 48 × Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Supports 10/100/1000Base-T connectivity
• Optimized for twisted-pair cabling

High-Speed Uplink Options

• 4 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports
• Dedicated SFP+ expansion slots
• Ideal for backbone or aggregation links

Media and Ethernet Performance

The N3K-C3048-FA-L3 supports multiple Ethernet standards, enabling seamless integration into existing infrastructures while ensuring forward compatibility.

Supported Network Technologies

• Gigabit Ethernet for access-layer devices
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet for high-bandwidth uplinks
• 10GBase-X fiber connectivity via SFP+

Expansion Slot Architecture

This switch includes fixed SFP+ expansion capacity, allowing stable and predictable performance without shared slot limitations.

• Total expansion slots: 4
• Slot type: SFP+
• No shared SFP configuration

Network Management and Control

Advanced management features enable precise monitoring, configuration, and optimization of network traffic across connected devices.

• Fully manageable switch platform
• Supports Layer 3 routing protocols
• Designed for enterprise-grade network control

Power Supply and Reliability

To ensure continuous operation, the Cisco Nexus 3048 series incorporates redundant power capabilities suited for mission-critical environments.

• Primary power source: Internal power supply
• Redundant power supply support for high availability

Physical Design and Installation

The compact and durable chassis allows efficient rack deployment in space-conscious data centers.

Chassis Specifications

• Rack unit compatibility: 1U
• Mounting style: Rack-mountable
• Form factor optimized for airflow efficiency

Dimensions and Weight

• Height: 1.7 inches
• Width: 17.3 inches
• Depth: 19.7 inches
• Approximate weight: 20.50 lb

Environmental and Compliance Standards

Manufactured with sustainability and compliance in mind, this Cisco managed switch aligns with global environmental standards.

• Environmentally responsible design
• RoHS-5 certified
• Suitable for eco-conscious IT deployments

Enterprise-Class Data Center Switching Architecture

The Cisco N3K-C3048-FA-L3 Nexus 3048 Standard Airflow 48 Ports Managed Switch represents a core category within enterprise-grade data center switching solutions designed for high-density, low-latency, and highly resilient network environments. This category focuses on compact yet powerful Layer 3 managed switches that are optimized for modern data center topologies, including leaf-and-spine architectures, high-performance computing clusters, and virtualization-heavy enterprise infrastructures. The Nexus 3000 series is widely recognized for its balance between performance efficiency, operational simplicity, and scalability, making it a preferred choice for organizations seeking predictable networking behavior and deterministic performance.

Within this category, switches such as the Nexus 3048 are engineered to deliver ultra-low latency and consistent throughput across all ports, ensuring that east-west traffic within the data center flows without congestion or bottlenecks. The emphasis is placed on wire-speed forwarding, non-blocking architectures, and advanced buffering mechanisms that support demanding workloads such as big data analytics, real-time financial transactions, and large-scale virtual machine deployments. By integrating robust Layer 3 capabilities, this category enables seamless routing, segmentation, and policy enforcement at the access and aggregation layers of the network.

Design Philosophy and Hardware Efficiency

The design philosophy of the Cisco Nexus 3048 switching category centers on maximizing port density while minimizing power consumption and physical footprint. The compact form factor allows deployment in space-constrained racks while still providing 48 high-performance ports capable of handling intense traffic loads. Standard airflow design ensures predictable cooling patterns that align with common data center layouts, supporting front-to-back or back-to-front airflow strategies depending on deployment requirements.

Hardware efficiency is achieved through purpose-built ASICs that are optimized for deterministic latency and consistent packet forwarding. These ASICs enable the switch to maintain performance even under peak load conditions, which is critical for latency-sensitive applications. The category is also characterized by redundant power and cooling options that enhance availability and reduce the risk of downtime, ensuring that mission-critical services remain accessible.

Port Density and High-Speed Connectivity

High port density is a defining attribute of this category, allowing organizations to connect a large number of servers, storage systems, or upstream switches without requiring additional aggregation layers. The 48-port configuration supports scalable network designs where growth can be accommodated without significant re-architecture. This approach simplifies cabling, reduces latency by minimizing hop counts, and lowers overall infrastructure costs.

High-speed connectivity options within this category are designed to support modern workloads that demand fast data transfer rates and low jitter. The Nexus 3048 series supports advanced queuing and traffic management features that ensure fair bandwidth distribution and consistent performance across all connected devices. This makes the category suitable for environments where predictable application behavior is a top priority.

Layer 3 Switching and Advanced Routing Capabilities

The category encompassing the Cisco N3K-C3048-FA-L3 Nexus 3048 emphasizes full Layer 3 switching functionality, enabling organizations to deploy routing intelligence closer to the server edge. This approach reduces reliance on centralized routing devices and improves overall network efficiency. Advanced routing protocols are supported to ensure seamless integration into existing network infrastructures and to enable scalable, resilient designs.

Layer 3 features within this category allow for granular traffic segmentation, improved security policies, and optimized path selection. By supporting dynamic routing protocols and equal-cost multipath routing, these switches enable load balancing across multiple paths, ensuring optimal utilization of network resources. This capability is particularly valuable in leaf-and-spine architectures where traffic patterns are highly dynamic and east-west communication dominates.

Network Segmentation and Virtualization Support

Network segmentation is a core capability of this category, allowing administrators to logically separate traffic flows for security, performance, and compliance purposes. Virtual LANs, virtual routing instances, and policy-based routing mechanisms enable fine-grained control over how traffic is handled within the data center. This level of control is essential for multi-tenant environments, private clouds, and hybrid deployments.

Virtualization support is deeply integrated into the design of the Nexus 3048 category, ensuring compatibility with hypervisors and orchestration platforms. The switch can efficiently handle traffic generated by virtual machines and containers, providing consistent performance even as workloads move dynamically across hosts. This makes the category well-suited for software-defined data center initiatives where automation and agility are key objectives.

Routing Protocol Integration

Seamless integration with standard routing protocols ensures that switches in this category can participate in complex network topologies without introducing interoperability issues. Support for interior and exterior gateway protocols enables flexible deployment scenarios, from isolated data center fabrics to interconnected multi-site environments. This flexibility allows organizations to standardize on a single switching platform across different layers of the network.

The ability to maintain stable routing tables and rapidly converge after topology changes enhances network resilience. In high-availability environments, fast convergence times are critical to minimizing service disruptions and maintaining application performance. This category addresses these requirements through optimized control plane processing and efficient route update mechanisms.

Operational Simplicity and Management Efficiency

Operational simplicity is a defining characteristic of the Cisco Nexus 3048 switching category. The management model is designed to reduce complexity while providing deep visibility into network performance and health. Centralized management tools and intuitive command-line interfaces allow network administrators to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the infrastructure with confidence.

Automation capabilities further enhance management efficiency by enabling repeatable configurations and rapid deployment. Support for scripting and programmable interfaces allows integration with orchestration frameworks, reducing manual intervention and the risk of configuration errors. This approach aligns with modern DevOps practices and supports continuous deployment models.

Monitoring, Telemetry, and Diagnostics

Comprehensive monitoring and telemetry features are integral to this category, providing real-time insights into traffic patterns, latency metrics, and resource utilization. These capabilities enable proactive network management by allowing administrators to identify potential issues before they impact end users. Detailed diagnostics and logging support rapid root cause analysis, reducing mean time to resolution.

The ability to collect and analyze performance data at granular levels supports capacity planning and optimization efforts. Organizations can use this information to make informed decisions about scaling the network, upgrading links, or redistributing workloads. This data-driven approach enhances the long-term efficiency and reliability of the data center.

Software Stability and Lifecycle Management

Software stability is a critical aspect of the Nexus 3048 category, with a focus on delivering predictable behavior and long-term support. Regular updates and maintenance releases ensure that the platform remains secure and compatible with evolving technologies. Lifecycle management tools simplify the process of upgrading software while minimizing downtime.

The category supports features that enable in-service software upgrades, allowing organizations to apply updates without disrupting active traffic. This capability is particularly valuable in environments that require continuous availability and cannot tolerate maintenance windows. By reducing operational risk, the category supports business continuity objectives.

Scalability and Future-Ready Networking

Scalability is a foundational principle of the Cisco N3K-C3048-FA-L3 Nexus 3048 switching category. The platform is designed to grow alongside organizational needs, supporting incremental expansion without requiring wholesale infrastructure changes. This scalability ensures that investments made today continue to deliver value as workloads evolve and data volumes increase.

Future-ready networking capabilities are embedded in the architecture, enabling support for emerging technologies and deployment models. The category is well-positioned to accommodate trends such as increased east-west traffic, higher server densities, and the adoption of cloud-native applications. By providing a flexible and adaptable foundation, the category helps organizations prepare for long-term growth.

Integration with Modern Data Center Fabrics

The Nexus 3048 category integrates seamlessly with modern data center fabric designs, supporting both traditional and software-defined networking approaches. Compatibility with fabric technologies allows organizations to implement highly resilient, scalable topologies that simplify management and enhance performance. This integration reduces the complexity of deploying and maintaining large-scale networks.

Interoperability with other Cisco platforms ensures consistent policy enforcement and unified management across the data center. This holistic approach simplifies operations and enhances visibility, enabling administrators to manage the network as a cohesive system rather than a collection of isolated devices.

Investment Protection and Long-Term Value

Investment protection is a key consideration within this category, as organizations seek solutions that deliver sustained value over time. The robust hardware design, combined with ongoing software support, ensures that the Nexus 3048 remains relevant even as requirements change. This longevity reduces total cost of ownership and supports strategic planning.

By choosing a switch within this category, organizations gain access to a mature ecosystem of tools, support resources, and integration options. This ecosystem enhances the overall value proposition and ensures that the network can adapt to future challenges without requiring disruptive replacements.

Use Cases Across Industries

The Cisco Nexus 3048 switching category is applicable across a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, education, and technology services. In financial environments, the low-latency characteristics support high-frequency trading and real-time analytics. In healthcare and research institutions, the reliable performance enables large-scale data processing and secure information exchange.

Technology service providers and enterprises benefit from the category’s ability to support multi-tenant architectures and cloud integrations. The flexibility and performance characteristics make it suitable for both private and hybrid cloud deployments, ensuring consistent user experiences regardless of workload location.