N6004EF-4FEX-1G Cisco Switch Chassis

Cisco Nexus N6004EF-4FEX-1G Switch Chassis Overview

The Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G is an enterprise-grade switch chassis engineered for scalable data center networking. Built under the Nexus 6000 family, this chassis delivers flexible expansion, advanced management, and reliable Layer 3 capabilities for modern infrastructures.

Manufacturer and Product Identification

• Brand: Cisco
• SKU / Part Number: N6004EF-4FEX-1G
• Category: Network Switch
• Form Factor: Modular Chassis

Nexus 6000 Series Architecture

Designed as part of the Cisco Nexus portfolio, the 6000 Series emphasizes low latency, high throughput, and modular adaptability. This chassis-based platform supports evolving network demands without compromising performance.

Product Line Classification

• Product Line: Cisco Nexus
• Series Group: 6000 Series
• Intended Use: Data center aggregation and core networking

Chassis Design and Model Specifications

Model Configuration Details

The N6004EF chassis integrates enhanced fabric extender (FEX) connectivity, allowing seamless expansion while maintaining centralized control.

• Model Number: 6004EF
• Chassis Type: Modular Switch Chassis
• Product Naming: N6004 Chassis EF with 4 × 1G FEXe and FETs

Expansion and Scalability Options

This chassis is optimized for growth, enabling organizations to expand port density as network requirements increase.

• Total Expansion Slots: 8
• Slot Compatibility: Line Cards
• Deployment Flexibility: Supports modular upgrades

Networking Capabilities and Performance

Layer Support and Routing Functions

With integrated Layer 3 functionality, the Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G supports advanced routing features suitable for complex enterprise networks.

• Supported Network Layer: Layer 3
• Optimized for high-performance data forwarding

Management and Control Features

Centralized administration simplifies configuration, monitoring, and maintenance across the entire network fabric.

• Manageability: Fully manageable
• Designed for streamlined network operations

Power and Reliability Specifications

Power Supply Configuration

The chassis is equipped with a standard power supply, ensuring consistent operation and dependable uptime in demanding environments.

• Power Source: Standard Power Supply Unit
• Built for continuous enterprise workloads

Enterprise Deployment Advantages

• Modular design supports future-proof networking
• Ideal for scalable data center architectures
• Aligned with Cisco Nexus ecosystem for seamless integration

Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G N6004 Switch Chassis

The Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G N6004 Switch Chassis represents a compact yet powerful switching platform within the Cisco Nexus 6000 Series, engineered to deliver low-latency, high-density, and scalable Ethernet connectivity for modern data center environments. This category of switch chassis is designed to meet the evolving demands of enterprises, cloud providers, and service operators that require predictable performance, operational simplicity, and architectural flexibility. As part of the broader Nexus family, the N6004 chassis emphasizes deterministic forwarding, high availability, and seamless integration into spine-leaf and aggregation layer designs.

The N6004EF-4FEX-1G model specifically supports fabric extender (FEX) architectures, enabling centralized management while extending network reach closer to servers and endpoints. Its chassis-based form factor allows organizations to deploy modular switching solutions that align with space, power, and cooling constraints without compromising throughput or reliability. This category focuses on robust Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, optimized hardware forwarding, and support for advanced data center features that are essential for virtualization, cloud computing, and large-scale application deployments.

Positioning Within Cisco Nexus 6000 Series Switch Chassis Category

Within the Nexus 6000 Series, the N6004 switch chassis category is positioned as a compact, high-performance alternative to larger modular systems while still offering enterprise-grade resilience and scalability. It bridges the gap between fixed-configuration switches and large multi-slot chassis by providing modular flexibility in a smaller footprint. This positioning makes it suitable for access, aggregation, and leaf-layer roles in data center network topologies.

The Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G variant is particularly relevant in environments where fabric extender technology is leveraged to simplify network operations. By consolidating control planes and policies on the parent switch chassis, organizations can reduce management overhead while maintaining consistent configurations across multiple access points. This category is therefore aligned with operational efficiency, reduced total cost of ownership, and streamlined network design principles.

Chassis Design, Form Factor, and Physical Characteristics

The Cisco N6004 switch chassis category is defined by its compact, rack-mountable design that supports high port density in a limited space. The chassis is engineered to fit standard data center racks, making it suitable for deployments where space optimization is critical. Its physical construction emphasizes durability, airflow efficiency, and ease of maintenance, all of which contribute to long-term operational stability.

Hot-swappable components are a core characteristic of this chassis category, enabling maintenance and upgrades without service interruption. Power supplies and cooling modules are designed for redundancy, ensuring continuous operation even in the event of component failure. This physical resilience aligns with the high availability requirements of mission-critical applications and services.

Power and Cooling Architecture in N6004 Chassis Systems

Power and cooling design is a defining aspect of the Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G switch chassis category. Redundant power supply options allow organizations to implement N+1 or higher redundancy models, minimizing the risk of downtime. These power systems are optimized for efficiency, helping data centers manage energy consumption while supporting high-performance switching workloads.

The cooling architecture employs intelligent airflow management to maintain optimal operating temperatures across all internal components. Variable-speed fans adjust dynamically based on thermal conditions, reducing noise and power usage during lower workloads while ensuring adequate cooling during peak operation. This approach supports reliable performance and extends hardware lifespan.

Fabric Extender Integration and FEX-Centric Deployments

A defining feature of the Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G category is its native support for fabric extender architectures. Fabric extenders act as remote line cards, extending the parent switch’s control plane and configuration to the network edge. This design simplifies network management by reducing the number of devices that require individual configuration and monitoring.

In FEX-centric deployments, the N6004 switch chassis serves as the central management and forwarding intelligence, while fabric extenders provide scalable port expansion. This category is well-suited for environments with rapidly growing server counts, such as virtualization clusters, private clouds, and enterprise data centers. The ability to scale ports without increasing management complexity is a key value proposition of this chassis category.

Operational Benefits of Centralized Management

Centralized management is a core advantage of the N6004EF-4FEX-1G switch chassis category. Network administrators can apply policies, security controls, and quality of service configurations from a single control point, ensuring consistency across all connected fabric extenders. This reduces configuration errors and accelerates deployment timelines.

From an operational perspective, centralized logging, monitoring, and troubleshooting streamline day-to-day network operations. The chassis category integrates seamlessly with Cisco management tools, enabling proactive monitoring and rapid issue resolution. These capabilities are essential in large-scale environments where manual device-by-device management would be impractical.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Feature Capabilities

The Cisco N6004 switch chassis category is engineered to deliver comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality, supporting a wide range of networking protocols and deployment scenarios. This includes advanced switching features for VLAN segmentation, spanning tree optimization, and link aggregation, which are foundational for resilient data center networks.

At the Layer 3 level, the category supports robust routing capabilities that enable efficient traffic engineering and scalable network designs. Hardware-based forwarding ensures low latency and high throughput, making the N6004 chassis suitable for performance-sensitive applications. These capabilities allow the chassis to function effectively in both traditional and modern network architectures.

Support for Virtualized and Cloud Environments

Virtualization and cloud computing place unique demands on network infrastructure, and the N6004EF-4FEX-1G category is designed to address these requirements. Support for large MAC address tables, rapid convergence, and consistent policy enforcement ensures reliable connectivity for virtual machines and containerized workloads.

This chassis category aligns with cloud-ready networking principles by enabling scalable, automated, and policy-driven network operations. Its compatibility with orchestration and automation frameworks allows organizations to integrate networking seamlessly into their broader IT workflows.

High Availability, Redundancy, and Reliability

High availability is a cornerstone of the Cisco N6004 switch chassis category. Redundant hardware components, resilient software architecture, and fast failover mechanisms work together to minimize downtime. This is particularly important in data center environments where network outages can have significant operational and financial impacts.

The chassis category supports features such as redundant supervisors, power supplies, and fans, ensuring continuous operation even under fault conditions. These design elements make the N6004EF-4FEX-1G suitable for deployment in mission-critical environments where reliability is non-negotiable.

Fault Tolerance and Maintenance Efficiency

Fault tolerance is enhanced through modular design and intelligent monitoring systems that detect and isolate issues quickly. Hot-swappable components allow maintenance tasks to be performed without disrupting network services, reducing planned and unplanned downtime.

This focus on maintenance efficiency contributes to lower operational costs and improved service continuity. Organizations can perform upgrades, replacements, and expansions with confidence, knowing that the chassis category is designed to support ongoing operations seamlessly.

Security and Traffic Control Capabilities

Security is an integral aspect of the Cisco N6004 switch chassis category, with built-in features that help protect data center networks from internal and external threats. The chassis supports advanced access control mechanisms, traffic filtering, and segmentation capabilities that enable granular policy enforcement.

By integrating security controls directly into the switching hardware, this category ensures that performance is not compromised while maintaining strong security postures. These capabilities are essential for environments that handle sensitive data or operate under strict regulatory requirements.

Quality of Service and Traffic Optimization

Quality of Service features within the N6004EF-4FEX-1G category enable precise traffic prioritization and bandwidth management. This ensures that latency-sensitive applications, such as real-time communications and transactional systems, receive the resources they require.

Traffic optimization mechanisms help maintain consistent performance during peak usage periods, supporting predictable application behavior. These features are particularly valuable in multi-tenant and mixed-workload environments.

Scalability and Future-Ready Network Design

Scalability is a defining characteristic of the Cisco N6004 switch chassis category. The ability to integrate additional fabric extenders and expand port capacity allows organizations to grow their networks incrementally without redesigning the underlying architecture.

This future-ready design ensures that investments in the N6004EF-4FEX-1G chassis remain relevant as network demands evolve. Support for emerging technologies and standards positions this category as a long-term solution for modern data center infrastructures.

Alignment with Modern Data Center Architectures

The N6004 chassis category aligns with contemporary data center architectures, including spine-leaf designs and software-defined networking models. Its low-latency forwarding and high throughput capabilities support east-west traffic patterns common in modern applications.

By combining performance, scalability, and operational simplicity, this category enables organizations to build agile, resilient, and efficient networks that can adapt to changing business requirements.

Deployment Scenarios and Use Case Flexibility

The Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G switch chassis category is suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios, from enterprise data centers to service provider environments. Its flexibility allows it to function as an access, aggregation, or leaf switch depending on network design requirements.

This versatility makes the category attractive to organizations seeking a unified switching platform that can be deployed consistently across multiple environments. By standardizing on the N6004 chassis, organizations can simplify training, operations, and support processes.

Operational Value for Enterprise and Cloud Providers

For enterprises, the N6004 chassis category offers a balance of performance, reliability, and manageability that supports business-critical applications. Cloud providers benefit from its scalability and centralized management capabilities, which enable efficient multi-tenant operations.

Across all use cases, the Cisco N6004EF-4FEX-1G category delivers the core attributes required for modern networking, including high availability, security, and performance, making it a foundational component in advanced data center designs.