Self-Healing Operating System for the Data Center

Cisco NX-OS is a data-center-class operating system built to meet the demands of the virtualized data center. NX-OS 4.1 for Nexus 7000 maintains consistency with the rest of the Cisco Nexus family while delivering features critical to data centers such as a modular, flexible architecture, continuous system availability, and switch virtualization capabilities.

The advantages of NX-OS include:

• Unified data center operating system: NX-OS runs on the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switch, Nexus 5000 Series Switch, Cisco MDS Series Multilayer SAN Switch, and Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch for VMware ESX.
• Robust and rich feature set with a variety of Cisco innovations: Based on industry-tested Cisco IOS Software, Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS Software , and acquisitions to unify data center operations.
• Flexible and scalable: Built with modularity, virtualization, and resiliency at its core.
• IP routing and multicast: Supports state-of-the-art implementations of IPv4 and IPv6 services, routing protocols, and IP Multicast features.
• Comprehensive security, availability, serviceability, and management features: Meets the challenges of the most demanding environments.

Key features and benefits include:

• Virtual device contexts (VDCs): Cisco Nexus 7000 Series switches can be segmented into virtual devices based on business need.
• Virtual Port Channels (vPCs): Allows a server or switch to use a port channel across two upstream switches without an STP-blocked port to allow use of all available uplink bandwidth.
• Continuous system operation: Maintenance, upgrades, and software certification can be performed without service interruptions.
• High security: Cisco NX-OS provides outstanding data confidentiality and integrity, supporting standard IEEE 802.1AE link-layer cryptography with 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cryptography.