The Cisco Nexus 93600CD-GX switch (N9K-C93600CD-GX) is a 1-rack unit (RU), fixed-port switch designed for spine-leaf-APIC deployment in data centers.

This switch has these ports:

• 28 10/40/100-Gigabit QSFP28 ports (ports 1-28)

• 8 10/40/100/400-Gigabit QSFP-DD ports (ports 29-36)

• Two management ports (one 10/100/1000BASE-T port and one 1-Gbps SFP port)

• One console port (RS-232)

• 1 USB port

Note

This switch offers QSA 10G support on all ports. Use a QSFP to SFP adapter (QSA) to convert one or more ports to 10G to connect the APICs. The switch will see the 10G SFP/QSA connection and allow the APIC to discover the switch. There is no support for 1-Gigabit nor 100-Megabit optics on this switch. Ports 1-24 support 2x50G breakout on all ports, 4x10 and 4x25G breakout on odd ports with even ports purged. Auto-negotiation is not supported with 10G speed on Ports 1 through 24. Ports 25-28 support 2x50, 4x10 and 4x25G breakout as native downlinks. Ports 29-36 support 2x50, 4x10, 4x25, and 4x100G as port profile converted downlinks. For ports 1 through 24, every 4 ports (1-4, 5-8, 9-12, and so on, referred to as a "quad") must operate at either 10G or 40/100G. That is, all 4 ports will operate in 10G or 40/100G. In breakout, all ports in the quad must have the same breakout map (2x50, 4x10, or 4x25G). Ports 25-26 and ports 27-28 (port groups of 2 ports each) must operate at either 10G or 40/100G, or breakout map (2x50, 4x10, or 4x25G) For ports 1 through 24, every 4 ports (1-4, 5-8, 9-12, and so on, referred to as a "quad") can operate either 10G or 40/100G (no breakout), but cannot have 10G and 40/100G at the same time. Using 40G and 100G in the same quad requires ACI Release 5.1(3e) or later. For example, these combinations are supported after ACI Release 5.1(3e). Example 1: Port 1-4: 40G or 100G Example 2: Port 1-4: 10G These combinations will have a hardware disabled port. Example 3: (if 10G is detected first in the quad): Port 1: 10G (40G or 100G hardware disabled) Port 2: 10G (40G or 100G hardware disabled) Port 3: 10G (40G or 100G hardware disabled) Port 4: 10G (40G or 100G hardware disabled) Example 4: (if 40/100G is detected first in the quad): Port 1: 40G or 100G (10G hardware disabled) Port 2: 40G or 100G (10G hardware disabled) Port 3: 40G or 100G (10G hardware disabled) Port 4: 40G or 100G (10G hardware disabled)

Supported mixed speed combination examples

Note	In breakout mode, the speed of the 4 ports must be the same, either all 10G or all 25G.

For breakout information, see the Cisco APIC Layer 2 Networking Configuration Guide.

Leaf/Spine role considerations:

• This default role of the switch is as a leaf switch.

• The default fabric links (ports 29-36) must be used for initial switch discovery using another switch.

• To change the switch from the default role, do this: the node appears as a discovered device in the fabric inventory view, set the role of the switch (spine or leaf) and the switch automatically reboots and comes up in the configured role.

• If you connect a default spine (i.e., a dual role switch that by default is a spine, such as Nexus 9316D-GX) directly to an APIC, the change of the role to leaf is performed automatically by APIC, as well as the switch reboot. After that, the node appears in “Nodes pending registration.” Register the node.

Discovery considerations:

• Discovery via APIC – use the default downlink ports.

• Spine discovery – use the default fabric links (ports 29-36) and convert the switch to spine (reboot is required).

• Leaf discovery with spine – use the default fabric links (ports 29-36).

• Sub leaf discovery with leaf – use the default fabric links (ports 29-36).

• Multipod (Pod 2+) first spine discovery with IPN – Connect the IPN to one of the default fabric links (ports 29-36). Ensure the spine has at least one leaf node connected to it.

This switch includes these user-replaceable components:

• Fan modules (six) with these airflow choices:

  • Port-side exhaust fan module with blue coloring (NXA-FAN-35CFM-PE)

  • Port-side intake fan module with burgundy coloring (NXA-FAN-35CFM-PI)

  Note

  This switch runs with +1 redundancy mode, so that if one fan fails, the switch can sustain operation. But if a 2nd fan fails, this switch is not designed to sustain operation. Before waiting to reach major threshold temperature, the switch will power down due to Powered-down due to fan policy trigger.

  Note	Each fan module has two rotors. The switch can function normally if one rotor inside any one fan module, fails. In case of more than one rotor failure, the switch issues a warning and powers down in 2 minutes.

• Power supply modules (two—One for operations and one for redundancy [1+1]) with these choices:

  • 1100-W port-side exhaust AC power supply with blue coloring (NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2)

  • 1100-W port-side intake AC power supply with burgundy coloring (NXA-PAC-1100W-PI2)

  • 1100-W port-side exhaust HVAC/HVDC power supply with blue coloring (NXA-PHV-1100W-PE)

  • 1100-W port-side intake HVAC/HVDC power supply with burgundy coloring (NXA-PHV-1100W-PI)

  • 1100-W port-side exhaust DC power supply with blue coloring (NXA-PDC-1100W-PE)

  • 1100-W port-side intake DC power supply with burgundy coloring (NXA-PDC-1100W-PI)

  Note

  IMPORTANT: All fan modules and power supplies must use the same airflow direction. In the event that only one power supply is operating in an active system and a second power supply is inserted, the system fan will slow down to 50% of Max speed for 12 seconds. It can take up to 10 seconds for the second power supply to become active. Do not remove the first power supply during this time-frame to avoid system shutdown.

The figure shows the switch features on the port side of the chassis.

To determine which transceivers, adapters, and cables support this switch, see the Cisco Transceiver Modules Compatibility Information document.

The figure shows the switch features on the power supply side of the chassis.

The figure shows the side of the chassis.

Depending on whether you plan to position the ports in a hot or cold aisle, you can order the fan and power supply modules with port-side intake or port-side exhaust airflow. For port-side intake airflow, the fan and power supplies have burgundy coloring. For port-side exhaust airflow, the fan and power supplies have blue coloring.

The fan and power supply modules are field replaceable. You can replace one fan module or one power supply module during operations as long as the other modules are installed and operating. If you have only one power supply installed, install the replacement power supply in the open slot before removing the original power supply.

Note	All fan and power supply modules must have the same direction of airflow. Otherwise, the switch can overheat and shut down.

Caution

If the switch has port-side intake airflow (burgundy coloring for fan modules), locate the ports in the cold aisle. If the switch has port-side exhaust airflow (blue coloring for fan modules), locate the ports in the hot aisle. If you locate the air intake in a hot aisle, the switch can overheat and shut down.