The Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P is a high-performance Top-of-Rack switch for copper-based data centers. Featuring 48x 10GBASE-T downlinks and 6x 100G QSFP28 uplinks, it delivers 2.16 Tbps throughput, wire-rate MACsec security, and automated ACI management for scalable infrastructure.
Quick Specs:
· Downlinks: 48 x 100M/1G/10GBASE-T (Copper/RJ45)
· Uplinks: 6 x 40/100G QSFP28
· Bandwidth: 2.16 Tbps
· Security: MACsec on all ports
· OS Support: Cisco NX-OS & ACI mode
· Form Factor: 1RU Top-of-Rack (ToR)
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P is a state-of-the-art 1-Rack-Unit (1RU) data center switch based on Cisco’s advanced Cloud Scale ASIC technology. It is purpose-built for enterprise data centers that still leverage cost-effective CAT6a copper cabling for server connections, but require massive bandwidth upgrades to the network core.
By seamlessly bridging legacy 1G/10G copper servers with ultra-fast 100G fiber spine switches, the N9K-C93108TC-FX3P offers tremendous investment protection. Whether operating in standard Cisco NX-OS mode for traditional BGP/EVPN VXLAN deployments or integrating into a Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) controller for policy-driven automation, this switch ensures uncompromised reliability, low latency, and deep network visibility.
Key Features & Business Benefits
Cost-Effective Copper Connectivity: Utilize your existing twisted-pair (CAT6a/CAT7) cabling infrastructure. The 48 standard RJ45 ports eliminate the need to purchase expensive fiber optic transceivers for server connections, significantly lowering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
High-Speed 100G Core Uplinks: Future-proof your aggregation layer with six 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 uplink ports, ensuring non-blocking data flow from your Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches to your data center spine.
End-to-End MACsec Encryption: Safeguard sensitive corporate data with hardware-based IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption supported across all ports at wire rate, protecting both server traffic and inter-switch communications.
Dual-Mode Operations (NX-OS & ACI): Deploy traditional, highly customized routing protocols using NX-OS, or transition seamlessly to a Software-Defined Network (SDN) environment via Cisco ACI to achieve rapid, zero-touch provisioning.
Advanced Telemetry & Analytics: Leverage built-in flow table logging and stream telemetry to monitor network health in real-time, drastically reducing troubleshooting time for network engineers.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Details for N9K-C93108TC-FX3P
Product Series
Cisco Nexus 9300-FX3 Series
Downlink Ports
48 x 100M/1G/10GBASE-T (RJ45 Copper)
Uplink Ports
6 x 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 (Fiber/DAC)
Switching Bandwidth
2.16 Tbps
Forwarding Rate
1.2 bpps
MAC Addresses
512,000
Security Encryption
Wire-rate MACsec on all ports (Downlinks & Uplinks)
System Memory / Flash
24 GB / 128 GB SSD
Buffer Size
40 MB
Power Supplies
Dual redundant hot-swappable (AC, DC, or HVAC/HVDC)
Cooling / Airflow
4 Redundant Fan Trays (Port-side Intake or Port-side Exhaust)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.72 x 17.3 x 19.6 in. (4.37 x 43.9 x 49.8 cm)
Ideal Application Scenarios
Legacy Server Upgrade: The ultimate Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch for data centers seeking to upgrade their 1G/10G copper-based servers without rewiring the entire server rack with fiber optics.
Enterprise Storage Networks: Connect high-density iSCSI storage arrays and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices that utilize standard 10GBASE-T RJ45 interfaces.
Secure ACI Leaf Deployment: Act as a high-performance Leaf switch in a Cisco ACI Spine-Leaf architecture, utilizing MACsec to securely bridge legacy edge devices to the 100G fabric.
Supported Accessories & Power Options
Optimize your N9K-C93108TC-FX3P deployment with these critical Cisco components (Note: No downlinks transceivers are needed as they are built-in RJ45): QSFP-100G-SR4-S: 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 transceivers for fiber uplinks to the Spine. QSFP-40G-SR4-S: 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceivers for legacy core uplinks. NXA-PAC-500W-PI / PE: 500W AC Power Supplies (PI = Port-side Intake / PE = Port-side Exhaust). NXA-FAN-35CFM-PI / PE: Nexus Fan Trays (Airflow direction must strictly match the power supplies).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What does the “TC” stand for in N9K-C93108TC-FX3P?
A1: In Cisco’s Nexus naming convention, “TC” stands for Base-T Copper. It indicates that the 48 downlink ports are standard RJ45 ports supporting 100M, 1G, and 10G Ethernet over standard twisted-pair copper cables (like CAT6a).
Q2: Do I need to buy SFP+ transceivers for the 48 downlink ports?
A2: No. Because this is a “TC” model with built-in RJ45 copper ports, you do not need to purchase or install any SFP/SFP+ optical modules for server connections. You simply plug in your CAT6a/CAT7 patch cables.
Q3: Can the 100G QSFP28 uplink ports run at 40G?
A3: Yes, the 6 uplink ports are highly flexible. They natively support both 100G QSFP28 transceivers and backwards-compatible 40G QSFP+ transceivers, making integration into older core networks effortless.
Q4: Does the FX3P model support MACsec encryption?
A4: Yes. The “P” in FX3P signifies advanced capabilities, including hardware-based, wire-rate IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption across all ports (both the 10G copper downlinks and the 100G fiber uplinks).
Q5: Can I mix Port-side Intake (PI) and Port-side Exhaust (PE) fans?
A5: No. To maintain proper thermal management in your data center aisle, all power supplies and fan trays within a single chassis must have the matching airflow direction (either all PI or all PE).
