The Cisco Nexus N9K-C9336C-FX2 is a highly versatile 100G data center switch. Featuring 36x 40/100G QSFP28 ports and 7.2 Tbps throughput, it delivers wire-rate MACsec, seamless ACI integration, and supreme flexibility as a Spine or Leaf switch.
Quick Specs:
· Ports: 36 x 40/100G QSFP28
· Bandwidth: 7.2 Tbps
· Security: MACsec on all ports
· Deployment: Spine or Leaf role
· OS Support: NX-OS & Cisco ACI
· Form Factor: 1RU Rack-mountable
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Cisco Nexus N9K-C9336C-FX2 is a powerhouse 1-Rack-Unit (1RU) data center switch engineered to meet the massive bandwidth demands of modern cloud, hyperscale, and enterprise networks. Powered by Cisco’s industry-leading Cloud Scale ASIC technology, it offers an astonishing 7.2 Terabits per second (Tbps) of switching capacity, ensuring zero-bottleneck performance for mission-critical applications.
Unlike fixed-role switches, the N9K-C9336C-FX2 provides unparalleled architectural flexibility. It can be deployed as a high-density 100G Spine switch to aggregate traffic from multiple Leaf switches, or as a Top-of-Rack (ToR) Leaf switch utilizing breakout cables to connect directly to 10G, 25G, or 50G servers. Combined with robust Cisco ACI and NX-OS support, it acts as a future-proof foundation for automated, intent-based data center fabrics.
Key Features & Business Benefits
Massive 100G Port Density: Maximize your rack space. The switch packs 36 high-speed 40/100-Gbps QSFP28 ports into a compact 1RU chassis, delivering unparalleled throughput for data-intensive storage and computing environments.
Port Breakout Flexibility: Each 100G port can be split using breakout cables (e.g., 1x100G to 4x10G, or 1x100G to 4x25G). This allows the switch to support up to 144 x 10/25G ports, making it an incredibly dense and cost-effective ToR Leaf switch.
End-to-End MACsec Encryption: Secure your data center interconnects (DCI) and inter-rack traffic. The FX2 model features hardware-based, wire-rate IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption on all 36 ports without any performance degradation.
Dual Operating Modes (NX-OS & ACI): Operate using traditional BGP/EVPN VXLAN protocols via NX-OS, or shift to a fully automated, Software-Defined Networking (SDN) model using Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) managed by the APIC controller.
Advanced Cloud-Scale Telemetry: Features integrated hardware-based stream telemetry and large 40MB buffers, providing real-time visibility into microbursts, flow analytics, and dropped packets to accelerate troubleshooting.
4 Redundant Fan Trays (Port-side Intake or Exhaust)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.72 x 17.3 x 22.3 in. (4.37 x 43.9 x 56.6 cm)
Ideal Application Scenarios
High-Performance ACI Spine: Deploy as the high-capacity core (Spine) in a Cisco ACI architecture to aggregate 100G uplink traffic from dozens of ToR Leaf switches with ultra-low latency.
High-Density Leaf (via Breakout): Utilize fiber breakout cables to connect up to 144 individual 25G or 10G servers, hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) nodes, or NVMe flash storage arrays to a single 1RU switch.
Data Center Interconnect (DCI): Leverage the wire-rate MACsec encryption on all ports to securely bridge data centers across metropolitan or wide area networks.
Supported Accessories & Optics
Maximize the throughput and reliability of your N9K-C9336C-FX2 with these official Cisco components: QSFP-100G-SR4-S: 100GBASE-SR4 transceivers for short-reach multi-mode fiber connections. QSFP-100G-LR4-S: 100GBASE-LR4 transceivers for long-reach single-mode fiber (up to 10km). QSFP-4x25G-AOC: 100G to 4x25G Active Optical breakout cables. NXA-PAC-1100W-PI / PE: 1100W AC Power Supplies (PI = Port-side Intake / PE = Port-side Exhaust). NXA-FAN-35CFM-PI / PE: Nexus Fan Trays (Airflow direction must match power supplies).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can the N9K-C9336C-FX2 be used as a Spine or a Leaf switch?
A1: Yes, it is a highly versatile switch. Because of its massive 100G density and breakout capabilities, it can serve as a Spine switch aggregating traffic, or as a Top-of-Rack (ToR) Leaf switch connecting directly to high-speed servers.
Q2: What does the “C” stand for in the part number?
A2: In Cisco’s Nexus naming convention, the “C” (from the Roman numeral Centum) denotes 100-Gigabit Ethernet. The “36C” means the switch natively features 36 ports of 100G.
Q3: Does this switch support 40G transceivers?
A3: Yes. All 36 QSFP28 ports are backwards compatible with 40G QSFP+ transceivers. You can mix and match 40G and 100G optics on the same switch based on your network requirements.
Q4: How many 10G or 25G ports can I get if I use breakout cables?
A4: By utilizing 4x10G or 4x25G breakout cables, the N9K-C9336C-FX2 can support up to a maximum of 144 ports of 10-Gigabit or 25-Gigabit Ethernet, making it extremely efficient for high-density server racks.
Q5: Is MACsec encryption supported on all ports?
A5: Yes. Unlike older generations that only supported encryption on specific ports, the FX2 ASIC enables hardware-based, wire-rate IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption across all 36 ports simultaneously.
