Cisco N9K-C9348D-GX2A Ethernet-Switches

The Cisco Nexus 9300-GX2 series is a compact, rack-mountable Layer 3 Ethernet switch built on Cisco Cloud Scale technology, designed for network engineers running high-density data center fabrics. It delivers 400 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity across 32 QSFP-DD expansion slots, pairs those with 2 SFP+ slots for 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, and ships in a 1U form factor that conserves valuable rack space without sacrificing port density.

Key Features:

• Thirty-two QSFP-DD expansion slots operating at 400 Gigabit Ethernet give high-density fabrics the raw bandwidth headroom that AI-driven workloads demand.
• Backward-compatible QSFP-DD interfaces allow existing 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps fabric infrastructure to migrate transparently to 400 Gbps without a full hardware replacement.
• Breakout support enables lower per-port speeds of 10, 25, 50, and 200 Gbps, letting operators match port configuration to the exact bandwidth needs of each connected device.
• Layer 3 support enables IP routing directly on the switch, forming the backbone of scalable leaf-and-spine and IP storage fabric designs.
• Two operating modes — Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI) and Cisco NX-OS — give teams the flexibility to align the switch with their existing management strategy.
• A 1U, compact rack-mountable form factor measuring 1.7" high, 17.3" wide, and 22.9" deep makes efficient use of rack space while delivering full 400G capability.
• Dual AC input voltage acceptance at 120 V AC and 230 V AC, and frequency compatibility at both 50 Hz and 60 Hz, support worldwide deployment without additional power conditioning.
• Compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) reflects a commitment to environmentally responsible hardware design.

Cisco Nexus 9300-GX2 in the Nexus Portfolio

Within the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series, the 9300-GX2 addresses the specific need for power-efficient, high-performance fixed switches targeting next-generation leaf, spine, and IP storage fabric roles — particularly where 400G density must be achieved within a 1U chassis footprint.

Port Density and Expansion Slots

The switch provides 34 total expansion slots: 32 slots of the QSFP-DD type for 400 Gigabit Ethernet connections, and 2 slots of the SFP+ type for 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections. This combination lets operators build a predominantly 400G fabric while retaining dedicated management or out-of-band connectivity paths through the SFP+ ports.

Fabric Speed Flexibility Through Breakouts

The QSFP-DD interface is designed to support breakout configurations, making port speeds of 10, 25, 50, and 200 Gbps available from the same physical slots. Network engineers can therefore serve servers and storage devices with varying bandwidth requirements from a single switch platform, avoiding unnecessary over-provisioning at the edge.

Layer 3 Routing Capability

Operating at Layer 3, the switch handles IP routing natively, which is essential for scalable leaf-and-spine architectures where traffic must be routed between fabric segments without relying on a separate routing device. This reduces hop count and simplifies the overall network topology.

Media and Connectivity Standard

All ports use Optical Fiber media, suited to the distances and data rates typical inside data center rows and between adjacent racks. The supported network technology is 10GBase-X, and the switch conforms to the IEEE 802.1ae networking standard, which governs MAC Security for encrypted Ethernet links.

Dual Operating Modes

Cisco delivers the Nexus 9300-GX2 with a choice of two software personalities. Cisco ACI provides a policy-driven, application-centric infrastructure model suited to teams that centralize automation and intent-based management. Cisco NX-OS mode preserves the familiar command-line environment for operators who prefer a traditional network operating system workflow. The hardware is the same in both cases; the operating mode is a deployment decision.

Power and Electrical Requirements

The switch draws 1442 W at maximum consumption and accepts AC input at both 120 V AC and 230 V AC across supply frequencies of 50 Hz and 60 Hz. Power is delivered through a dedicated power supply unit. These ranges cover standard North American and international facility wiring without modification.

Physical Dimensions and Rack Integration

At 1.7" high, 17.3" wide, and 22.9" deep, and weighing approximately 28 lb, the switch occupies a single rack unit (1U) in a standard equipment rack. The compact footprint means that high port counts can be staged across a rack column without consuming the space that earlier-generation high-density switches required.

Management

The switch is fully manageable, giving network operations teams control over configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting through the standard management interfaces Cisco provides for the Nexus platform.

Environmental Compliance

The Nexus 9300-GX2 meets the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), confirming that the hardware is manufactured and can be disposed of in accordance with these environmental regulations.