The Cisco N3K-C3172TQ-XL Nexus 3000 Series Switch is a high-performance, low-latency switch designed for modern data center and enterprise environments. Built for top-of-rack (ToR) deployments, it delivers high-density copper connectivity along with flexible high-speed uplinks, making it ideal for virtualization, cloud, and high-performance workloads.
Featuring 48 × 1/10GBase-T RJ-45 ports, the switch enables seamless integration with copper-based server infrastructures. It also includes 6 × QSFP+ uplink ports, supporting 40GbE or 4×10GbE breakout, allowing flexible and scalable network expansion.
With a switching capacity of up to 1.4 Tbps and forwarding rate up to 1 billion packets per second, the N3K-C3172TQ-XL ensures efficient traffic handling and ultra-low latency performance. The XL variant includes enhanced memory (8GB), enabling advanced features, improved scalability, and support for modern data center architectures.
Powered by Cisco NX-OS, the switch supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, including EVPN-VXLAN, BGP, OSPF, and automation capabilities, enabling programmable and scalable network deployments.
Designed for high availability, it includes dual hot-swappable power supplies and fan modules, ensuring continuous operation in mission-critical environments. Its 1RU form factor allows efficient use of rack space while delivering enterprise-grade performance.
Ideal for data center top-of-rack deployments, enterprise high-speed access layers, cloud environments, and high-performance computing, the Cisco N3K-C3172TQ-XL provides a scalable, reliable, and high-performance networking solution for modern infrastructures.
Product Specifications - Cisco N3K-C3172TQ-XL Nexus 3000 Series 48-Port 10GBase-T Switch
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| Specification |
Details |
| Product Name |
Cisco N3K-C3172TQ-XL Nexus 3000 Series Switch |
| Manufacturer |
Cisco Systems |
| Part Number |
N3K-C3172TQ-XL |
| Product Series |
Cisco Nexus 3000 Series |
| Product Type |
Data Center Switch |
| Port Configuration |
48 × 1/10GBase-T (RJ-45) + 6 × QSFP+ uplinks |
| Supported Speeds |
1G / 10G (RJ-45), 40G (QSFP+) |
| Uplink Flexibility |
QSFP+ supports 40G or 4 × 10G breakout |
| Switching Capacity |
Up to ~1.4 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate |
Up to ~1 Bpps |
| Latency |
Ultra-low latency (~1–2 microseconds typical) |
| Memory |
8 GB system memory |
| Buffer |
Deep buffers for burst traffic handling |
| Layer Support |
Layer 2 and Layer 3 |
| Routing Protocols |
OSPF, BGP, IS-IS |
| VXLAN Support |
Yes (EVPN-VXLAN capable) |
| Multicast Support |
IGMP, PIM |
| QoS Support |
Advanced QoS and congestion management |
| Security Features |
ACLs, RBAC, MACsec (platform dependent) |
| Operating System |
Cisco NX-OS |
| Automation Support |
Python, NX-API, REST, Ansible |
| Telemetry |
Streaming telemetry support |
| Transceiver Support |
QSFP+ optics, DAC, AOC |
| Redundancy |
Dual hot-swappable power supplies |
| Cooling |
Hot-swappable fan modules (front-to-back/back-to-front airflow) |
| Power Supply |
AC or DC options |
| Form Factor |
1 Rack Unit (1RU), rack-mountable |
| Jumbo Frame Support |
Up to 9,000 bytes |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to 40°C |
| Deployment Type |
Data center ToR, aggregation |
| Application |
Cloud, virtualization, enterprise networking |
| Scalability |
High-density 10G with flexible uplinks |
| Condition |
New / Cisco Certified |
| Use Cases |
ToR deployments, HPC, enterprise access, data center switching |
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FAQs
Q1. What type of ports does this switch provide?
It includes 48 x 10GBase-T RJ-45 ports and 6 x QSFP+ uplink ports.
Q2. Can QSFP+ ports be used for 10G connections?
Yes, each QSFP+ port can be broken out into 4 x 10G connections or used as 40G.
Q3. Is this switch suitable for data center environments?
Yes, it is specifically designed for data center and high-performance enterprise deployments.
Q4. What is the advantage of the XL version?
The XL version includes additional memory and improved programmability for advanced applications.
Q5. Does it support redundancy?
Yes, it supports dual power supplies and hot-swappable components for high availability.
