Name: Cisco Nexus 3264Q - SunSpike
SKU: N3K-C3264Q

Cisco Nexus 3264Q Switch Data Sheet

Product Overview

The Cisco Nexus® 3264Q Switch is a low-latency, ultra-high-density, power-efficient 40-Gbps switch designed for the data center. This compact, two-rack-unit (2RU) model delivers wire-rate Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching on all ports with latency as low as 400 nanoseconds. It runs the same modern Cisco NX-OS image that also supports the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches, providing a comprehensive feature set and simplifying image management.

The robust programmability features help enable organizations to run current applications while also preparing them for demanding and changing application needs such as big data, cloud services, and virtualization.

Key Features and Benefits

Ultra-High Density and Performance: Provides 64 fixed 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports in a 2RU form factor, delivering up to 5.12 Tbps of switching capacity and a forwarding rate of up to 3.8 billion packets per second (bpps).
Low Latency: Optimized for low latency with a physical-layer-free (PHY-less) design on all ports.
Flexibility: Supports both fiber and copper cabling solutions. The Cisco QSFP 40-Gbps BiDi transceiver allows customers to upgrade their network from 10 Gigabit Ethernet to 40 Gigabit Ethernet without incurring fiber infrastructure upgrade costs.
Advanced Programmability: Supports Cisco NX-API, Linux container, Python scripting, and configuration tools like Puppet and Chef for automated data center operations.
High Availability: Features Virtual PortChannel (vPC) technology to eliminate Spanning Tree Protocol and provide Layer 2 multipathing. It also supports 64-way Equal-Cost Multipath (ECMP) routing for Layer 3 fat-tree designs.
NX-OS Operating System: A purpose-built data center OS designed for performance, resiliency, and programmability. It includes features like PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP) for touchless bootup and configuration.

Technical Specifications

Hardware at a Glance

Item	Specification
Device Type	Switch – 64 ports – L3 – managed
Enclosure Type	Rack-mountable 2U
Ports	64 x 40 Gigabit QSFP+
Performance	Switching capacity: 5.12 Tbps Forwarding performance: 3.8 Bpps
Latency	~400 nanoseconds
CPU and Memory	2-core CPU, 8 GB DRAM, 64 GB Log Flash
MAC Address Table Size	136K entries
Jumbo Frame Support	9216 bytes
Power	Dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies (AC) Typical operating power: 285W Maximum power: 715W
Cooling	Redundant (3+1) hot-swappable fans (Port-side intake and exhaust options)
Dimensions (HxWxD)	3.39 x 17.4 x 22.3 in (8.84 x 44.2 x 56.6 cm)
Weight	32.85 lbs (14.9 kg)

Software and Capabilities

Feature Category	Details
Layer 2 Features	VLANs (4096), MSTP (64 instances), RPVST+ (512), IGMP snooping, Link Aggregation (LACP)
Layer 3 Features	Routing Protocols: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, RIP-2, static routing High Availability: HSRP, VRRP, 64-way ECMP, BFD
Virtualization	VXLAN bridging and gateway, VRF-Lite
Security	Ingress and egress ACLs (7000 ingress, 1000 egress entries), CoPP, AAA (TACACS+, RADIUS, LDAP)
QoS	Up to 8 queues per port, WRED, PFC, ECN, DSCP/CoS marking
Management	SNMP v1, v2, v3, CLI, HTTP/HTTPS, SSH v2, NX-API, POAP, Python, RMON
Programmability	Bash shell, Python shell, NX-API, OpenStack plugin, Puppet/Chef support

Standards Compliance

Category	Standards
IEEE Standards	802.1D, 802.1p, 802.1Q, 802.1w, 802.1s, 802.1ab (LLDP), 802.3ad (LACP), 802.3ab, 802.3ae, 802.3ba, 802.3z

Supported Transceivers and Cables

Part Number	Description
QSFP-40G-SR-BD	Cisco QSFP 40G BiDi Short-reach Transceiver
QSFP-40G-SR4-S	40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ Transceiver Module for MMF
QSFP-40G-CSR4	40GBASE-CSR4 QSFP+ Transceiver Module for MMF, 300m reach
QSFP-40GE-LR4-S	40GBASE-LR4 QSFP+ Transceiver Module for SMF, 10km reach
WSP-Q40GLR4L	40GBASE-LR4 QSFP Transceiver Module for SMF, up to 2km
QSFP-H40G-CU1M/3M	40GBASE-CR4 Passive Copper Cables (1m, 3m)
QSFP-H40G-AOCxM	QSFP 40G Active Optical Cables (1m to 10m)