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Executive Summary
The Cisco Nexus 3000 Series delivers ultra-low-latency, high-density, and power-efficient switching for next-generation data centers. Supporting speeds from 1G to 100G, full VXLAN/EVPN overlays, and open programmability, it ensures consistent, predictable performance for cloud, HPC, and financial trading environments.
With flexible generations - 3048, 3100, 3100-V, 3200, and 3500, the series offers a clear upgrade path for businesses of every size. Backed by Network-Switch.com’s certified engineering support, 3-year warranty, and 5-day global delivery, Nexus 3000 switches power today’s most demanding workloads with reliability and agility.
Product Overview
Business & Market Context
Modern data centers are under pressure to deliver higher performance, reduced latency, and improved automation while maintaining low power consumption and operational simplicity.
Applications such as AI/ML training, HPC, high-frequency trading (HFT), and cloud virtualization require deterministic latency, high throughput, and seamless scale-out capabilities.
The Cisco Nexus 3000 Series meets these business challenges by offering:
- Unified architecture supporting speeds from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps.
- Hardware-based VXLAN and EVPN for both underlay and overlay networks.
- Linux-like programmability enabling open automation frameworks.
- Compact 1RU/2RU designs delivering power efficiency and rack density.
In short, it is purpose-built to handle the evolving performance and agility requirements of cloud-era networks.
Product Positioning & Architecture
Within the Cisco Nexus portfolio, the Nexus 3000 Series occupies the Top-of-Rack (ToR) or Leaf layer in a modern leaf-spine architecture.
- It complements the Nexus 9000 Series (spine/core) and Nexus 2000 FEX (access) lines.
- Runs Cisco NX-OS, ensuring consistent operations and open programmability across Cisco’s switching family.
- Integrates seamlessly with Cisco ACI or standalone VXLAN fabrics.
Key architectural highlights:
- Non-blocking, wire-speed performance.
- Redundant power supplies and fans for continuous operation.
- Rich telemetry and streaming analytics for proactive monitoring.
- Designed for high-density, multi-speed environments — from edge to HPC rack.
Key Features & Benefits
Performance & Scalability
Deliver wire-speed switching across multiple interface speeds (1G, 10G, 25G, 40G, 50G, 100G). With flexible port configurations and modular optics, Nexus 3K switches scale seamlessly alongside compute and storage expansion.
Business Value: Grow bandwidth capacity without re-cabling or replacing infrastructure.
Low Latency for Real-Time Applications
Nexus 3000 platforms are optimized for HPC and HFT workloads, offering latency as low as 50–290 ns. This deterministic performance is crucial for environments where microseconds matter - from algorithmic trading to AI inference clusters.
Business Value: Faster data movement translates directly into competitive advantage.
Programmability & Automation
The series runs Cisco NX-OS, an open and modular operating system that supports:
- GuestShell / Linux utilities such as tshark, Chef, Puppet, and Python.
- Automation APIs: NETCONF/YANG, REST, and OpenConfig.
- Integration with DevOps tools like Ansible for rapid deployment.
Business Value: Simplifies operations, accelerates service provisioning, and reduces human error.
VXLAN / EVPN Fabric Readiness
All Nexus 3K switches support VXLAN/EVPN for overlay and underlay networks.
- Build scalable multi-tenant environments.
- Enable Layer 2/Layer 3 extension across data centers.
- Achieve cloud-like flexibility using standard Ethernet.
Business Value: Simplifies fabric design and ensures smooth hybrid-cloud connectivity.
Telemetry & Visibility
- Model-driven telemetry streams real-time network metrics.
- Enhanced buffer monitoring and packet-capture tools.
- Supports integration with observability stacks (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK).
Business Value: Gain full visibility into performance trends and pre-empt potential bottlenecks.
Energy Efficiency & Compact Design
1RU or 2RU form factors minimize rack footprint while reducing power consumption per port.
- Front-to-back or back-to-front airflow for flexible deployment.
- Energy-optimized ASICs and efficient cooling.
Business Value: Reduce operational costs and environmental impact while maximizing port density.
Technology Highlights
| Technology | Description | Benefit |
| VXLAN / EVPN | Overlay & underlay virtualization for scalable fabrics | Multi-tenant cloud readiness |
| Linux & Open NX-OS | Run standard Linux tools & automation scripts | Simplify integration & troubleshooting |
| PTP (Precision Time Protocol) | Sub-microsecond time synchronization | Critical for HFT & distributed computing |
| Model-Driven Telemetry | Streaming real-time data to analytics platforms | Improves network visibility & health monitoring |
| Zero-Touch Provisioning | Auto-deploy switches via scripts | Reduces manual effort & provisioning time |
| High-Availability Hardware | Dual PSUs, hot-swappable fans | Ensures uptime in 24×7 data centers |
Product Portfolio
| Model | Generation | Form Factor | Speed Range | Port Configuration | Latency | Ideal Application |
| Nexus 3048 | 1st Gen | 1RU | 1G / 10G | 48 × 1G + 4 × 10G | ~800 ns | General-purpose ToR |
| Nexus 3100 | 2nd Gen | 1/2 RU | 1G / 10G / 40G | Up to 32 × 40G | < 500 ns | Mid-scale aggregation |
| Nexus 3100-V | Enhanced 2nd Gen | 1RU | 1G / 10G / 40G / 100G | Flexible mix configurations | < 400 ns | VXLAN leaf / multi-speed ToR |
| Nexus 3200 | 3rd Gen | 1/2 RU | 1G / 10G / 25G / 40G / 50G / 100G | Mixed port speeds | < 300 ns | HPC / cloud edge |
| Nexus 3500 | 3rd Gen+ | 1RU | 1G / 10G / 40G | 48 + 4 ports | 50–290 ns | Ultra-low-latency HFT / HPC |
Notes:
- Reverse breakout cables available for flexible port mapping.
- Software roadmap includes additional hardware-capable features for future updates.
Typical Deployment Scenarios
| Scenario | Deployment Role | Example Use Case | Business Benefit |
| High-Performance Computing (HPC) | ToR / Leaf | Cluster interconnect | Microsecond response, scalable east-west traffic |
| High-Frequency Trading (HFT) | Leaf | Financial trading floors | 50–300 ns latency with PTP precision |
| Cloud / VXLAN Fabrics | Leaf / Spine | Multi-tenant overlays | Seamless L2/L3 virtualization |
| Edge / Campus Aggregation | ToR | Enterprise or branch aggregation | High density in compact footprint |
Need help selecting the right model? Share your port speeds and workloads - our engineers will recommend the optimal Nexus 3K configuration and deliver a quote.
Why Buy from Network-Switch.com?
Network-Switch.com combines Cisco expertise, logistical precision, and lifetime service to accelerate your data center upgrades.
Our Advantages
- Fast Delivery: Multi-warehouse logistics - lead time as short as 5 days worldwide.
- Certified Expertise: CCIE / HCIE / HPE ASE engineers provide one-time configuration reviews.
- Comprehensive Warranty: 3-year hardware warranty plus lifetime technical support.
- Flexible Sourcing: Choose between Cisco original and compatible transceivers or cables to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Proven Track Record: Serving 10,000+ enterprises and 100+ global partners.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the difference between Nexus 3100 and 3200?
A: The 3200 adds 25G/50G/100G multi-speed capability, lower latency, and higher port flexibility.
Q2: Do all Nexus 3K models support VXLAN?
A: VXLAN/EVPN support begins with the 3100 series on NX-OS 7.x and later.
Q3: Which model is best for ultra-low latency environments?
A: Nexus 3500 offers sub-300 ns latency, ideal for HFT and time-sensitive networks.
Q4: Can I run Linux tools natively?
A: Yes. Open NX-OS provides a GuestShell for Linux-based utilities like Python, Chef, and Puppet.
Q5: Are 100G optics interchangeable with Nexus 9000?
A: In most cases yes - both use standard Cisco or compatible QSFP28 optics tested for interoperability.
Conclusion
The Cisco Nexus 3000 Series represents the ideal balance between performance, programmability, and efficiency for modern data centers. With speeds up to 100 Gbps, sub-microsecond latency, and full VXLAN/EVPN support, these switches enable cloud-native agility and deterministic performance for HPC, AI, and financial applications.
Whether you’re upgrading leaf-spine fabrics or expanding trading networks, the Nexus 3K delivers dependable performance with simplified operations. Supported by Network-Switch.com’s expert engineers, multi-warehouse logistics, and lifetime technical service, your network modernization becomes faster, safer, and truly future-ready.
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