Cisco nexus 9000 switch users always have some questions related to the Cisco ACI. For example, is there a way to take advantage of ISSU/dual sup failover in a 9500 in ACI mode? How to get from Nexus ACI mode to NX-OS mode issue? What are the differences between Cisco 9336PQ and N9K-X9736PQ 40Gb Spine Line Card?
Now, let’s come to the last question: the differences between these 2 pieces of equipment: Cisco 9336PQ and N9K-X9736PQ 40Gb Spine Line Card.
We know that Cisco Nexus 9000 switches operate in Cisco NX-OS Software or Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) modes with ground-breaking Cloud Scale ASIC technology. They are ideal for traditional or fully automated data center deployments. And all Nexus 9K switches can operate in standalone mode. Many also support ACI.
Cisco 9336PQ vs. N9K-X9736PQ 40Gb Spine Line Card
Similarities:
- Only supported in ACI
- Only to be used as a spine
- 36x40G nonblocking (no oversubscription) switching
- Support the same 40G transceivers
- Both use a mixture of third party and Cisco ASICs
Differences:
Form Factor
- 9336 = fixed switch
- 9736 = module for 9500 chassis
Scalability
- 9336 = 36x40G nonblocking
- *9504 = Up to 144x40G (128x40G nonblocking)
- *9508 = Up to 288x40G (256x40G nonblocking)
* Assumes all 9500 line card slots are populated with 9736PQ modules. To achieve full bandwidth, you will need 6 fabric modules.
Both contain a third party and Cisco Alpine ASIC.
- N9K-C9336PQ-Cisco Alpine ASIC and third party chips are both on the board.
- N9K-X9736PQ-Cisco Alpine ASIC is on the line card. Third party chips are on the fabric module.
Nexus 9336PQ-Nexus 9300 40GE Switches
| Nexus 9336PQ | |
| Usage | ACI spine |
| Form factor | 2 RU |
| Throughput (Tbps) | 2.88 |
| 100 M/1 GE/10 GE copper ports | NA |
| 1/10 GE fiber ports | NA |
| 40 GE ports | 36 |
| 100 GE ports | No |
| Latency (microseconds) | Less than 2 |
| Buffer (MB) | 72 |
| Power supply (watts); 2 per switch | 1200 |
| Typical power (watts) | 400 |
| Minimum software version | ACI-N9KDK9-11.1 |
| Orderable | Yes |
| SKU | N9K-C9336PQ |
| Operating System | ACI |
9736PQ-Nexus 9500 40GE Modules
| 9736PQ | |
| Usage | ACI spine |
| Front-panel ports | 36 x 40 GE |
| Standalone | No |
| ACI leaf | No |
| ACI spine | Yes |
| Chassis support | 4, 8, and 16 |
| 40 GE ports | 36 |
| Switching performance | Nonblocking |
| Buffer (MB) | 42 |
| Typical power (watts) | 197 |
| Minimum software version | ACI-N9KDK9-11.0 |
| SKUs | N9K-X9736PQ |
EXAMPLES: Architecture Nexus 9500, Nexus 9300
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