Chapter - Cisco MDS 9000 Series Configuration Manual

Overview
This chapter provides an overview of the Cisco NX-OS software.
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Software Compatibility
The Cisco NX-OS software interoperates with Cisco products that run any variant of the Cisco IOS software.
The Cisco NX-OS software also interoperates with any networking operating system that conforms to the
IEEE and RFC compliance standards.
Modular Software Design
The Cisco NX-OS software supports distributed multithreaded processing on symmetric multiprocessors
(SMPs), multi-core CPUs, and distributed data module processors. The Cisco NX-OS software offloads
computationally intensive tasks, such as hardware table programming, to dedicated processors distributed
across the data modules. The modular processes are created on demand, each in a separate protected memory
space. Processes are started and system resources are allocated only when you enable a feature. A real-time
preemptive scheduler helps to ensure the timely processing of critical functions.
Serviceability
The Cisco NX-OS software has serviceability functions that allow the device to respond to network trends
and events. These features help you with network planning and improving response times.
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Software Compatibility, page 5
Serviceability, page 5
Manageability, page 6
Cisco NX-OS Software Configuration, page 7
Licensing, page 9
Quality of Service , page 9
C H A P T E R
Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS Fundamentals Configuration Guide
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