Product Architecture - Cisco Nexus 5548P Datasheet

Investment Protection with FCoE Unified Fabric
The Cisco Nexus 5500 platform supports consolidated I/O using FCoE on downlinks to servers. FCoE is Fibre
Channel and, as such, has familiar methods of configuration, operation, and management. On the uplinks to the
network, customers can choose among FCoE direct attachment to storage systems, native Fibre Channel direct
attachment to storage systems, FCoE connection to FCoE-capable switches, and native Fibre Channel connection
to existing SANs. Fibre Channel and FCoE can exist simultaneously in the Fibre Channel network, allowing
customers to continue to use their existing administration and management tools. Cisco Fabric Manager SAN
management software manages Fibre Channel and FCoE flows over both FCoE- and Fibre Channel-capable
ports.

Product Architecture

The Cisco Nexus 5500 platform is built around two custom components: a unified crossbar fabric and a unified
port controller application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each Cisco Nexus 5500 platform switch contains a
single unified crossbar fabric ASIC and multiple unified port controllers to support fixed ports and expansion
modules within the switch.
The unified port controller provides an interface between the unified crossbar fabric ASIC and the network media
adapter and makes forwarding decisions for Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and FCoE frames. The ASIC supports the
overall cut-through design of the switch by transmitting packets to the unified crossbar fabric before the entire
payload has been received. The unified crossbar fabric ASIC is a single-stage, nonblocking crossbar fabric
capable of meshing all ports at wire speed. The unified crossbar fabric offers superior performance by
implementing QoS-aware scheduling for unicast and multicast traffic. Moreover, the tight integration of the unified
crossbar fabric with the unified port controllers helps ensure low-latency, lossless fabric for ingress interfaces
requesting access to egress interfaces.
Cisco NX-OS Software Overview
Cisco NX-OS is a data centerclass operating system built with modularity, resiliency, and serviceability at its
foundation. Based on the industry-proven Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS Software, Cisco NX-OS helps ensure
continuous availability and sets the standard for mission-critical data center environments. The self-healing and
highly modular design of Cisco NX-OS makes zero-impact operations a reality and enables exceptional
operational flexibility.
Focused on the requirements of the data center, Cisco NX-OS provides a robust and comprehensive feature set
that fulfills the Ethernet and storage networking requirements of present and future data centers. With an XML
interface and a CLI like that of Cisco IOS
relevant networking standards as well as a variety of true data centerclass Cisco innovations.
Cisco NX-OS Software Features and Benefits
Software compatibility: Cisco NX-OS Software Release 5.0 interoperates with Cisco products running any
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variant of the Cisco IOS Software operating system. Cisco NX-OS 5.0 also interoperates with any
networking OS that conforms to the networking standards listed as supported in this data sheet.
Common software throughout the data center: Cisco NX-OS simplifies the data center operating
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environment and provides a unified OS designed to run all areas of the data center network, including the
LAN, SAN, and Layer 4 to 7 network services.
© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Software, Cisco NX-OS provides state-of-the-art implementations of
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