Cisco Nexus 5548P Datasheet page 15

Modular software design: Cisco NX-OS is designed to support distributed multithreaded processing on
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symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs), multicore CPUs, and distributed line-card processors. Computationally
intensive tasks, such as hardware table programming, can be offloaded to dedicated processors distributed
across the line cards. Cisco NX-OS modular processes are instantiated on demand, each in a separate
protected memory space. Thus, processes are started and system resources allocated only when a feature
is enabled. The modular processes are governed by a real-time preemptive scheduler that helps ensure
the timely processing of critical functions.
Quick development of enhancements and problem fixes: The modularity of Cisco NX-OS allows new
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features, enhancements, and problem fixes to be integrated into the software quickly. Thus, modular fixes
can be developed, tested, and delivered in a short time span.
Troubleshooting and diagnostics: Cisco NX-OS is built with unique serviceability functions to enable
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network operators to take early action based on network trends and events, enhancing network planning
and improving network operations center (NOC) and vendor response times. Smart Call Home and Cisco
Generic Online Diagnostics (GOLD) are some of the features that enhance the serviceability of Cisco
NX-OS.
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Programmatic XML interface: Based on the NETCONF industry standard, the Cisco NX-OS XML interface
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provides a consistent API for devices, enabling rapid development and creation of tools to enhance the
network.
SNMP: Cisco NX-OS complies with SNMPv1, v2, and v3. An extensive collection of MIBs is supported.
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RBAC: With RBAC, Cisco NX-OS enables administrators to limit access to switch operations by assigning
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roles to users. Administrators can customize access and restrict it to the users who require it.
Enhanced virtual PortChannel: The virtual PortChannel (vPC) feature allows one end of a PortChannel to
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be split across a pair of Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches. vPC provides Layer 2 multipathing through the
elimination of Spanning Tree Protocol blocked ports in dual-homed connections. vPC enables fully used
bisectional bandwidth and simplified Layer 2 logical topologies without the need to change the existing
management and deployment models. vPC feature is further enhanced so that edge devices can connect
to Nexus 2000 platform using vPC as well as Nexus 2000 platform can connect to Nexus 5000 platforms
using vPC at same time.
© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Smart Call Home: The Smart Call Home feature continuously monitors hardware and software
components to provide email-based notification of critical system events. A versatile range of message
formats is available for optimal compatibility with pager services, standard email, and XML-based
automated parsing applications. This feature offers alert grouping capabilities and customizable
destination profiles. It can be used, for example, to directly page a network support engineer, send an
email message to a NOC, and employ Cisco Auto-Notify services to directly generate a case with the
Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC). This feature is a step toward autonomous system operation,
enabling networking devices to inform IT when a problem occurs and helping ensure that the problem is
acted on quickly, reducing time to resolution and increasing system uptime.
Cisco GOLD: Cisco GOLD is a suite of diagnostic facilities to verify that hardware and internal data
paths are operating as designed. Boot-time diagnostics, continuous monitoring, and on-demand and
scheduled tests are part of the Cisco GOLD feature set. This industry-leading diagnostics subsystem
allows rapid fault isolation and continuous system monitoring, critical in today's continuously operating
environments.
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