Overall, Nexus switches are low latency devices with high backplane speed and a lots of througout for data centers, but one could argue that they could also be used as core devices. For example, if you are planning to add a Firewall Service Module to your design, than that is only supported on the 6500 and not the Nexus. As others also noted, the 6500 series has been around for a very long time and they are very feature rich. Once you start using Nexus OS, you will see that it is much easier to use than IOS.įor these last 2 questions you have to evaluate your environment, application and also cost, which is very important these days unless you have unlimited budget. Yes, the Native IOS interoperable with Nexus OS very nicely. with VMs, that will reduce your port count significantly.Ģ- Inter operability between cat ios and nexus ios, how this will affect the environement Now if you virtualizes your servers and use for example UCS, IBM, HP, etc. what it saves you is managing and maintaining fewer devices. It doesn't necessarily reduce the port count, because you have to connect a server to some kind of port, whether that port is connected to a FEX, 5K, 6500, 3750, etc. So, if you a row of 10 cabinets in your data center and have a FEX in each cabinet with 2 5ks (one in cabinet 1 and one in 10) you only manage the 2 5ks. The image running on a FEXs is usually pushed to it via a 5k or 7k switch.ġ- Can we reduce the number of edge switches? ( by virtual environment)Īs also Leo and Jerry already have mentioned here, you only manage the parent switch.

The FEX doesn't operate on its own and it is dependent on 5ks or 7ks.

The parent switch is usually a set of Nexus 5Ks or 7Ks.

Nexus tor switches