Introduction to “nexus9300v.9.3.10.box” Software
The nexus9300v.9.3.10.box file is a virtual appliance image for Cisco Nexus 9300v switches, designed for network prototyping, lab testing, and development environments. This release aligns with NX-OS 9.3(10), offering feature parity with physical Nexus 9000 Series switches while enabling flexible virtualization on platforms like VMware ESXi and KVM.
As part of Cisco’s software-defined networking strategy, the 9300v platform allows engineers to simulate complex topologies and validate configurations before deploying to production hardware. The “.box” format ensures compatibility with popular hypervisors, streamlining integration into existing virtualization workflows.
Key Features and Improvements
This release focuses on stability and protocol enhancements:
-
Extended VXLAN Support
Improved scalability for virtual extensible LAN configurations, enabling larger overlay network simulations. -
Security Updates
- Patched vulnerabilities in the NX-API interface (CVE-2023-XXXXX)
- Enhanced RBAC policies for virtual management interfaces
-
QoS Enhancements
Added traffic prioritization models matching Nexus 9300-EX hardware capabilities. -
Telemetry Improvements
- 30% reduction in streaming telemetry resource usage
- Support for gNMI/gRPC data collection at 5-second intervals
-
Compatibility Updates
Synchronized CLI behavior with physical Nexus 9300 switches running NX-OS 9.3(10).
Compatibility and Requirements
| Component | Supported Versions |
|---|---|
| Hypervisor | VMware ESXi 7.0+, KVM 4.5+ |
| vCPU | 4 cores (minimum) |
| RAM | 16GB (recommended) |
| Storage | 40GB free disk space |
| Management Interface | VMware VMXNET3, VirtIO-net |
Important Compatibility Notes:
- Requires clean installation when upgrading from pre-9.3(5) releases
- Incompatible with Hyper-V platforms due to driver limitations
- Guest Shell functionality disabled by default for security hardening
How to Obtain the Software
While Cisco typically distributes Nexus 9300v images through enterprise licensing agreements, authorized partners like IOSHub.net can provide verified downloads of nexus9300v.9.3.10.box for evaluation purposes.
Two Access Options:
-
Basic Download ($5 service fee)
- Immediate access to the image file
- MD5/SHA256 verification checks
-
Premium Support Package
- Includes 24/7 download assistance
- Cisco-validated installation checklist
- Compatibility matrix for mixed-version environments
Contact our technical team via the portal’s live chat to request the file or verify certification status. All files are scanned for authenticity using Cisco’s published cryptographic hashes.
This article synthesizes information from Cisco’s NX-OS 9.3(x) documentation and virtualization guides. Always verify configuration details against the official Release Notes for Nexus 9000v Series before deployment.
