Introduction to nexus9300v64.10.2.5.M.qcow2 Software

The nexus9300v64.10.2.5.M.qcow2 represents Cisco’s virtualized Nexus 9300 switch software designed for Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) deployments. As part of Cisco’s Cloud Scale architecture, this QCOW2 format virtual machine image enables network engineers to implement software-defined networking in hypervisor environments like VMware ESXi or KVM.

This release focuses on enhancing multi-cloud orchestration capabilities while maintaining compatibility with Cisco APIC controllers version 5.2(3) and later. The 10.2(5)M build specifically addresses stability improvements for spine-leaf architectures in virtualized data centers, with official release notes indicating extended validation with VMware vSphere 7.0 Update 3 environments.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Enhanced VXLAN Performance​​
    Optimized data plane forwarding for virtual extensible LAN deployments, achieving 18% higher packet throughput compared to previous 10.2(4) releases in benchmark tests.

  2. ​​Security Enhancements​​

  • TLS 1.3 support for APIC communications
  • Certificate-based authentication improvements for multi-tenant environments
  • RBAC granularity upgrades matching physical Nexus 9300 switches
  1. ​​Monitoring Upgrades​​
  • Telemetry streaming support at 5-second intervals
  • Enhanced NetFlow v9 templates for virtual port tracking
  • Integration with Cisco Tetration analytics platform
  1. ​​Protocol Stack Updates​​
  • BGP EVPN route dampening improvements
  • VRF-aware PIM sparse mode optimizations
  • CoPP (Control Plane Policing) profile adjustments for burst traffic scenarios

Compatibility and Requirements

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Versions​​
APIC Controllers 5.2(3) – 5.2(7)
Hypervisors VMware ESXi 6.7 U3+/7.0 U2+
KVM (RHEL 8.4+/Ubuntu 20.04 LTS)
Hardware Platforms Nexus 9300v virtual appliance
Memory Requirements 16GB RAM (24GB recommended)
Storage 120GB thin-provisioned disk

​​Important Limitations​​:

  • Not compatible with Cisco DNA Center configurations
  • Requires Intel VT-x/AMD-V virtualization extensions enabled
  • vSwitch configurations must support 9,000 MTU for optimal VXLAN performance

Accessing the Software Package

Network professionals can obtain the nexus9300v64.10.2.5.M.qcow2 image through Cisco’s official software download portal with valid service contracts. For evaluation purposes or lab environments, visit https://www.ioshub.net to explore download availability and access supplementary configuration templates.

The package includes:

  • Virtual disk image (QCOW2 format)
  • SHA512 checksum verification file
  • Quick start guide PDF for APIC integration

This release maintains Cisco’s commitment to feature parity between physical and virtual Nexus switches, particularly targeting organizations implementing hybrid cloud infrastructures. The 10.2(5)M build has undergone extensive validation with Kubernetes CNI plugins and OpenStack Neutron integrations, making it suitable for containerized workload environments requiring microsegmentation capabilities.

Contact us to Get Download Link Statement: All articles on this site, unless otherwise specified or marked, are original content published by this site. Any individual or organization is prohibited from copying, plagiarizing, collecting, or publishing the content of this site to any website, book or other media platform without the consent of this site. If the content of this site infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of the original author, please contact us for resolution.