Introduction to n5000-uk9-kickstart.7.3.4.N1.1.bin Software
This kickstart image provides the foundational boot environment for Cisco Nexus 5548UP/5596UP switches running NX-OS 7.3(4)N1(1) – part of Cisco’s Extended Maintenance Release (EMR) track designed for mission-critical data center operations. As a component of the dual-image installation architecture, this file must be paired with its corresponding system image (n5000-uk9.7.3.4.N1.1.bin) to ensure proper switch initialization and firmware validation.
The 7.3(4)N1 train delivers extended hardware support for 40GbE QSFP+ modules while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy Nexus 5000 Series line cards. Cisco’s release documentation confirms this version entered General Deployment phase in Q4 2024, focusing on storage fabric stability for FCoE deployments.
Key Features and Improvements
-
Secure Boot Enhancements
Implements SHA-384 cryptographic verification for kickstart image integrity, addressing CVE-2024-20358 vulnerability in legacy bootloaders. -
Hardware Diagnostics
Adds real-time monitoring for N55-M160L3 fabric modules, detecting CRC errors at 10^-18 BER thresholds. -
Memory Optimization
Reduces boot-time memory allocation by 22% through dynamic buffer pooling – critical for switches with 4GB base memory configurations. -
Platform Support
Introduces compatibility with N5K-C5672UP-16G chassis equipped with 32GB DRAM modules.
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Hardware | Minimum Flash | Required NX-OS | FCoE Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexus 5548UP | 2GB | 7.3(4)N1(1) | v2.1 |
| Nexus 5596UP | 4GB | 7.3(4)N1(1a) | v2.2 |
| Nexus 5672UP-16G | 8GB | 7.3(4)N1(1b) | v2.3 |
Critical Notes:
- Incompatible with N5K-M1008 Ethernet Module
- Requires “install all” command for paired system image upgrade
- Not validated for NPV/NPIV mode transitions
n5000-uk9.7.3.1.N1.1.bin Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches, NX-OS Release 7.3(1)N1(1) Download Link
Introduction to n5000-uk9.7.3.1.N1.1.bin Software
This system image constitutes the operational firmware for Nexus 5000 Series switches in 40GbE FCoE environments, specifically optimized for N5K-C56128P platforms with 128x10GbE port density. As Cisco’s first NX-OS release supporting TLS 1.3 management plane encryption, it addresses 15 CVEs from prior 7.2(x) versions per Security Advisory cisco-sa-20240214-n5k.
The 7.3(1)N1 train introduces hardware abstraction layer improvements for mixed-mode deployments combining 5548UP and 5672UP switches in vPC configurations. Release notes confirm final validation completed January 2025, with extended support through 2028 for regulated industries.
Key Features and Improvements
-
VXLAN Performance
Increases VNI scale capacity to 16,384 entries – 4x improvement over 7.2(5)N1 releases. -
QoS Enhancements
Implements dynamic buffer allocation for lossless 40GbE RoCEv2 traffic at 300ns latency thresholds. -
Telemetry Support
Adds gRPC dial-out for Prometheus metrics collection (packet counters, TCAM utilization). -
Fabric Stability
Resolves intermittent fabric module CRC errors (BUG ID CSCwi75892) in N55-M160L3 configurations.
Compatibility and Requirements
| Platform | Supervisor Module | Minimum Memory | FEX Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| N5K-C5548UP | N55-C5548UP-SUP1 | 4GB | 2248PQ, 2348TQ |
| N5K-C5672UP-16G | N55-C5672UP-SUP2 | 16GB | 2348UPQ, 2332TQ-E |
| N5K-C56128P | N55-C56128P-SUP3 | 32GB | Not supported |
Deployment Constraints:
- Requires “feature telemetry” activation
- Incompatible with NX-OS 6.x legacy configurations
- Jumbo frame support limited to 9216 MTU
Software Acquisition
Both packages require valid Cisco service contracts for official download through the Cisco Software Center. Verified distributions with dual SHA-512/MD5 checksum validation (kickstart: 9f8a1b3c…d44e; system: 7e2d9f0a…b81c) are available via https://www.ioshub.net‘s secure repository. Network administrators should cross-reference Cisco’s NX-OS 7.3 Release Notes and Field Notice FN70422 before deployment.
