Introduction to nexus9300v64.10.2.7.M.ova
The nexus9300v64.10.2.7.M.ova package represents Cisco’s virtualized Nexus 9300 Series switch implementation optimized for hybrid cloud environments. This 10.2(7)M release introduces enhanced VXLAN EVPN performance for multi-site architectures, certified for VMware ESXi 8.0 U2+ and KVM/QEMU 6.0+ hypervisors.
Developed as part of Cisco’s Cloud Network Controller ecosystem, this OVA package provides full NX-OS 10.2(x) feature parity with physical Nexus 93180YC-EX hardware. The “M” designation indicates memory-optimized performance for nested virtualization scenarios requiring ≤64 virtual interfaces.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Enhanced Fabric Performance
- 35% faster VXLAN BGP EVPN convergence vs 10.1(5)Q
- Native integration with AWS Transit Gateway & Azure Virtual WAN
2. Security Updates
- TLS 1.3 hardware-assisted encryption acceleration
- CVE-2024-20359 remediation in BFD protocol stack
3. Telemetry Enhancements
- NETCONF/YANG 1.1 streaming telemetry (50,000 metrics/sec)
- Embedded Wireshark dissectors for VXLAN packet analysis
4. Resource Optimization
- 25% reduced memory footprint through dynamic buffer allocation
- Adaptive CPU core utilization for traffic engineering
Compatibility and Requirements
| Virtualization Platform | Minimum Resources | Supported Toolchains |
|---|---|---|
| VMware ESXi 8.0 U2+ | 8 vCPUs/32GB RAM | Terraform 1.5+ |
| KVM 6.0+ (QEMU) | 120GB Storage | Ansible 2.15+ |
| Cisco NFVIS 4.9+ | 10Gbps vNIC | NSO 6.1+ |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Requires VMware Hardware Version 19+ for SR-IOV support
- Incompatible with NSX-T Data Center ≤3.2.3
- Limited features when nested under Hyper-V 2022
nexus9300v64-lite.10.3.5.M.qcow2 Cisco Nexus 9300v Lite for CI/CD Pipeline Validation
Introduction to nexus9300v64-lite.10.3.5.M.qcow2
This lite edition of Cisco’s Nexus 9300v virtual switch delivers 60% reduced resource consumption while maintaining core NX-OS 10.3(5)M functionality. Optimized for DevOps pipelines, it supports automated testing frameworks like Jenkins 2.414+ and GitLab CI/CD 16.7+.
Certified for Docker Desktop 4.25+ and WSL2 environments, the package includes pre-configured Ansible roles for zero-touch provisioning of VXLAN overlays.
Key Features and Improvements
1. DevOps Integration
- Terraform provider with declarative VXLAN configuration
- JUnit XML output for test result integration
2. Performance Optimization
- 48GB base disk image (55% reduction from standard build)
- Adaptive QoS policies for parallel job execution
3. Security Enhancements
- Containerized control plane isolation via Docker namespaces
- Automated CIS benchmark compliance checks
4. Diagnostic Tooling
- Embedded Prometheus exporter (10,000 samples/sec)
- Automated log rotation with AES-256 encryption
Compatibility and Requirements
| Platform | Minimum Specifications | Supported Environments |
|---|---|---|
| Docker 4.25+ | 4 vCPUs/16GB RAM | Kubernetes 1.28+ |
| WSL2 (Win11 22H2+) | 60GB Storage | OpenShift 4.13+ |
| Podman 4.5+ | 10Gbps vNIC | GitHub Actions |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Excludes Broadcom ASIC emulation features
- Requires Linux kernel 5.15+ for full functionality
- Incompatible with Chef Automate workflows
Secure Software Access
Both packages are available through Cisco’s Enterprise Software Portal with valid Smart License agreements. Third-party verification confirms SHA-384 checksums match Cisco’s cryptographic standards.
Lab evaluation access is available via ioshub.net‘s partner program, adhering to Cisco’s distribution policies. All downloads require TACACS+ authentication and active service contracts.
These technical specifications align with Cisco’s Nexus 9000 Series documentation, providing enterprise-grade virtual switching capabilities optimized for specific use cases. Network architects should reference NX-OS 10.x release notes for complete implementation guidance.
