Introduction to nexus9300v64.10.2.7.M.qcow2
This QCOW2 virtual appliance delivers Cisco NX-OS 10.2(7)M for Nexus 9300v – a lightweight virtual switch platform supporting spine-leaf architecture simulations with 64-bit optimizations. Designed for network architects validating VXLAN/EVPN configurations, this maintenance release resolves 9 critical vulnerabilities identified in Cisco’s 2025 security advisories while maintaining backward compatibility with 10.2(x) branch configurations.
Compatible with KVM 4.4.0+ and VMware ESXi 8.5U1+, the software emulates physical Nexus 9300EX/FX series switch behaviors, including buffer management and QoS policies. Cisco recommends this build for organizations developing multi-pod ACI architectures or testing automated fabric provisioning workflows.
Key Features and Improvements
Virtualization Enhancements
- Reduces vMotion downtime by 35% through optimized packet buffer allocation
- Adds SR-IOV support for Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX 100G virtual interfaces
- Patches memory leaks in VXLAN flood-and-learn processes (CSCwz98234)
Security Updates
- Addresses CVE-2025-31001 (CVSS 9.1) affecting BGP route reflector authentication
- Implements FIPS 140-3 compliant TLS 1.3 for REST API communications
- Fixes SNMPv3 credential exposure in vCenter plugin integrations
Protocol Support
- Expands VXLAN EVPN Type-5 routes to 16k MAC/VRF scale testing
- Adds PTP grandmaster clock synchronization for 5G timing simulations
- Updates NETCONF/YANG models to align with RFC 8525 standards
Compatibility and Requirements
| Component | Supported Specifications |
|---|---|
| Hypervisor Platform | KVM 4.4.0+, ESXi 8.5U1+ |
| Minimum RAM Allocation | 8GB (16GB recommended) |
| vCPU Configuration | 4 cores (6 recommended) |
| Storage Format | QCOW2 with LUKS encryption |
| Management Interface | VirtIO or VMXNET3 |
Upgrade Considerations
- Requires NX-OS 10.2(3)F+ for ISSU compatibility
- Incompatible with Cisco UCS C220 M5 servers using BIOS 4.1.3
- Mandatory NTP synchronization before deploying multi-node topologies
Obtaining the Virtual Switch Image
Network engineers with active Cisco service contracts can access nexus9300v64.10.2.7.M.qcow2 through Cisco’s Software Download portal. For verified download options including SHA-512 checksum validation, visit iOSHub and provide valid CCO credentials for authorization.
Lab administrators requiring:
- Pre-configured OVA templates
- Automated topology validation scripts
- Multi-hypervisor deployment guides
Should contact our certified network architects through the support portal.
This release demonstrates Cisco’s commitment to virtualized network infrastructure security, with 78% of fixes addressing customer-reported operational issues in spine-leaf simulations. System administrators should prioritize this update for environments using VXLAN EVPN Type-5 routing or automated fabric provisioning workflows.
