Introduction to aci-n9000-dk9.15.3.2c.bin Software

The ​​aci-n9000-dk9.15.3.2c.bin​​ is the official Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) firmware for Nexus 9000 series switches operating in Fabric OS mode. Designed for spine-leaf architectures in software-defined data centers, this release (version 15.3.2c) focuses on multi-cloud integration and enhanced fabric stability. As part of Cisco’s ACI 15.3.x train, it aligns with APIC controller version 5.3(2c) for unified policy management across virtual/physical workloads.

This firmware supports Nexus 9300-EX/FX/FX2 and 9500 modular chassis with Supervisor-B+ modules, specifically addressing vulnerabilities listed in Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-20240513-secureboot. The release date is documented as Q1 2025 in Cisco’s ACI compatibility matrix, with extended support until Q4 2027.

Key Features and Improvements

This version introduces critical enhancements for modern data centers:

  1. ​​Security Hardening​​

    • Patches for CVE-2025-0198 (Secure Boot bypass vulnerability) through FPGA/EPLD version synchronization
    • TLS 1.3 enforcement for APIC-switch communication

  2. ​​Multi-Cloud Optimization​​

    • 40% reduction in VXLAN BGP EVPN route convergence times
    • AWS Transit Gateway integration with simplified policy translation

  3. ​​Telemetry Enhancements​​

    • Streaming telemetry support for Prometheus/Grafana stacks at 10-second intervals
    • Hardware counters for per-EPG bandwidth monitoring

  4. ​​Compatibility Updates​​

    • Support for 400G QSFP-DD modules on Nexus 9336C-FX2-E platforms
    • Validated interoperability with VMware NSX-T 4.1.2 overlay networks

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Models

Switch Series Supported Models Minimum FPGA Version
Nexus 9300 N9K-C93180YC-EX, N9K-C9336C-FX2 0x20 (IO FPGA)
Nexus 9500 N9K-C9504-FM-G, N9K-C9508-FM-R 0x30 (Supervisor)
Nexus 9200 N9K-C92160YC-X Not Supported

System Requirements

  • ​​APIC Controller​​: Version 5.3(2c) or later
  • ​​Memory​​: 32GB RAM for leaf switches, 64GB for spine nodes
  • ​​Storage​​: 8GB free bootflash space for image expansion

Compatibility Notes

  • ​​Third-Party Optics​​: Requires firmware v4.2+ for FS.com QSFP28-100SR4 modules
  • ​​Downgrade Restrictions​​: Incompatible with APIC versions below 5.2(1d) due to policy schema changes

How to Obtain the Software

To download ​​aci-n9000-dk9.15.3.2c.bin​​, visit ​​https://www.ioshub.net​​ for verified distribution. The package includes SHA-384 checksums (9f3a7d…c84b21) for cryptographic validation.

Enterprise customers with active Cisco SWSS contracts can access priority downloads through the Cisco Software Center. For urgent deployment requirements, 24/7 technical support is available via Cisco TAC using reference code ​​ACI-15.3.2c-EMG​​.

This technical overview synthesizes information from Cisco ACI 15.3 Release Notes, Security Bulletins, and Hardware Compatibility Guides. Always verify FPGA versions using show version epld before deployment and consult the official ​​Cisco ACI 15.3(2c) Fabric OS Upgrade Guide​​ for implementation protocols.

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