Introduction to aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.5h.bin Software
This firmware package (aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.5h.bin) provides Cisco NX-OS Release 16.0(5h) for Nexus 9000 Series switches operating in Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) mode. Released on June 28, 2024, it delivers critical security patches and performance enhancements for Cisco’s software-defined data center solutions.
Designed for spine/leaf architectures in hyper-scale environments, this release improves integration with Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) 6.0(x) and introduces hardware-accelerated VXLAN routing capabilities. It supports all Nexus 9300-EX/FX/GX and 9500 modular chassis with Gen3+ line cards.
Key Features and Improvements
-
Security Enhancements
- Patches CVE-2024-20399 (Unauthorized EPROM write vulnerability) through enhanced firmware signature validation
- Implements hardware-based certificate validation for APIC-switch communication
-
Fabric Performance
- Increases VXLAN BGP EVPN scale to 1 million MAC/IP entries per leaf node
- Reduces fabric convergence time by 35% during topology changes
-
Protocol Support
- Adds Q-in-VNI encapsulation support for multi-tenant cloud environments
- Enables segment routing over IPv6 (SRv6) for border leaf configurations
-
Hardware Optimization
- Supports new N9K-X9736C-EX line cards with 400G QSFP-DD interfaces
- Fixes CRC errors on N9K-C9508-FM-E2 supervisor modules
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Hardware | Minimum Requirements | Incompatible Components |
---|---|---|
Nexus 9300-EX/FX/GX Switches | 32 GB RAM | N9K-M12PQ line cards |
Nexus 9508/9516 Chassis | 512 GB SSD Storage | Supervisor Module N9K-SUP-A |
N9K-X9736C-EX Line Cards | APIC 6.0(5d) or later | ACI firmware below 15.3(2h) |
Nexus 3164Q/3232C Fixed Switches | BIOS Version 3.18.0 |
This release requires NTP synchronization across the fabric and is incompatible with FEX 2348UPQ modules.
Obtain the Software
Download aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.5h.bin through authorized channels at IOSHub.net. Enterprise users must provide valid Cisco service contract details (CSS-9000 or equivalent) for firmware validation.
Compatibility data verified against Cisco Nexus 9000 Series ACI-Mode documentation. Installation requires prior FPGA/EPLD upgrades per Field Notice FN71532.
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