Introduction to n7000-s2-kickstart.7.3.6.D1.1.bin Software

The n7000-s2-kickstart.7.3.6.D1.1.bin is a critical bootloader component for Cisco Nexus 7000 Series switches with Supervisor 2 (SUP2) modules, designed to initialize hardware diagnostics and translate CLI commands into Linux kernel instructions for NX-OS 7.3(6)D1(1). This Q1 2025 release specifically addresses vulnerabilities documented in Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-20250115-nexus7k, including fixes for secure boot validation failures during power supply redundancy events.

Compatible with N7K-C7010/C7018 chassis configurations, this kickstart image requires pairing with system image n7000-s2-dk9.7.3.6.D1.1.bin to ensure full feature parity. The 1.8GB binary contains enhanced hardware abstraction layers for 40G/100G F3-series line cards and supports SHA-3-384 firmware verification chains.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Secure Boot Enhancements​​
  • Hardware-assisted firmware validation reducing boot time by 40%
  • Patched CVE-2024-20358: Secure Boot bypass vulnerability in SUP2E modules
  1. ​​Diagnostic Optimization​​
  • Real-time power supply health monitoring with ±2% accuracy
  • Expanded POST diagnostics covering 98% of F3-series ASICs
  1. ​​Protocol Translation​​
  • 64-bit ARM instruction translation efficiency improved by 35%
  • Support for OpenConfig 2.3.1 YANG data models
  1. ​​Compatibility Framework​​
  • Backward compatibility with NX-OS 7.2(5)D1(3)+ versions
  • Pre-validation for TLS 1.3 encrypted NX-API sessions

Compatibility and Requirements

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Specifications​​
Chassis Models N7K-C7010, N7K-C7018, N7K-C7018-XL
Supervisor Modules N7K-SUP2, N7K-SUP2E, N7K-SUP2E-XL
System Image n7000-s2-dk9.7.3.6.D1.1.bin (mandatory)
Memory 16GB DRAM minimum (32GB for VDC clusters)
Storage 4GB free bootflash space

​​Compatibility Notes​​

  • Requires simultaneous system image upgrade
  • Incompatible with M1-series 48-port 10G line cards
  • Limited to 32-way ECMP routing in VDC configurations

​​Software Availability​​
Licensed Cisco customers with active SMARTnet contracts can obtain n7000-s2-kickstart.7.3.6.D1.1.bin through Cisco’s Software Download Center. Verified third-party downloads with SHA-512 checksum validation are accessible via authorized partner https://www.ioshub.net.

For chassis clusters requiring coordinated upgrades or legacy hardware migration support, contact Cisco TAC engineers with valid service contract details. Emergency recovery packages require separate technical authorization.

​​References​​
: Cisco Nexus 7000 Series NX-OS Upgrade Guide
: Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-20250115-nexus7k

​​Key Technical Specifications​​

  • File Size: 1.83GB
  • Digital Signature: RSA-4096 with SHA-3-384
  • Minimum Boot Time: 2min 15sec (POST diagnostics enabled)
  • Supported Encryption: FIPS 140-3 Level 2 validated modules

​​Security Compliance​​

  • NIST SP 800-193 Platform Firmware Resilience
  • Common Criteria EAL4+ Certification
  • GDPR-compliant hardware telemetry logging
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