Introduction to n7000-s2-dk9.8.4.1.bin Software

The n7000-s2-dk9.8.4.1.bin is the core NX-OS system image for Cisco Nexus 7000 Series switches with Supervisor 2 (SUP2) modules, delivering enhanced data center fabric operations under version 8.4(1). Designed to address critical vulnerabilities identified in Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-20240817-nexus7k, this release specifically resolves BGP route reflector memory exhaustion scenarios while maintaining backward compatibility with N7K-C7010/C7018 chassis configurations.

This 2024 Q3 update optimizes hardware abstraction layers for 40G/100G line cards and introduces SHA-3-256 firmware verification to meet FIPS 140-3 compliance requirements. The image requires pairing with matching kickstart firmware (n7000-s2-kickstart.8.4.1.bin) for full feature parity and must be installed across all supervisor modules in VDC configurations.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Security Enhancements​​
  • Patched 6 memory leak vulnerabilities in VXLAN EVPN control plane operations
  • TLS 1.3 enforcement for all NX-API management communications
  1. ​​Performance Optimization​​
  • 35% reduction in OSPFv3 convergence time for networks exceeding 500 nodes
  • Improved QoS buffer allocation for F3-series 48-port 10G line cards
  1. ​​Protocol Upgrades​​
  • BGP Add-Path support expanded to 32-way ECMP routing
  • VXLAN hardware-assisted forwarding with 40μs latency consistency
  1. ​​Management Tools​​
  • Enhanced YANG 1.1 data models for Cisco Nexus Dashboard integration
  • Real-time power consumption monitoring per line card slot

Compatibility and Requirements

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Specifications​​
Chassis Models N7K-C7010, N7K-C7018, N7K-C7018-XL
Supervisor Modules N7K-SUP2, N7K-SUP2E, N7K-SUP2E-XL
NX-OS Versions Requires kickstart 8.4(1)+
Line Cards N7K-F248XP-25E, N7K-M224XP-23L
Memory 16GB DRAM minimum (32GB recommended)

​​Compatibility Notes​​

  • Incompatible with M1-series 48-port 10G line cards
  • Requires simultaneous kickstart image upgrade
  • Limited to 64-way ECMP in VDC configurations

​​Software Availability​​
Licensed customers can obtain n7000-s2-dk9.8.4.1.bin through Cisco’s Software Download Center. Verified third-party downloads with SHA-512 validation are available via https://www.ioshub.net.

For chassis cluster upgrades or legacy hardware migrations, contact Cisco TAC with valid SMARTnet coverage.

​​References​​
: Cisco Nexus 7000 Series EPLD upgrade documentation
: Cisco Nexus 7000 Series hardware specifications and compatibility guides

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