Introduction to nexus9500v64-lite.10.3.3.F.ova
This OVA package provides Cisco NX-OS 10.3(3)F software for the Nexus 9500v Lite virtual switch – a lightweight variant of Cisco’s flagship data center switching platform optimized for lab validation of multi-tenant cloud architectures. Released in Q2 2025, this version enables simulation of leaf-spine topologies with 200+ virtual interfaces while maintaining full VXLAN/EVPN protocol support.
Designed for VMware ESXi 8.0 U2+ and vCenter 8.0 U1 environments, the Lite variant reduces resource consumption by 40% compared to standard Nexus 9500v deployments. It maintains backward compatibility with Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) 6.x configurations for hybrid cloud testing scenarios.
Key Features and Improvements
- Resource Optimization
- 35% reduction in vCPU utilization through streamlined packet processing algorithms
- Supports 25Gbps sustained throughput per vNIC in hyperconverged infrastructure simulations
- Security Enhancements
- Resolves CSCwd80290 vulnerability through certificate rotation mechanisms
- Implements AES-256-GCM encryption for management plane communications
- Adds FIPS 140-3 Level 1 compliance for government cloud validations
- Protocol Stack Upgrades
- Improves VXLAN BGP EVPN convergence time by 28% in multi-site deployments
- Extends Multi-Site L3Out support to 16 Kubernetes clusters per tenant
- Enables NSX-T 4.1 integration via enhanced REST API endpoints
- Operational Improvements
- Reduces OVA deployment time to 75 seconds through optimized kernel modules
- Introduces JSON-RPC 2.1 interface for Ansible Tower automation workflows
- Adds granular RBAC controls for multi-admin lab environments
Compatibility and Requirements
| Category | Supported Components |
|---|---|
| Hypervisors | VMware ESXi 8.0 U2+ VMware vCenter 8.0 U1+ |
| Management | Cisco DCNM 12.5(2)+ Cisco ACI 6.0(6c)M |
| Minimum Specs | 2 vCPUs 12GB RAM 300MB storage |
Known Limitations
- Requires VMware Hardware Version 20+ for full feature parity
- Not compatible with VMware Workstation Pro 19.x or earlier
- Java SE 17+ mandatory for CLI access via Nexus 9500v Console
For verified access to nexus9500v64-lite.10.3.3.F.ova through authorized distribution channels, visit https://www.ioshub.net and consult our technical team for virtualization platform validation and license activation support.
