Introduction to guestshell_4.0.10.4.1.F.ova Software

The guestshell_4.0.10.4.1.F.ova represents Cisco’s containerized Linux environment for Nexus 9000 Series switches running NX-OS 10.4(1)F, designed to enable secure third-party application integration within network devices. This virtual appliance provides a sandboxed environment for running Python scripts, monitoring tools, and custom automation workflows while maintaining strict separation from the switch’s control plane.

Compatible with Nexus 9300/9500 platforms in both standalone and ACI modes, this Guest Shell version specifically addresses security vulnerabilities in previous 4.0 releases while maintaining compatibility with Cisco’s Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) policy models. Official release notes indicate enhanced validation with Python 3.8 interpreters and OpenSSL 1.1.1w cryptographic libraries.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Security Enhancements​​
  • Updated Linux kernel to 4.14.318 with CVE-2023-38409 mitigation
  • Restricted container privileges through SELinux policy hardening
  1. ​​Development Toolchain Updates​​
  • Upgraded Python pip to v23.1.2 with dependency conflict resolution
  • Added Ansible Core 2.14.3 compatibility for network automation
  1. ​​Performance Optimization​​
  • Reduced container startup time by 18% through systemd-250 optimizations
  • Allocated dynamic memory scaling up to 2GB based on host resources
  1. ​​Protocol Support​​
  • gRPC telemetry streaming enhancements with 500ms sampling intervals
  • NETCONF/YANG model updates matching NX-OS 10.4(1)F feature parity

Compatibility and Requirements

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Versions​​
Switch Platforms Nexus 93180YC-FX, 9508 with N9K-X9636C-R, 9332C
NX-OS Version 10.4(1)F or later
Hypervisors VMware ESXi 7.0 U3+, KVM (RHEL 8.6+)
Memory Allocation 4GB switch RAM minimum
Storage 2GB free bootflash

​​Critical Considerations​​:

  • Incompatible with Python 2.7-based legacy automation scripts
  • Requires SHA-512 encrypted credentials for API access
  • Limited to 8 concurrent SSH sessions within Guest Shell

Obtaining the Virtual Environment Package

Authorized Cisco customers can download guestshell_4.0.10.4.1.F.ova through the Cisco Software Center with valid service contracts. For lab environment testing, visit https://www.ioshub.net to access:

  • OVA checksum verification files
  • Pre-configured Ansible playbook templates
  • API integration guides for ACI environments

This release maintains backward compatibility with 4.0(x) container configurations while introducing critical security patches for FedRAMP-compliant deployments. Network engineers should reference Cisco’s Guest Shell Administration Guide for detailed implementation procedures.

: Container security policy enforcement mechanisms
: Python dependency management best practices
: Memory allocation optimization techniques
: SELinux configuration templates
: API authentication protocol updates
: Multi-tenant environment isolation controls

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