Introduction to guestshell.10.4.1.F.ova Software

The ​​guestshell.10.4.1.F.ova​​ is a preconfigured Linux container environment designed for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches running NX-OS 10.4(1)F. This virtual appliance enables network engineers to deploy custom automation scripts, monitoring tools, and third-party applications within a secure sandbox while maintaining native integration with Cisco’s NX-OS architecture.

Released in Q3 2025 as part of the NX-OS 10.4(1)F feature pack, this Guest Shell iteration provides full Python 3.11 runtime support and enhanced API access to switch telemetry data. Compatible with Nexus 9300-FX3, 93180YC-FX3, and 93600CD-GX hardware platforms, it serves as a critical tool for DevOps workflows in software-defined data center environments.

Key Features and Improvements

​​Enhanced Container Runtime​​

  • Reduced container spin-up time by 35% through optimized Docker daemon integration
  • Added support for Kubernetes CRD (Custom Resource Definitions) management

​​Security Upgrades​​

  • Implemented FIPS 140-3 compliant encryption for container-to-NXOS communications
  • Patched 2 critical CVEs from prior Guest Shell versions (CVE-2025-3281, CVE-2025-4012)

​​API Enhancements​​

  • RESTCONF response time improved by 45% through payload compression
  • Added gNMI streaming support for 10K+ telemetry data points per second

​​Toolchain Updates​​

  • Preloaded Ansible 8.2 with NX-OS collection v5.1.1
  • Integrated PyATS 22.12 for automated network validation

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware NX-OS Version Virtualization Platform
Nexus 93180YC-FX3 10.4(1)F+ VMware ESXi 7.0 U3+
Nexus 9336C-FX2 10.4(1)F KVM 5.5+
Nexus 93600CD-GX 10.4(1)F

​​Unsupported Configurations​​

  • Hyper-V virtualization environments
  • Nexus 9500 Series modular chassis
  • NX-OS versions prior to 10.2(5)M

​​Resource Requirements​​

  • Minimum 4GB dedicated container memory
  • 20GB free bootflash space for persistent storage

Accessing the Virtual Appliance

Authorized Cisco customers can obtain ​​guestshell.10.4.1.F.ova​​ through:

  1. Valid Smart Licensing account via Cisco Software Central
  2. TAC case submission with active service contract

Platforms like https://www.ioshub.net provide verified OVA mirrors for network automation engineers. Always validate SHA-384 checksums against Cisco’s published security bulletin values before deployment.

This documentation aligns with Cisco’s NX-OS 10.4(1)F Release Notes and Guest Shell Configuration Guide. For complete integration procedures and security advisories, consult Cisco’s official technical documentation portal.

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