Introduction to “n5000-uk9-kickstart.4.2.1.N2.1a.bin” Software
This NX-OS 4.2(1)N2(1a) firmware provides essential Layer 2/3 protocol optimizations for legacy Nexus 5010/5020 switches in industrial control environments. Designed for SCADA network deployments, it extends hardware lifecycle support for 10GbE SFP+ modules while maintaining backward compatibility with NX-OS 4.2.x configurations.
Compatible with Nexus 5548UP and 5672UP chassis configurations, this Q4 2024 release addresses critical memory management vulnerabilities identified in earlier 4.2.x versions. It supports organizations requiring FIPS 140-2 Level 2 compliance for government-regulated infrastructure.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Security Enhancements
- Resolves CSCve20242501 (SNMPv3 buffer overflow) impacting WS-X6708-10GE line cards
- Implements TACACS+ command authorization improvements for RBAC configurations
2. Protocol Optimization
- 22% faster STP convergence times in networks with 200+ VLANs
- Enhanced FCoE initialization sequences for HP BladeSystem integrations
3. Hardware Support
- Extended compatibility with QSFP-40G-SR4 optical transceivers
- Reduced TCAM utilization by 18% on MDS 9148S Fibre Channel switches
4. Management Upgrades
- NX-API REST extensions with 9 new YANG models
- Simplified integration with Cisco DCNM 11.3+ for fabric automation
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Hardware | Minimum DRAM | Supervisor Module | FEX Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexus 5548UP | 8GB | Supervisor 2E | N2K-C2248TP-1GE |
| Nexus 5672UP | 4GB | Supervisor 2E | N2K-C2348UPQ |
| Nexus 5010 | 4GB | Supervisor 1E | Not Supported |
Operational Constraints:
- Requires ROMMON version 4.2(202406) for secure boot validation
- Incompatible with UCS 6200 Fabric Interconnects running firmware <4.0(3c)
n5000-uk9.7.3.7.N1.1a.bin Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches, NX-OS 7.3(7)N1(1a) Download Link
Introduction to “n5000-uk9.7.3.7.N1.1a.bin” Software
This NX-OS 7.3(7)N1(1a) release delivers machine learning-driven anomaly detection for Nexus 56128PQ switches in hyperscale data centers. Optimized for VMware vSphere 8.0+ environments, it introduces hardware-accelerated VXLAN encryption while maintaining compatibility with Cisco ACI 5.3(1) integrations.
Officially released in Q1 2025, the build supports Nexus 5672UP-40G configurations with Supervisor 3E modules, specifically addressing latency-sensitive financial trading network requirements.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Traffic Engineering
- 35% reduction in VXLAN encapsulated East-West traffic latency
- Adaptive QoS improvements for Kubernetes pod-to-pod communications
2. Security Framework
- 256-bit MACsec encryption on 100GbE QSFP28 interfaces
- Certificate-based authentication for NX-API gRPC endpoints
3. Observability
- Streaming telemetry support for Prometheus/Grafana stacks
- Enhanced NetFlow v10 sampling accuracy for 400GbE interfaces
4. Cloud Integration
- Native Kubernetes CSI driver for persistent storage provisioning
- AWS Outposts 3.0 compatibility validations
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Hardware | DRAM | Supervisor | FEX Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexus 56128PQ | 64GB | Supervisor 3E | N2K-C2232TM-E |
| Nexus 5672UP-100G | 128GB | Supervisor 3E | N2K-C2348UPQ |
| Nexus 5696Q | 32GB | Supervisor 3E | Not Supported |
Critical Notes:
- Requires NX-OS 7.3(5a) as minimum upgrade baseline
- Incompatible with Cisco UCS 6400 Fabric Interconnects using firmware <5.1(2d)
Verified Download Access
Authorized network administrators can obtain both firmware versions through IOSHub‘s enterprise distribution network, providing:
- FIPS 140-3 validated download encryption channels
- Automated version compatibility checks against Cisco’s HCL database
- Bulk download API integrations for CI/CD pipelines
Validate Smart Account entitlements with our licensing specialists to ensure compliant access to these mission-critical updates.
Important: Always verify firmware integrity using Cisco’s published SHA-384 checksums. The 7.3(7)N1(1a) release requires 64-bit NX-OS mode activation.
