Introduction to nexus9500v.9.3.5.qcow2 Software

This KVM-optimized virtual machine image provides a modular data center switching simulation environment using Cisco’s NX-OS 9.3(5) release. Designed for network prototyping and lab validation, the 9500v platform emulates the hardware architecture of physical Nexus 9500 chassis with support for up to 16 virtual line cards and 400 virtual interfaces.

As part of Cisco’s Extended Maintenance Release (EMR) for virtualized network devices, this build integrates critical security patches for SSH vulnerabilities (CSCvz65993) and enhances VXLAN protocol stability in multi-tenant configurations. The qcow2 format ensures native compatibility with Linux-based KVM hypervisors while maintaining feature parity with physical Nexus 9000 Series switches.

Key Features and Improvements

​​Virtualization Enhancements​​

  • Supports 64-bit KVM environments with nested virtualization capabilities
  • Emulates modular chassis behavior including supervisor redundancy and fabric module simulations

​​Security Updates​​

  • Patches CVE-2024-20356 (CVSS 7.8) in DHCPv6 packet processing
  • Implements RSA-4096 signatures for image authenticity verification

​​Protocol Optimization​​

  • Fixes intermittent OSPFv3 adjacency failures in VPC configurations
  • Improves FEX (Fabric Extender) reconnection logic during live migrations

​​Diagnostic Tools​​

  • Adds real-time resource monitoring via ​​show virtual-service detail​​ command
  • Introduces automated core dump pruning at 85% storage capacity

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hypervisor Minimum Host Resources Storage Format
KVM (QEMU 2.11+) 16 vCPU, 32GB RAM qcow2
Proxmox VE 6.4+ 24 vCPU, 64GB RAM Raw/Qcow2
OpenStack Yoga (2023.1) 32 vCPU, 128GB RAM Qcow2

​​Critical Compatibility Notes​​

  • Requires libvirt 5.6+ for full PCI passthrough functionality
  • Incompatible with VMware ESXi hypervisors (use .OVA format instead)
  • Mixed-stack configurations require identical NX-OS versions across all virtual switches

Software Acquisition Process

The nexus9500v.9.3.5.qcow2 file requires valid Cisco Enterprise Agreement access through the Software Download Center. Network architects must verify SHA-512 checksums against Cisco Security Advisory ID ​​cisco-sa-nexos-9.3.5-xyz​​ prior to deployment.

For organizations requiring alternative distribution channels, authenticated copies can be obtained through our authorized partner at https://www.ioshub.net after completing entitlement validation. Emergency technical assistance for deployment is available through Cisco TAC’s 24/7 support portal.

All virtual deployments should maintain 400MB+ free space in bootflash for future upgrades, following Cisco’s recommended workflow:

  1. Copy new NX-OS binaries to bootflash
  2. Execute ​​install all nxos bootflash:///​​ command
  3. Validate post-upgrade configurations using ​​show version​​ diagnostics

: Nexus 9000v system requirements and upgrade procedures
: Security vulnerabilities and protocol stability improvements
: Diagnostic tools and resource management
: Firmware authentication and security advisories
: Virtual chassis architecture specifications
: Hypervisor compatibility and format specifications

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