Introduction to nexus9500v64.10.1.2.ova Software
nexus9500v64.10.1.2.ova is the official virtual appliance image for Cisco Nexus 9500v series switches running NX-OS 10.1(2) software. This VMware-compatible OVA package enables network engineers to emulate the full functionality of Cisco Nexus 9500 Series data center switches in virtualized environments, supporting feature validation for multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), VXLAN, and EVPN configurations.
Designed for lab testing and CI/CD pipeline integrations, this virtual switch version aligns with the hardware capabilities of physical Nexus 9500-R2 Series switches, including support for 64-bit NX-OS architecture and enhanced telemetry features. Cisco’s documentation confirms compatibility with VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 2+ and vCenter Server 8.0 U1d+ environments.
Key Features and Improvements
-
64-bit NX-OS Architecture
- 40% faster packet processing compared to 32-bit 9.3(x) releases
- Supports 1TB vRAM configurations for large-scale topology simulations
-
Enhanced Security Protocols
- Mandatory TLS 1.3 encryption for all management interfaces
- FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic modules for SSHv2/SCP transfers
-
Telemetry Optimization
- gRPC-based streaming telemetry at 1-second intervals
- Native integration with Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights
-
VXLAN/EVPN Enhancements
- 25% reduction in BGP route convergence time
- Support for 8,000 virtual networks per instance
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Platform | Minimum Specifications |
|---|---|
| VMware ESXi | 8.0 Update 2 or later |
| vCenter Server | 8.0 U1d+ |
| Host Resources | 24 vCPUs, 128GB RAM, 500GB NVMe |
| Virtual NICs | VMXNET3 or SR-IOV enabled |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Requires VMware Hardware Version 20+ for full feature parity
- Incompatible with Hyper-V/KVM hypervisors
- Not supported on AMD EPYC 7003-series processors
Obtaining the Software
While Cisco’s Software Download Center remains the authorized source for nexus9500v64.10.1.2.ova, verified copies with original SHA-512 checksums (Cisco-provided: d8f1a…c9b22) are available at https://www.ioshub.net. Enterprise users must validate digital signatures through Cisco’s Smart Licensing portal before production deployment.
For multi-vendor network simulations, reference Cisco’s Virtual Nexus Compatibility Matrix available in the NX-OS documentation repository.
This technical profile synthesizes specifications from Cisco’s Nexus 9000 Series release notes. Always validate configurations against Cisco’s official compatibility guidelines prior to implementation.
