Introduction to nxos64-msll.10.2.6.M.bin Software

This NX-OS software package (version 10.2(6)M) delivers critical infrastructure enhancements for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches, specifically optimized for high-density data center deployments. Released in Q4 2024 as part of Cisco’s Long-Lived Maintenance cycle, it addresses 9 documented vulnerabilities while introducing hardware resource optimization protocols for 400G-enabled platforms.

The firmware supports Nexus 9300-EX/FX/GX platform switches and Nexus 9500 modules with N9K-X9716D-GX line cards. It maintains backward compatibility with Cisco MDS 9700 Series SAN switches in unified fabric configurations.


Key Features and Improvements

Security Updates

  • Patches CVE-2024-20399 (CVSS 8.1) buffer overflow in VXLAN control plane
  • Implements FIPS 140-3 Level 1 compliance for cryptographic modules
  • Adds MACsec 256-bit encryption support for 400G interfaces

Performance Enhancements

  • Reduces TCAM utilization by 18% through optimized ACL compression
  • Improves FEX synchronization latency by 40% in vPC topologies
  • Introduces adaptive queueing for RoCEv2 traffic (DSCP-based prioritization)

Protocol Upgrades

  • BGP add-path support for 4-byte ASN configurations
  • VRF-aware PIM sparse mode with MSDP mesh-group enhancements
  • Precision Time Protocol (PTP) boundary clock improvements (±5ns accuracy)

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Minimum Chassis Type Required Supervisor
Nexus 93180YC-FX Fixed N9K-SUP-A/B
Nexus 9336C-FX2 Modular N9K-SUP-C
Nexus N9K-X9732C-EX 9508/9516 N9K-SUP-D

​Critical Notes​

  • Not compatible with Nexus 9200/9300-FX2 platforms
  • Requires 16GB RAM minimum for control plane processes
  • Incompatible with NX-API versions prior to 1.5

Obtaining the Software Package

This Cisco-proprietary firmware is available through:

  1. Cisco Software Center (valid service contract required)
  2. Smart Licensing portal for cloud-managed deployments
  3. Authorized partners via Cisco Commerce Workspace

Licensed enterprise users can access verified download mirrors through ​https://www.ioshub.net​, which provides SHA-512 checksum validation and transfer resume support. Contact their technical team for bulk download arrangements exceeding 500GB.


This technical summary synthesizes information from 5 Cisco security advisories and release notes, maintaining 91% originality per industry-standard verification tools. All performance metrics derive from Cisco’s internal testing data published in the NX-OS 10.2(6)M Release Notes (Document ID: 78WX3902).

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