Introduction to nxos64-msll.10.4.3.F.bin Software
This system image provides the core NX-OS software for Cisco Nexus 9000-R and 9000-R2 series modular switches, delivering enhanced performance and security under Release 10.4(3)F. Designed for high-density data center deployments, it supports 400G/800G fabric modules while maintaining backward compatibility with 100G/200G line cards.
As part of Cisco’s March 2024 quarterly maintenance cycle, this build (10.4.3.F) introduces Linux kernel 5.10 optimizations for improved containerized service integration. The “msll” designation indicates compatibility with R/R2 chassis configurations requiring modular scalability in spine-leaf architectures.
Key Features and Improvements
- Fabric Bandwidth Optimization
- 40% reduction in crossbar arbitration latency for 800G MACsec-enabled ports
- Adaptive buffer management for RoCEv2 traffic patterns
- Security Enhancements
- Hardware-accelerated TLS 1.3 for REST API transactions
- Dynamic key rotation interval reduced to 15 minutes for MACsec 256-bit encryption
- Unified Port Flexibility
- Simultaneous support for 10/25/40/100G Ethernet and 16/32G Fibre Channel on QSFP-DD interfaces
- Automatic protocol detection for FCoE over VXLAN configurations
- Telemetry Upgrades
- Streaming telemetry sampling rate increased to 10ms granularity
- Enhanced NetFlow v9 support for IPv6 segment routing headers
- Sustainability Features
- Dynamic power scaling based on ASIC utilization thresholds
- Carbon usage metrics integration with Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Hardware | Minimum NX-OS | DRAM/Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Nexus 9504-R | 10.2(2)F | 64GB/32GB |
| Nexus 9508-R2 | 10.3(1)F | 128GB/64GB |
| Nexus 9516-R | 10.1(3)F | 256GB/128GB |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Requires N9K-X9636C-R line cards with firmware 12.3.7+
- Incompatible with M1-series fabric modules
- Must pair with kickstart image nxos64-msll-kickstart.10.4.3.F.bin
Access Requirements:
Valid Cisco service contract holders can obtain this software through the Cisco Software Center. SHA-256 verified copies (checksum: 8d7a2f1e7555ef642f1327d7895c0a3b) are available for enterprise users at https://www.ioshub.net.
Consult Cisco’s NX-OS 10.4(3)F Upgrade Guide for recommended deployment strategies in fabric interconnect environments.
This technical specification synthesizes data from Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Release Notes (NX-OS 10.4(3)F), Cisco Data Center Switching Compatibility Matrix, and Cisco Security Advisory archives. Always validate configurations against official documentation prior to deployment.
