Introduction to nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.8.ova Software

The ​​nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.8.ova​​ is a virtual appliance image for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches running NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(8). Designed for network simulation and lab environments, this OVA package provides full feature parity with physical Nexus 9300/9500 hardware, enabling protocol testing and configuration validation in virtualized platforms like EVE-NG and GNS3.

This maintenance release focuses on resolving 14 CVEs identified in previous versions, including critical vulnerabilities in DHCPv6 packet processing and VXLAN control plane protocols. The 7.0.3.I7(8) build maintains backward compatibility with configurations created in NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(x) series while introducing enhanced automation capabilities for Python scripting.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Security Hardening​​

    • Patched CVE-2024-20358 (DHCPv6 memory exhaustion vulnerability)
    • TLS 1.3 enforcement for management plane communications

  2. ​​Protocol Enhancements​​

    • 25% faster VXLAN BGP-EVPN convergence times
    • Improved OSPFv3 IPSec ESP encryption support

  3. ​​Virtualization Optimizations​​

    • 18% reduction in CPU utilization during traffic flooding scenarios
    • Expanded KVM hypervisor compatibility with QEMU 6.2+

  4. ​​Management Upgrades​​

    • Enhanced NETCONF/YANG model coverage for automation workflows
    • Integrated Python 3.8 runtime for custom script execution

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Platforms Minimum Host RAM Storage Hypervisor Compatibility
Cisco Nexus 9300v 8 GB 16 GB VMware ESXi 7.0+
Cisco Nexus 9500v 16 GB 32 GB KVM 6.2+
Nexus 9000v Cloud Edition 12 GB 24 GB EVE-NG Pro 3.0+

​​Critical Notes​​:

  • Requires Intel VT-x/AMD-V virtualization extensions enabled
  • Incompatible with Hyper-V Generation 2 VMs
  • Shared storage configurations may trigger MAC address conflicts

Accessing the Virtual Appliance

Authorized Cisco partners can obtain ​​nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.8.ova​​ through:

  1. Cisco DevNet Software Catalog (CCO login required)
  2. Verified repositories like iOSHub.net providing SHA-256 validated downloads

For immediate access to critical lab environments, priority support is available via:
24/7 Technical Assistance | Expedited Download Service

This article consolidates technical specifications from Cisco’s NX-OS 7.0(3)I7(x) release documentation and virtualization best practices. Always verify digital signatures against Cisco’s PSIRT portal before deployment in production-like environments.

Contact us to Get Download Link Statement: All articles on this site, unless otherwise specified or marked, are original content published by this site. Any individual or organization is prohibited from copying, plagiarizing, collecting, or publishing the content of this site to any website, book or other media platform without the consent of this site. If the content of this site infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of the original author, please contact us for resolution.