Cisco N9K C9364C GX Switch

Key Features of the Cisco N9K-C9364C GX Switch

Exceptional Cloud Scale Performance and High Bandwidth Capacity

The Cisco N9K-C9364C-GX delivers exceptional performance with 64 x 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 ports providing 12.8 Tbps of bandwidth and over 4.3 billion packets per second (bpps) throughput. This Cisco Nexus 9364C switch incorporates advanced Cisco Cloud Scale technology specifically designed for next generation data centers requiring massive bandwidth capacity and ultra-low latency performance. The 64 ports configuration enables organizations to support high-density server connectivity while maintaining wire-rate performance across all interfaces.

The switch features intelligent buffer management with an 80 MB system buffer that distinguishes between mice and elephant flows, applying different queue management schemes based on network forwarding requirements during link congestion. Advanced congestion management includes Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) for end-to-end notification per IP flow and Priority Flow Control (PFC) to prevent Ethernet frame drops. These features ensure optimal performance for demanding applications including AI/ML workloads that require predictable low latency and high throughput characteristics essential for growing enterprises.

Flexible ACI Spine and Leaf Architecture for Modern Virtualization

The N9K-C9364C-GX supports both Cisco ACI spine and ACI leaf deployment configurations, providing unprecedented flexibility for data center network architectures. This single-chip ACI spine-and-leaf functionality enables organizations to deploy the same switch platform in either spine or leaf roles based on specific project requirements. The switch supports comprehensive VXLAN EVPN fabrics with hierarchical multisite capabilities, enabling seamless connectivity across distributed data center environments.

The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series architecture supports advanced virtualization technologies including Virtual Port-Channel (vPC) technology that provides Layer 2 multipathing through elimination of Spanning Tree Protocol limitations. The platform enables 64-way Equal-Cost MultiPath (ECMP) routing for Layer 3 fat-tree designs, preventing network bottlenecks while increasing resiliency. Support for up to 4096 VLANs and 16,000 VRF instances provides massive scalability for complex multi-tenant environments required by modern cloud infrastructure.

Comprehensive Protocol Support and Programmability

The Cisco Nexus 9364C provides extensive protocol support including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, RIPv2, PIM-SM, Source Specific Multicast (SSM), and MSDP for comprehensive Layer 3 unicast and multicast routing capabilities. The switch supports segment routing (SR and SRv6) enabling MPLS packet forwarding and traffic engineering without RSVP-TE, providing enhanced network scalability and virtualization capabilities. Data Center Bridging (DCB) protocols including Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) and DCBX enable lossless transport for RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE).

Advanced programmability features include day-zero auto provisioning through Power On Auto Provisioning (POAP), industry-leading DevOps integrations with Ansible, and extensive YANG model support through RESTCONF/NETCONF/gNMI interfaces. The platform provides REST API integration with Data Management Engine (DME) and model-driven telemetry for enhanced network observability. Third-party application hosting through Cisco Application Framework (CAF) enables custom solutions while maintaining system integrity and performance.

Enterprise-Grade Security and Access Control

The N9K-C9364C-GX incorporates comprehensive security features including flexible Access Control List (ACL) templates with up to 20,000 ingress and 8,000 egress ACL entries across forwarding engine slices. The switch supports up to 1,023 Network Address Translation (NAT) entries for secure connectivity scenarios. Advanced security capabilities include flow-table support for Cisco Tetration Analytics platform with 64,000 entries enabling micro-segmentation and comprehensive traffic analysis.

The platform includes robust management security with dedicated management ports (RJ-45 and SFP), USB connectivity, and RS-232 serial interfaces for secure out-of-band access. Hot-swappable power supply units and fans with N+1 redundancy ensure continuous operation during maintenance activities. The switch supports In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU) and Software Maintenance Upgrades (SMU) enabling non-disruptive updates and rapid resolution of critical issues while maintaining business continuity.

Specifications of the Cisco N9K C9364C GX Switch

Hardware and Physical Architecture

The Cisco N9K-C9364C-GX features a robust 2RU rack-mountable design optimized for high-density data center deployments. The switch incorporates dual 2000W power supply units with AC, DC, and HVAC/HVDC options supporting various data center power infrastructures. The platform includes 3+1 fan redundancy with port-side intake and exhaust airflow options accommodating diverse rack cooling configurations.

The switch supports flexible port speeds including 40/100-Gbps Ethernet with comprehensive breakout capabilities supporting 2x50G, 2x25G, and 2x10G on all ports, plus 4x10G and 4x25G configurations on odd-numbered ports. Management connectivity includes dual management ports (RJ-45 and SFP), USB interface, and RS-232 serial console for comprehensive administrative access. The platform meets strict environmental and regulatory compliance standards including RoHS-6 compliance and comprehensive EMC emissions and immunity certifications.

Software Capabilities and Operating System Support

The N9K-C9364C-GX operates with minimum NX-OS version 9.3.3 and ACI software version 14.2(3), providing access to comprehensive data center networking capabilities. The platform supports both Cisco NX-OS mode for traditional network operations and Cisco ACI mode for intent-driven infrastructure automation. Advanced scalability includes support for up to 896,000 IPv4 Longest Prefix Match (LPM) routes, 448,000 IPv6 LPM routes, and 256,000 MAC address entries.

The switch provides extensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocol support including comprehensive multicast capabilities with up to 32,000 multicast routes and 32,000 IGMP snooping groups. Advanced features include support for up to 512 port channel configurations with 32 links per port channel, enabling massive link aggregation for high-bandwidth applications. The platform supports 64 MST instances, 490 HSRP groups, and comprehensive VLAN capabilities across 4096 VLANs with advanced spanning tree implementations.

Quality of Service capabilities include Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED), Dynamic Packet Prioritization (DPP), and Approximate Fair Dropping (AFD) with Elephant Trap (ETRAP) functionality. The switch integrates with Cisco Nexus Dashboard providing centralized management, automation, and analytics capabilities. Support for model-driven telemetry and comprehensive monitoring enables proactive network management and optimization across large-scale deployments.

Cisco Nexus 9300 Series Comparison

Within the Cisco Nexus 9300-GX series, the N9K-C9364C-GX provides the highest port density with 64 x 100/40G QSFP28 ports compared to the N9K-C9316D-GX (16 x 400/100G QSFP-DD) and N9K-C93600CD-GX (28 x 100/40G QSFP28 + 8 x 400/100G QSFP-DD). The C9364C-GX delivers maximum bandwidth capacity at 12.8 Tbps while maintaining the same 4.3 bpps performance as other GX series models. Power requirements scale proportionally with the 2000W power supply system compared to 1100W systems in smaller models.

All Cisco Nexus 9300-GX series switches share common Cloud Scale ASIC technology, providing consistent feature sets including flexible forwarding tables with up to one million shared entries and customizable ACL templates. The C9364C-GX distinguishes itself through optimized 100G connectivity density, making it ideal for high-bandwidth server aggregation and spine connectivity applications. The 2RU form factor provides optimal rack space utilization for deployments requiring maximum 100G port density.

The N9K-C9364C-GX supports identical software capabilities as other 9300-GX models including dual ACI spine/leaf functionality, comprehensive protocol support, and advanced programmability features. Environmental specifications including Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of 237,760 hours demonstrate enterprise-grade reliability standards. The platform maintains compatibility with standard Nexus accessories and expansion options while providing enhanced cooling and power management for high-density operations.

At Network Republic, our end-user accounts are covered by a 1-Year Warranty on all hardware—whether New, New Open Box, New Pull, Refurbished, or Refurbished by Manufacturer —from the date of delivery. This warranty covers hardware defects under normal use and allows for repair, replacement, or in-house credit at our discretion.

For resellers and wholesale purchases, we offer a 30-Day Warranty limited strictly to functional issues or defects upon arrival, including dead-on-arrival (DOA) items; it does not apply to problems arising after prolonged use. Resellers are responsible for inspecting and testing products within the 30-day window. This warranty excludes accidental damage, misuse, cosmetic wear, third-party modifications, and software-related issues unrelated to hardware failure. Check out our full warranty policy here.

Software licenses are not covered under the standard return and warranty policies and need to be activated on the hardware within 7 days of receipt. Any issues need to be reported immediately, within 10 days, so we can issue an exchange. Under no circumstances will refunds be issued for software licenses.