Cisco N5K-C5672UP-8G Nexus

Cisco Nexus 5600 Switch Series | N5K-C5672UP-8G Data Center Switch

The Cisco Nexus 5600 platform continues Cisco’s tradition of high-performance, low-latency switching solutions for modern data centers. In particular, the cisco n5k-c5672up model—officially known as the N5K-C5672UP-8G Nexus switch—offers an unparalleled combination of port density, unified port flexibility, and programmability. Moreover, this switch delivers the robust throughput and advanced feature set required by enterprise aggregation and leaf-spine network topologies.

High-Density Nexus 5600 1/10G Connectivity with 40G Uplinks

The nexus 5600 series switch is built around 48 fixed 1/10 GbE SFP+ ports that can handle Ethernet, Fibre Channel (up to 8 Gbps), or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) traffic on 16 unified ports, as well as six 40 Gbps QSFP+ uplinks. Therefore, the device offers up to 1.44 Tbps of switching capacity and a forwarding rate of approximately 1,071 Mpps for 64-byte packets, all within a single 1 RU chassis.

Cisco Nexus 5672UP Price and Total Cost of Ownership Analysis

Although exact pricing varies by region and purchasing channel, the nexus 5672up price remains competitive when compared to other data center aggregation switches. In addition, the cisco nexus 5672up switch price is offset by the device’s unified port architecture, which consolidates LAN and SAN connectivity, thereby reducing the need for separate Fibre Channel switches. As a result, organizations can achieve a lower total cost of ownership while maintaining high availability and performance.

Unified Ports on Cisco Nexus 5672UP for Ethernet, FC, and FCoE

One of the defining features of the cisco nexus 5672 platform is its support for unified ports. These SFP+ ports automatically detect and negotiate Ethernet, Fibre Channel, or FCoE protocols, providing deployment flexibility. Consequently, enterprises can consolidate server, storage, and network traffic over the same hardware, simplifying cabling and management.

Ultra-Low Latency in the Cisco Nexus 5600 Switch for High-Performance Workloads

Furthermore, the cisco nexus 5600 switch employs a cut-through forwarding architecture, yielding port-to-port latencies as low as 1 microsecond for small packets. This ultra-low latency is critical for latency-sensitive applications such as high-frequency trading, video processing, or real-time analytics. Consequently, the Nexus 5600 becomes an essential component of any performance-driven data center.

Redundant Power and Cooling for Maximum Uptime on N5K-C5672UP

The n5k-c5672up is equipped with two hot-swappable, 1100 W power supplies in a 1+1 redundancy configuration, as well as three front-side hot-swappable fans. Additionally, the chassis supports both front-to-back and back-to-front airflow to accommodate varying data center cooling designs. As a result, the switch maintains operational continuity even during component servicing or failure, providing the high availability demanded by mission-critical environments.

Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Feature Set in Cisco Nexus 5672

Moreover, the cisco nexus 5672up platform includes a comprehensive set of Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities out of the box. These include VLAN segmentation, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP), Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+), Equal-Cost Multipath (ECMP), Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF), DHCP relay, Access Control Lists (ACLs), and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). Consequently, the switch can serve as a versatile aggregation or leaf switch in large-scale network designs.

Programmability and Automation with NX-OS on Cisco 5600

In addition to its hardware prowess, the Nexus 5600 series runs the Cisco NX-OS operating system, which emphasizes modular architecture and programmability. The switch supports Power-on Auto Provisioning (PoAP), Python scripting, TCL scripting, and Cisco’s onePK API framework. Therefore, network teams can automate repetitive tasks, accelerate provisioning, and integrate the Nexus 5600 into DevOps workflows for continuous delivery and validation of network configurations.

Fabric Extender Integration for Scalability with Nexus 5600 Switch

When deployed with Cisco Nexus 2000 Series Fabric Extenders (FEX), the cisco n5k-c5672up can manage up to 1,152 1/10 GbE ports under a single management domain. This architecture—commonly known as leaf-spine with FEX—simplifies operations by extending the control plane while distributing the data plane, enabling linear scale-out without increasing management complexity.

Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Support on Cisco Nexus 5672UP

Notably, the Nexus 5600 switch fully supports FCoE on its unified ports, allowing traditional Fibre Channel storage traffic to run across the same Ethernet infrastructure. As a result, data centers can consolidate LAN and SAN fabrics, reduce power and cooling footprints, and minimize capital expenses associated with separate storage networks.

Physical and Environmental Specifications for Cisco Nexus 5672UP

Use Cases for Cisco Nexus 5600 and Nexus 5672UP

• Top-of-Rack (ToR) switching in server farms requiring dense 10 GbE connectivity.
• Leaf-spine data center fabrics, paired with Nexus 9000 spines for scalable east-west traffic patterns.
• FCoE and unified LAN/SAN deployments to streamline infrastructure.
• High-performance computing clusters demanding ultra-low latency and high throughput.

Comparing Cisco Nexus 5600 vs. Cisco Nexus 5672UP Price

Although the cisco nexus 5672up price and the broader cisco 5600 series prices vary by procurement agreements, the unified port and FCoE features typically justify any price premium compared to legacy 10 GbE switches. In comparison, basic 10 GbE switches without FCoE or unified ports may carry lower sticker prices but lack the converged infrastructure benefits and automation ease built into the Nexus 5600 platform.

Conclusion: Why Choose the Cisco Nexus 5600 Switch?

In summary, the Cisco Nexus 5600 switch—specifically the N5K-C5672UP-8G—provides an exceptional balance of performance, flexibility, and automation. By integrating unified ports for Ethernet, FC, and FCoE, offering programmable NX-OS, and delivering high-density low-latency forwarding, this switch meets the evolving demands of cloud-scale, virtualized, and converged data center environments. Therefore, it stands out as a future-proof investment for organizations aiming to reduce operational complexity while maximizing network agility and uptime.