The Cisco Nexus 34180YC Switch is engineered for enterprise data centers, cloud service providers, and high-performance computing environments requiring ultra-fast connectivity and advanced programmability. This next-generation 25 Gigabit switch delivers:
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100 Gigabit uplink capabilities providing massive bandwidth for spine-leaf architectures and core connectivity
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Programmable networking features enabling software-defined data center operations with flexible traffic management
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High-density port configuration maximizing rack space efficiency with optimal price-per-port economics
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Advanced data center optimization supporting modern workloads including virtualization, containers, and cloud applications
Key Features
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48 x 25GbE SFP28 ports delivering high-speed server connectivity for modern data center requirements
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6 x 100GbE QSFP28 uplinks providing massive spine connectivity and inter-switch bandwidth
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Advanced programmable architecture with support for custom networking protocols and traffic engineering
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Cloud-scale performance optimized for hyperconverged infrastructure and virtualized environments
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Intelligent buffering with deep packet buffers for handling traffic bursts and latency-sensitive applications
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Comprehensive security features including MACsec encryption and role-based access controls
Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer |
Cisco Systems, Inc |
| Model Number |
N3K-C34180YC |
| Type |
25G/100G Programmable High-Density Data Center Switch |
| Port Configuration |
48 x 25GbE SFP28 + 6 x 100GbE QSFP28 |
| Switching Capacity |
3.6 Tbps non-blocking architecture |
| Form Factor |
1RU rack-mountable design |
| Operating System |
Cisco NX-OS with programmable APIs |
| Power Consumption |
550W typical operation |
| Latency |
Ultra-low latency for high-frequency applications |
| Buffer Memory |
Deep packet buffers for traffic optimization |
| Compatible Systems |
Cisco Nexus data center fabric, spine-leaf architectures |
Target Use Cases
Enterprise Data Centers: Perfect for organizations deploying high-density server connectivity where 25 Gigabit Ethernet provides optimal performance for virtualized workloads, storage networks, and high-performance computing clusters requiring consistent low-latency performance.
Cloud Service Providers: Ideal for multi-tenant environments where programmable features enable custom traffic policies, quality of service enforcement, and dynamic resource allocation while 100 Gigabit uplinks ensure adequate north-south traffic capacity.
Financial Trading Platforms: Excellent for latency-sensitive applications where the 25 Gigabit ports provide deterministic performance for algorithmic trading systems and the advanced buffering ensures consistent packet delivery under high-load conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes this switch programmable compared to traditional switches?
A: The programmable architecture supports custom packet processing, software-defined networking (SDN) controllers, telemetry streaming, and API-driven configuration, enabling dynamic network policies and automated operations beyond traditional switching capabilities.
Q: How does the 25 Gigabit connectivity benefit modern data centers?
A: 25 Gigabit Ethernet provides the optimal balance between 10GbE and 40GbE, delivering 2.5x more bandwidth than 10GbE while using standard SFP28 optics, making it cost-effective for server connectivity and eliminating network bottlenecks in virtualized environments.
Q: What applications benefit from 100 Gigabit uplink capacity?
A: The 100 Gigabit QSFP28 uplinks support spine connectivity in leaf-spine architectures, inter-data center replication, storage area networks, and high-bandwidth applications like video streaming, big data analytics, and machine learning workloads.
Q: How does the high-density design impact data center efficiency?
A: The high-density 1RU form factor with 48 x 25GbE ports maximizes rack space utilization, reduces power consumption per port, and lowers total cost of ownership while providing line-rate performance across all ports simultaneously.
Q: Is this switch suitable for spine-leaf data center architectures?
A: Yes, the Nexus 34180YC is specifically designed for modern data center fabrics, serving as both leaf switches for server connectivity and spine switches for smaller deployments, with the programmable features supporting VXLAN, EVPN, and other overlay protocols.
