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OSPC-664: Documentation for onboarding accelerated computing workloads #593

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123 changes: 123 additions & 0 deletions docs/accelerated-computing-infrastructure-CiscoN9K-C93108TC-FX3P.md
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# How does Rackspace implement Accelerated Computing?

![Rackspace Cloud Software](assets/images/ospc_flex_logo_red.svg){ align=left : style="max-width:175px" }

## Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P

The Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P is a high-performance, fixed-port switch in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series.
It is designed for data centers and enterprise networks requiring high-speed connectivity, flexible
port configurations, advanced programmability, and support for modern applications like software-defined
networking (SDN) and intent-based networking. Below are the key features of the Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P:

1. **High Port Density and Versatile Connectivity**: The N9K-C93108TC-FX3P provides 48 10GBASE-T ports
that support speeds of 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and in some cases, even 25 Gbps. This flexibility
makes it suitable for connecting various devices within a data center or enterprise network.
6 x 40/100-Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 Uplinks: It includes 6 uplink ports that support 40G and 100G
speeds, enabling high-speed connections to spine switches or core layers for optimal data center
scalability and performance.

2. **High Performance and Throughput**: Up to 3.6 Tbps of Switching Capacity: With up to 3.6 Tbps throughput
and up to 1.4 Bpps of forwarding performance, the switch can handle substantial traffic loads,
which is essential for high-performance environments. Low Latency: The switch is designed with
low-latency architecture, making it suitable for latency-sensitive applications such as financial
trading, storage networking, and high-performance computing.

3. **Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features**: The switch provides comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching
and routing features, including support for VLANs, VXLAN, Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Open
Shortest Path First (OSPF), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing
Protocol (EIGRP). VXLAN and EVPN: With Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) and Ethernet VPN (EVPN)
capabilities, the switch allows for scalable multi-tenant network segmentation, enabling organizations
to create isolated virtual networks across Layer 3 domains. Advanced Multicast Capabilities: It
includes support for Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM), Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP),
and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) for efficient handling of multicast traffic.

4. **Programmability and Automation**: The N9K-C93108TC-FX3P can operate in Cisco NX-OS mode for traditional
environments or in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) mode for SDN and policy-driven
networking, providing flexibility in deployment. The switch supports RESTful APIs, Python scripting,
and Linux-based programmability, allowing network operators to automate and streamline network
management tasks. Real-time telemetry provides deep visibility into network traffic and device health,
enabling proactive monitoring and troubleshooting. This feature can be integrated with Cisco Nexus
Dashboard Insights or third-party analytics tools.

5. **Power over Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+ Support**: The N9K-C93108TC-FX3P supports up to 60W of Power over
Ethernet (PoE) on 36 ports, providing enough power for devices such as IP phones, wireless access
points, and IoT devices. The switch complies with the IEEE 802.3bt standard, allowing it to provide
PoE++ capabilities, which are essential for high-power devices.

6. **Security and Policy Management**: MACsec provides encryption on wired connections, ensuring data
security on critical network links and protecting against unauthorized interception. Access Control
Lists (ACLs) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): The switch includes granular ACLs and RBAC for
controlling access to network resources and restricting user actions based on roles, enhancing
overall security. The switch provides Control Plane Policing (CoPP) and Dynamic ARP Inspection
(DAI), which protect it from malicious attacks and prevent disruptions to network traffic.

7. **Energy Efficiency and High Availability**: The switch includes front-to-back or back-to-front airflow
options, along with redundant power supply support, enabling it to fit into a variety of data center
cooling configurations. It also has hot-swappable fans and power supplies for minimal service
interruption. Cisco EnergyWise: EnergyWise technology optimizes energy consumption, reducing the
overall energy footprint and operational costs.

8. **Quality of Service (QoS) and Application Prioritization**: The switch includes features like Weighted
Random Early Detection (WRED) and priority flow control, allowing administrators to prioritize
critical application traffic, ensure smooth performance for latency-sensitive applications, and
reduce congestion. The switch supports eight egress queues per port, enabling granular traffic
management for different classes of service, which helps ensure consistent performance for high-priority
applications.

9. **Spine-Leaf Architecture Compatibility**: The N9K-C93108TC-FX3P is well-suited for deployment as a
leaf switch in a leaf-spine architecture, enabling easy scalability and predictable performance.
It allows organizations to scale their network in a modular fashion by adding more leaf switches
as required, without requiring changes in the spine layer.

10. **Support for Cisco Intelligent Traffic Director (ITD)**: Cisco Intelligent Traffic Director (ITD)
provides efficient traffic distribution across multiple servers, reducing the need for a dedicated
load balancer and maximizing server utilization. ITD is particularly useful in clustered application
environments, such as data analytics or web hosting, where traffic needs to be evenly distributed
across multiple servers.

11. **Flexible Management Options**: The switch offers multiple management interfaces, including the
traditional CLI, a web-based UI, and support for APIs, giving network teams flexibility in their
preferred management approach. Integration with Cisco DNA Center and Nexus Dashboard enables
centralized policy management, monitoring, and orchestration, simplifying operations and improving
network visibility.

12. **IPv6 Support and Network Compatibility**: The N9K-C93108TC-FX3P includes comprehensive support for
IPv6, which is crucial for organizations preparing for future network growth and ensuring compatibility with next-generation internet protocols.

In summary, the Cisco Nexus N9K-C93108TC-FX3P is a versatile, high-performance switch ideal for data centers and high-speed enterprise networks. With multispeed 1/10/25-GbE access ports, 40/100-GbE uplinks, PoE++ capabilities, comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 support, and programmability, it provides the scalability, security, and flexibility needed in modern network environments. It supports both Cisco ACI for SDN and traditional NX-OS, allowing it to be used in both traditional and software-defined networks. These features make it suitable for organizations looking for a high-speed, secure, and energy-efficient solution that supports evolving data center needs.

### **Ideal Use Cases**

* **High-Density Data Center Access Layer**: Data centers that need flexible port speeds to connect a range
of devices, including virtualized servers, storage systems, and applications requiring high throughput.

* **Leaf Switch in Spine-Leaf Architecture**: Organizations needing a scalable, high-performance data center
that can grow easily by adding more leaf switches to accommodate new servers or applications.

* **Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Cisco ACI Deployments**: Enterprises or data centers aiming to
simplify network management, increase automation, and improve agility by using policy-driven
configurations.

* **Edge Computing and IoT Deployments with PoE Needs**: Organizations deploying IoT devices, large-scale
Wi-Fi, or industrial environments where power and network connectivity need to be converged at the
edge.

* **Secure Segmentation and Multitenant Environments**: Hosting providers, cloud service providers, or any
enterprise that requires secure segmentation to support multiple departments or customer environments
on a shared infrastructure.

* **Virtualized and Hybrid Cloud Workloads**: Enterprises adopting hybrid cloud models or using heavy virtualization,
as it provides the necessary performance, connectivity, and management features for smooth operations.

* **Data-Intensive and Latency-Sensitive Applications**: Financial services, healthcare, and research institutions
that rely on real-time data processing and high-performance computing.

* **Centralized Management and Automation-Driven Networks**: Enterprises with complex network infrastructures
that aim to reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency through automated configuration, monitoring,
and troubleshooting.

* **Enhanced Security Environments**: Financial institutions, government agencies, or any organization needing
robust security measures to protect sensitive data or comply with regulatory requirements.

* **Load Balancing and Traffic Distribution for High Availability**: Web hosting, e-commerce, and content
delivery networks that need to manage traffic efficiently and provide high availability for applications.
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