## Product Overview The Nexus 18-Slot Switch Chassis, designated with the part number N7K-C7018, is manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc.. This advanced switch chassis is designed to meet the needs of modern networking environments. ## Specifications ### Manufacturer Details ? Brand: Cisco ? Product Line: Nexus ? Product Series: 7000 ? Product Type: Switch Chassis ### I/O Expansion Features This switch chassis provides ample expansion capabilities: ? Total Expansion Slots: 23 ? Expansion Slot Type: Supervisor Engine ## Networking Capabilities ### Layer Support The Nexus chassis supports Layer 3 networking, enhancing communication efficiency within your infrastructure. ## Management and Protocol Features ### Manageability This device is fully manageable, allowing for seamless integration and control over your network. ## Power Requirements ### Input Voltage ? 110 V AC ? 220 V AC ## Package Contents The following items are included with your purchase: ? Nexus 18-Slot Switch Chassis ? Fan Tray ## Environmental Compliance ### Green Certification This product is environmentally friendly and adheres to green compliance standards, certified under RoHS-5. ## Slots The Cisco N7K-C7018 Switch Chassis comes equipped with a remarkable 18 slots, making it an ideal choice for network administrators and IT professionals looking to expand their network infrastructure. With its impressive slot capacity, this switch chassis offers exceptional scalability, allowing users to easily accommodate future growth and increased network demands. ### Unmatched Flexibility The 18 slots on the Cisco N7K-C7018 provide unmatched flexibility, enabling users to customize their network configuration according to their unique requirements. Each slot can house a variety of modules, including supervisor modules, line cards, and fabric modules, offering endless possibilities for network expansion. #### Supervisor Modules The Cisco N7K-C7018 supports a range of supervisor modules that provide advanced features and functionalities. These modules offer superior control and management capabilities, ensuring efficient operation of the entire network. With 18 slots available, users have the freedom to choose the supervisor modules that best suit their needs, whether it’s for high-performance computing or data center deployments. #### Line Cards The extensive slot capacity of the Cisco N7K-C7018 allows for the installation of multiple line cards, enabling high-density connectivity and enhanced network performance. Line cards offer various interfaces such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand, providing flexibility in connecting different types of devices and supporting diverse applications. The ability to accommodate numerous line cards in a single chassis simplifies network design and reduces overall infrastructure costs. #### Fabric Modules To ensure efficient data transfer between line cards and supervisor modules, the Cisco N7K-C7018 requires fabric modules. These modules act as the backbone of the switch chassis, providing high-speed connectivity and maintaining optimal performance across the network. With 18 available slots for fabric modules, users can achieve maximum bandwidth and minimize potential bottlenecks, guaranteeing smooth and uninterrupted network operation. ### Scalability and Future-Proofing One of the key advantages of the Cisco N7K-C7018’s 18 slots is its scalability. As businesses grow and their networking requirements increase, having a chassis that can accommodate additional modules becomes crucial. With this switch chassis, users can easily add or replace modules as needed, without the need for significant infrastructure changes. This scalability ensures that the network can evolve alongside the organization, saving both time and resources in the long run. #### Cost-Efficiency Investing in a switch chassis with ample slot capacity like the Cisco N7K-C7018 can lead to cost savings in several ways. Firstly, the ability to scale and expand the network without major infrastructure changes reduces the need for costly upgrades or complete system replacements. Secondly, by consolidating multiple devices into a single chassis, users can eliminate unnecessary equipment and associated maintenance costs. Lastly, the modular nature of this switch chassis allows for easy replacement and upgrades of individual components, minimizing downtime and reducing overall operational expenses. #### Future-Proofing The 18-slot feature of the Cisco N7K-C7018 is not only beneficial for current network requirements but also ensures future-proofing. Technology advancements and evolving business needs often demand network upgrades and expansions. By choosing a switch chassis with a higher slot capacity, users can future-proof their network infrastructure, avoiding premature obsolescence and costly migrations to new platforms. ### High Availability and Redundancy The Cisco N7K-C7018’s 18 slots provide ample room for incorporating redundancy features that enhance network availability and reliability. Redundancy is crucial in mission-critical environments where downtime can result in significant financial losses. With redundant supervisor modules, line cards, and fabric modules, this switch chassis ensures uninterrupted network operation even in the event of component failures or maintenance activities. #### Redundant Supervisor Modules By utilizing multiple supervisor modules in different slots, the Cisco N7K-C7018 offers redundancy at the core of the network. In case of a failure in one supervisor module, the system can automatically switch to a backup module, minimizing downtime and maintaining network availability. Redundant supervisor modules also facilitate seamless software upgrades and maintenance, as one module can take over while the other is being updated. #### Redundant Line Cards The 18-slot capacity enables users to deploy redundant line cards, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and load balancing across the network. Redundant line cards provide backup interfaces for critical connections, guaranteeing data transmission even if a primary line card fails. This redundancy feature is particularly beneficial in scenarios where network uptime is of utmost importance, such as data centers or enterprise networks handling large volumes of traffic. ##### Redundant Fabric Modules To further enhance high availability, the Cisco N7K-C7018 supports redundant fabric modules. These modules facilitate continuous data flow between line cards and supervisor modules, ensuring uninterrupted communication even during fabric module failures. With redundant fabric modules in place, users can achieve maximum network reliability and minimize any potential disruptions caused by component malfunctions. In conclusion, the Cisco N7K-C7018 Switch Chassis’s 18-slot feature offers unmatched flexibility, scalability, and high availability for users. The ability to accommodate a variety of modules enables customization of network configurations according to specific requirements. This switch chassis provides cost-efficiency by allowing easy upgrades and reducing infrastructure costs. Moreover, its future-proofing capabilities ensure that users can adapt to evolving business needs without significant disruptions. With redundant supervisor modules, line cards, and fabric modules, the Cisco N7K-C7018 guarantees uninterrupted network operation and enhanced reliability.