How different are Nexus switches?

[NInja Black]

Hi,

 I use Cisco 4500 series switch at work and was wondering how different are Nexus switches? Isnt it pretty much same as the IOS-XE version? 

If its different what is the major difference between these to IOS?

[dukenuk96 · Accepted solution]

Hi

there is not too much differences when comparing to classic IOS, as for me NX-OS is even more convinient.

Some examples:

You do not need 'do' when issuing EXEC level commands from CONF, baut backward compability is kept

S(config)# sh ip int br
IP Interface Status for VRF "default"(1)
Interface IP Address Interface Status
Vlan1068 10.1.1.169 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up
Vlan1132 10.1.1.133 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up
Lo1 172.16.0.233 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up
S(config)# do sh ip int br
IP Interface Status for VRF "default"(1)
Interface IP Address Interface Status
Vlan1068 10.1.1.169 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up
Vlan1132 10.1.1.133 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up
Lo1 172.16.0.233 protocol-up/link-up/admin-up

Configuration commands are very similar:

interface Vlan225
 description name Management_VLAN
 no shutdown
 no ip redirects
 ip address 192.168.225.253/24
 no ipv6 redirects
 ip ospf passive-interface
 ip router ospf 10 area 0.0.0.225
 hsrp version 2
 hsrp 225
  authentication md5 key-string !@#%#HJLHLK
  preempt
  priority 101
  timers msec 300 msec 900
  ip 192.168.225.254

interface Ethernet1/51
 shutdown
 spanning-tree bpduguard enable

interface Ethernet1/52
 spanning-tree bpduguard enable

interface mgmt0
 vrf member management
 ip address 10.1.1.165/30

interface loopback0
 description Router_ID_OSFP100
 vrf member OSPF100_ASR
 ip address 172.16.0.231/32
 ip router ospf 100 area 100.0.0.0

interface loopback1
 description Router_ID_OSFP10
 ip address 172.16.0.233/32
 ip router ospf 10 area 0.0.0.0

interface Ethernet170/1/1
 description lowspeed
 switchport access vlan 225
 spanning-tree port type edge

interface Ethernet170/1/2

interface Ethernet170/1/3
 switchport access vlan 225
 spanning-tree port type edge

Sure, there are samo differences in operation and default settings, exactly when using vPC anf FEX, for example bpduguard is set by default on all FEX ports.

Major difference is under the hood, anyway you do not need to worry about it - we migrated easily from Brocade and Catalyst to Nexus in our three data centers and now happy.

One thing for you to do from the very beginning - if you will use pair of Nexuses, read carefully about vPC operation - how it works for switching and routing. Next understand everything about 'configure sync' and make every possible configuration using this mode - it's really good tool for big deployments.

Good luck!

[Mark Malone · Accepted solution]

The major difference between IOS/IOS-XE to NX-OS is Nexus is PCI compliant unlike the other 2

Nexus can also have supper low latency switches for stock exchange 3000 and 6000 series none of the ios ios-xe platforms would come near them in what there capable of

The new Nexus 9500 will also have I/O ports capable of 400gb per port

In terms of hardware there a lot more powerful, less latent and more flexible with design , the software has less bugs as well compared to IOS/IOS-XE as it comes from the older SAN-OS images which was very stable

[NInja Black]

Thanks Mark and dukenuk96. Both were very helpful answers. :)

I was curious to know how much of my IOS-XE experience I can use towards Nexus configuration and maintenance and seems its pretty similar with ofcourse advanced features.

Thanks again guys. Really appreciate the responses.