N5K-C5596T-FASwitches

The Cisco N5K-C5596T-FA, part of the Nexus 5500 Series, is a high-performance 10-Gigabit Ethernet switch designed to meet the demands of modern data centers and enterprise networks. Engineered for low latency, high throughput, and unified fabric support, it enables efficient convergence of LAN and SAN traffic through Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) technology.

This 1RU rack-mountable switch comes equipped with 48 fixed 10GBase-T ports and 3 expansion module slots, supporting up to 96 10GE ports or 8 40GE uplinks, depending on the configuration. The N5K-C5596T-FA provides up to 1.28 Tbps switching capacity and 960 Mpps forwarding rate, ensuring high-speed data transfer and minimal congestion.

Built with front-to-back airflow (FA) for data center cooling efficiency, it supports redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans to ensure maximum uptime. The switch runs on Cisco NX-OS Software, providing advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features such as VLAN, QoS, vPC, OSPF, BGP, and multicast routing.

Key Technical Specifications

• Model: Cisco N5K-C5596T-FA

• Series: Cisco Nexus 5500 Series

• Ports: 48 × 10GBase-T + 3 expansion module slots

• Maximum 10GE Ports: 96 (with expansion modules)

• Uplink Options: Up to 8 × 40GE (QSFP+)

• Switching Capacity: 1.28 Tbps

• Forwarding Rate: 960 Mpps

• Airflow: Front-to-back (FA)

• Power Supply: Redundant, hot-swappable

• Software: Cisco NX-OS

• Layer Support: Layer 2 and Layer 3 (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, QoS, vPC)

• Dimensions: 1.75 × 17.3 × 30 in (4.4 × 43.9 × 76.2 cm)

• Weight: ~41 lb (18.6 kg)

Overview

The Cisco N5K-C5596T-FA is a scalable, resilient, and feature-rich switch purpose-built for high-density data centers. With support for converged Ethernet, virtualization, and automation, it delivers a robust foundation for enterprise cloud and virtualization deployments.