Cisco N3K-C3048TP

[Yarik Dot]

I have seen cheap N3K-C3048TP on ebay. Is there any reason for that?

I think of buying several of them and use them as ToR L3 switches (IPv6 static inter-vlan routing).

Current setup in my mind is no vPC, just a single switch per location. However, I am open to vPC as storage servers require 4 uplinks each (due to traffic burst before content is cached on 10G proxy servers).

Currently using dell n3048, which I am really not happy with.

 

[mstrzyze]

well it depend what is "cheap" for you - if you are not happy with price on ebay i can sell you in higher price

anyway, nice switch for 1GE, Openflow, vPC..PTP, latency usually <1usec

 

[Yarik Dot]

Just wonder why they are so cheap. Those switches are relatively new, full featured and they are not end of life/sale.

Other switches are much more expensive. Even that stupid dell switch is way away from what they should ask for that piece of crap.

 

[Evan]

Not really a popular switch though... most bigger installs are using nexus 9k's like 9372TX or 93108TC-EX to get 10G TOR and 1G stuff is just being dumped regardless of how new it is, most places won't reuse that as a management switch or whatever as they probably have a policy of having support and then you just choose something cheap more management networks like 2960XR

 

[Yarik Dot]

So, now I understand, why they are so cheap. Update can easily brick them: Issues with OS upgrade on Nexus 3048TP : Cisco

I bought several switches, all with different firmware version. Now I am stuck with firmware I received them with.

 

[Yarik Dot]

For anyone who found this topic. I couldn't find 5.0.3.U5.1 firmware, but successfully upgraded to 1a version:

Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module Image Running-Version New-Version Upg-Required
------ ---------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------
1 system 5.0(3)U3(1) 5.0(3)U5(1a) yes
1 kickstart 5.0(3)U3(1) 5.0(3)U5(1a) yes
1 bios v1.2.0(08/25/2011) v1.2.0(08/25/2011) no
1 power-seq v4.4 v4.4 no

 

[Yarik Dot]

Just to update what I deal with when upgrading cisco switches. I found great article explaining everything: New packet slinger for the lab – Nexus N3K-C3048TP-1GE

TLDR - I have to upgrade to specific versions

1. kickstart: version 5.0(3)U5(1) system: version 5.0(3)U5(1)
2. kickstart: version 6.0(2)U6(2a) system: version 6.0(2)U6(2a)
3. kickstart: version 6.0(2)U6(7) system: version 6.0(2)U6(7)
4. NXOS: version 7.0(3)I4(7)

 

[Joao Paulo Mello]

So, now I understand, why they are so cheap. Update can easily brick them: Issues with OS upgrade on Nexus 3048TP : Cisco

I bought several switches, all with different firmware version. Now I am stuck with firmware I received them with.

I have updated the nexus 3840TP several times in several devices without any issues really.
You just need to follow the upgrade path to the letter.
IMO they are great switches for the price if you can live with only 4xSFP+. Loud as hell definitely a SOHO isn't the place for them. I have quieted mine by modding the fans.

 

[Lefty]

Loud as hell definitely a SOHO isn't the place for them. I have quieted mine by modding the fans.

Would you mind sharing how did you mod them?

 

[Joao Paulo Mello]

Would you mind sharing how did you mod them?

First I changed the fans ( from fan module and PSU's) for silent sunon models, that not worked. So I used this:
https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NA-SR...ie=UTF8&qid=1548187605&sr=8-1&keywords=NA-RC7

You can improvise with resistors but I had some of those laying around so I used them.
You have the cut the wires and adapt, but works. It does some noise at boot as usual but right after is dead silent compared with the stock fans, you still have a whoosh...but it's almost not there.