C9500-NM-2Q – 2x40G QSFP+ Ports – Network Module – Catalyst 9500

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C9500-NM-2Q Description

The C9500-NM-2Q is a Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series 2-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ network module for the uplink bays of the C9500-16X and C9500-40X. The module has two QSFP+ ports that take standard QSFP modules, supports 4x10G breakout cabling that yields up to eight 10G interfaces and was introduced in Cisco IOS XE 16.8.1a. The module is not supported on the C9500-32C, C9500-32QC, C9500-48Y4C or C9500-24Y4C, whose fixed uplinks are their only uplink capacity.

Quick Specs

Parameter

Specification

Product ID

C9500-NM-2Q

Product type

Network module

Cisco ordering description

Cisco Catalyst 9500 2 x 40GE Network Module

Network module description

2-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet with QSFP+

Total ports

2

Port speed

40 Gigabit Ethernet

Port type

QSFP+ module ports

Supported base PIDs

C9500-16X and C9500-40X

Supported media

Standard QSFP modules

Breakout cable support

One 40G port can split into four 10G ports with a 4x10G breakout cable

Two-QSFP operating mode

FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/1 and FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/2 configurable

Dual-breakout operating mode

TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1 through TenGigabitEthernet1/1/8 configurable

Minimum software release

Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a

Application Scenarios

40G Uplinks From A 10G Switch

A C9500-16X or C9500-40X in a building distribution room can add two 40G QSFP+ uplinks toward the core through this module in its uplink bay.

Breakout Links To 10G Gear

When the upstream devices present 10G ports, a 4x10G breakout cable on each QSFP+ port turns the module into up to eight 10G interfaces.

Product Comparison

Parameter

C9500-NM-2Q

C9500-NM-8X

NM-C4-10G-BLANK

Description

2-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet with QSFP+

8-port 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet with SFP/SFP+

Blank network module

Number of ports

2

8

No data ports

Port speed

40 Gigabit Ethernet

1/10 Gigabit Ethernet

Not applicable, no data ports

Supported media

Standard QSFP modules

Standard SFP modules

No pluggable media

Supported hosts

C9500-16X and C9500-40X

C9500-16X and C9500-40X

C9500-16X and C9500-40X

Breakout cabling

4x10G breakout supported

Not published

No data ports

C9500-NM-2Q gives two 40G QSFP ports where C9500-NM-8X gives eight 10G SFP/SFP+ ports, and both fit the same C9500-16X and C9500-40X uplink slots. Choose C9500-NM-2Q for 40G uplinks or 4x10G breakout cabling, and C9500-NM-8X when the uplinks are 10G or 1G SFP media. A switch with no uplink ports needs NM-C4-10G-BLANK, since the switch should run with either a network module or a blank module installed. C9500-32C, C9500-32QC, C9500-48Y4C and C9500-24Y4C take none of these modules because their fixed uplinks are the only uplink capacity.

Ordering Checklist

  • Catalyst 9500 hosts: Pair the module with C9500-16X and C9500-40X, which have two network module slots for uplinks. The module fits only these uplink slots.
  • Unsupported hosts: C9500-32C, C9500-32QC, C9500-48Y4C and C9500-24Y4C do not support it. Fixed-uplink models cannot take C9500-NM-2Q or C9500-NM-8X.

Specifications

Parameter Specification Parameter Specification
Product ID C9500-NM-2Q Product type Network module
Cisco ordering description Cisco Catalyst 9500 2 x 40GE Network Module Network module description 2-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet with QSFP+
Total ports 2 Data rate 40 Gigabit Ethernet
Port type QSFP+ module ports Supported base PIDs C9500-16X and C9500-40X
Supported media Standard QSFP modules Two-QSFP operating mode FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/1 and FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/2 configurable
Dual-breakout operating mode TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1 through TenGigabitEthernet1/1/8 configurable Breakout cable support One 40G port can split into four 10G ports with a 4x10G breakout cable
Minimum software release Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a Spare PID C9500-NM-2Q=
Serviceability Hot-swappable network module

Quality Certifications

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Questions & Answers

  • Which Catalyst 9500 hosts take C9500-NM-2Q?

    C9500-NM-2Q installs in the uplink bays of C9500-16X-A, C9500-16X-E and C9500-40X-E. The module is not supported on C9500-32C-A, C9500-32C-E, C9500-32QC-A, C9500-32QC-E, C9500-48Y4C-A, C9500-48Y4C-E, C9500-24Y4C-A or C9500-24Y4C-E, whose fixed uplinks are their only uplink capacity.
  • What is the minimum IOS XE release for C9500-NM-2Q?

    C9500-NM-2Q requires Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a as the minimum software release. That release introduced the module for the uplink bays of C9500-16X-A, C9500-16X-E and C9500-40X-E, so earlier releases on those hosts do not list it.
  • Which Catalyst 9500 switches can host C9500-NM-2Q?

    C9500-NM-2Q installs in the uplink bays of C9500-16X-A, C9500-16X-E and C9500-40X-E only. C9500-32C-A, C9500-32C-E, C9500-32QC-A, C9500-32QC-E, C9500-48Y4C-A, C9500-48Y4C-E, C9500-24Y4C-A and C9500-24Y4C-E do not support it, because their fixed uplinks are their only uplink capacity. The module needs Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a or later.
  • How many 10G interfaces does C9500-NM-2Q present when both QSFP+ ports use 4x10G breakout cables?

    C9500-NM-2Q presents eight 10G interfaces, TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1 through TenGigabitEthernet1/1/8, in the dual-breakout operating mode. Without breakout cables the two QSFP+ ports appear as FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/1 and FortyGigabitEthernet1/1/2. One 40G port splits into four 10G ports with a 4x10G breakout cable.
  • Which software release does C9500-NM-2Q require?

    C9500-NM-2Q requires Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.8.1a as its minimum software release. Check the release running on C9500-16X-A, C9500-16X-E or C9500-40X-E before installing the module. Its two 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports take standard QSFP modules, and the module does not run on an earlier release.
  • What fills the second uplink bay of a C9500-40X-E when only C9500-NM-2Q is installed?

    Fit NM-C4-10G-BLANK in the unused bay, because the switch should run with either a network module or a blank module installed. C9500-16X-A, C9500-16X-E and C9500-40X-E each have two network module slots for uplinks, and C9500-NM-2Q fits only those uplink slots.

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DataSheet Downloads

  • C9500-NM-2Q Datasheet