N3K-C36180YC-R – 48×1/10/25G SFP – 6×40/100G QSFP28 – Nexus 3600 Switch
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N3K-C36180YC-R Description
N3K-C36180YC-R is a Cisco Nexus 36180YC-R data center switch in the Nexus 3600 Series for aggregation, IP storage, DMZ, and edge-routing deployments, with 48 fixed 1/10/25G SFP ports, 6 fixed 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks, a compact 1RU form factor, up to 1.8 Tbps switching capacity and 1.67 bpps forwarding, and an 8-GB buffer for dense east-west traffic patterns.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
N3K-C36180YC-R |
|
Product type |
1RU fixed-form-factor data center switch |
|
Form factor |
1RU |
|
Data ports |
48 x 1/10/25G SFP |
|
QSFP28 ports |
6 x 40/100G QSFP28 |
|
Switching capacity |
1.8 Tbps |
|
Forwarding rate |
Up to 1.67 bpps |
|
Buffer size |
8 GB |
|
System memory |
32 GB |
|
Power supply design |
2 redundant AC or DC power supplies |
|
Airflow options |
Port-side exhaust or port-side intake |
Product Performance
Key Features
N3K-C36180YC-R combines 48 SFP ports for 1G, 10G, or 25G connections with 6 QSFP28 ports for 40G or 100G uplinks, so the order can cover access and aggregation links in one 1RU switch.
Cisco states that all six QSFP28 ports support wire-rate MACSec, making the uplink block a key specification to verify when encrypted 40G or 100G transport is part of the design.
The data sheet positions this switch for data center aggregation, IP storage, DMZ, big data, and edge routing, supported by 8 GB of buffer and large table values in the official specifications.
NX-OS support includes NX-API, XML, JSON APIs, Linux container support, Python scripting, and related automation options that matter when the switch is part of a scripted data center operating model.
The chassis uses redundant power supplies and hot-swappable fans, but the fan and PSU airflow direction must be matched to the rack cooling plan before release to procurement.
Cisco lists N3K-LAN1K9 as the Enhanced Layer 3 license for this switch, covering full OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP features when the project requires that routing feature set.
Application Scenarios
Use N3K-C36180YC-R when a data center aggregation switch needs many SFP access ports for 1G, 10G, or 25G endpoints and a smaller set of QSFP28 ports for 40G or 100G uplinks.
Select this SKU for projects that need the Nexus 3600 buffer and table profile in a compact fixed switch while keeping the front-panel layout closer to SFP access than all-QSFP spine switching.
Choose N3K-C36180YC-R over N3K-C3636C-R when the confirmed requirement is 48 SFP ports plus 6 QSFP28 ports. Choose the 3636C-R alternative only when the BOM is built around 36 QSFP28 ports and higher 100G port density.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
N3K-C36180YC-R | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Product type |
1RU data center switch |
1RU data center switch |
1RU data center switch |
|
Interface type |
48 SFP ports and 6 QSFP28 ports |
36 QSFP28 ports |
36 QSFP28 ports |
|
Maximum 10GE ports |
48 |
144 |
144 |
|
Maximum 25GE ports |
48 |
144 |
144 |
|
Maximum 40GE ports |
6 |
36 |
36 |
|
Maximum 100GE ports |
6 |
36 |
36 |
|
Shared buffer space |
8 GB |
16 GB |
16 GB |
|
System memory |
32 GB |
32 GB |
16 GB |
|
MACSec |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Power supply positions |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Fan modules |
2 |
3 |
Four hot-swappable fans with 3+1 redundancy |
|
Layer 3 license PID |
N3K-LAN1K9 |
N3K-LAN1K9XL |
N3K-LAN1K9XL |
- In an N3K-C36180YC-R vs N3K-C3636C-R comparison, the confirmed difference is the port layout: N3K-C36180YC-R has 48 SFP ports and 6 QSFP28 ports, while N3K-C3636C-R has 36 QSFP28 ports.
- The N3K-C36180YC-R difference matters when the rack has many 1G, 10G, or 25G SFP links and only a small 40G or 100G uplink block; the 3636C-R comparison favors all-QSFP28 100G density.
- For buyers deciding which model to choose, compare SFP access count, 100G port density, shared buffer space, fan count, and the required Layer 3 license PID before finalizing the Nexus 3600 order. N3K-C3524P-XL is included as an additional same-family comparison point.
Selection Guide
1. Choose N3K-C36180YC-R for 48-port SFP access
Select this SKU when the BOM requires 48 1/10/25G SFP ports and only six QSFP28 uplink ports in the Nexus 3600 family.
2. Choose N3K-C3636C-R for all-QSFP28 density
Use the N3K-C3636C-R alternative only when the deployment needs 36 QSFP28 ports, higher 100G port density, and the 16 GB shared buffer profile listed for that model.
3. Keep airflow and power type explicit
Specify port-side exhaust or port-side intake and do not mix AC and DC power supply types in the same switch order.
4. Verify software, license, and optics before quote
Match the NX-OS package, N3K-LAN1K9 Layer 3 license need, QSFP28 breakout mode, and transceiver or cable support against Cisco documentation before requesting price, stock, and warranty handling.
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Exact product ID |
N3K-C36180YC-R |
Separates the 48 SFP plus 6 QSFP28 model from N3K-C3636C-R and spare-only equals-suffixed entries |
|
Access port plan |
48 x 1/10/25G SFP links |
Confirms the switch is being ordered for SFP access rather than all-QSFP28 100G density |
|
QSFP28 use |
40G, 100G, 4 x 25G, or 4 x 10G mode |
Breakout and optics choices affect the cable and transceiver BOM |
|
Airflow direction |
Port-side exhaust or port-side intake |
Fan and PSU airflow must match the rack hot-aisle or cold-aisle design |
|
Power supply type |
AC or DC power supplies of the same type |
Cisco release notes state both power supplies must be either AC or DC |
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
N3K-LAN1K9 |
Cisco Nexus N3K-C36180YC-R Enhanced Layer 3 license |
|
NXA-FAN-65CFM-PI |
Nexus fan, 65CFM, port-side intake airflow |
|
NXA-FAN-65CFM-PE |
Nexus fan, 65CFM, port-side exhaust airflow |
|
NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2 |
Nexus AC 1100W power supply, port-side exhaust |
|
NXA-PAC-1100W-PI2 |
Nexus AC 1100W power supply, port-side intake |
|
NXA-PHV-1100W-PI |
Nexus 1100W Platinum HV-AC-DC power supply, port-side intake airflow |
|
NXA-PHV-1100W-PE |
Nexus 1100W Platinum HV-AC-DC power supply, port-side exhaust airflow |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | N3K-C36180YC-R | Cisco model | Nexus 36180YC-R |
| Product type | 1RU fixed-form-factor switch | Order description | Nexus 36180YC-R, 48p 10/25G and 6p QSFP28 |
| Primary role | Data center aggregation switching | Form factor | 1RU |
| Data ports | 48 SFP ports, native 1/10/25 Gigabit Ethernet | QSFP28 ports | 6 QSFP28 ports, native 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet |
| QSFP28 breakout | 4 x 25G or 4 x 10G modes | MACSec support | Wire-rate MACSec on all 6 QSFP28 ports |
| Switching capacity | 1.8 Tbps | Forwarding rate | Up to 1.67 bpps |
| Line-rate support | Layer 2 and Layer 3 on all ports for packets bigger than 115B | Maximum MTU | Up to 9216 bytes |
| Buffer size | 8 GB | System memory | 32 GB |
| Bootflash memory | 128 GB | MAC address scale | 750,000 |
| VLAN scale | 4096 VLANs | Ingress ACL entries | 7000 |
| Maximum LPM routes | 256,000 | IP host entries | 750,000 |
| Layer 3 multicast entries | 128,000 | EtherChannels | 256 with vPC |
| Ports per EtherChannel | 32 | Management ports | RJ-45 management port and SFP management port |
| Console port | 1 RS-232 serial console port | USB port | 1 USB port |
| Power supply selection | NXA-PAC-1100W-PE2 1100W AC, NXA-PAC-1100W-PI2 1100W AC, NXA-PHV-1100W-PE 1100W, or NXA-PHV-1100W-PI 1100W selected by airflow and input type | Power supply types | AC forward/reverse airflow or DC port-side exhaust |
| Power supply mixing rule | Both power supplies must be AC or both must be DC | Typical operating power | 383 W |
| Maximum power | 771 W | AC input voltage | 100 to 240 VAC |
| AC frequency | 50 to 60 Hz | Power supply efficiency | 89 to 91% at 220V |
| Cooling airflow | Forward port-side exhaust or reverse port-side intake | Fan modules | 2 fan modules |
| Fan replacement note | Hot-swappable, must swap within 1 minute | Dimensions | 1.72 x 17.3 x 26.85 in. (4.4 x 43.9 x 68.2 cm) |
| Weight | 27.1 lb (12.3 kg) | Operating temperature | 32 to 104 F (0 to 40 C) |
| Storage temperature | -40 to 158 F (-40 to 70 C) | Operating humidity | 10 to 85% noncondensing |
| Operating altitude | Up to 13,123 ft | Layer 3 license PID | N3K-LAN1K9 |
| Enhanced Layer 3 features | Full OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP | NX-OS package reference | nxos64-msll image for Nexus 3600 fixed switches in Release 10.6(3)F |
| AC PSU support from NX-OS 10.3(3)F | NXA-PAC-750W-PE and NXA-PAC-750W-PI | Transceiver support reference | Cisco Transceiver Module compatibility matrix |
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