N3K-C3232C – 32-Port 100G Spine Switch for Cloud Networks
Product Summary
The Cisco Nexus N3K-C3232C is a high-density, low-latency 100
Gigabit Ethernet switch designed for next-generation data centers
and cloud-scale deployments. It provides exceptional throughput,
flexible port configurations, and supports advanced network
virtualization features, making it ideal for spine-and-leaf
architectures.
Product Description
The Cisco N3K-C3232C is a 1RU fixed switch offering 32 ports of
100-Gigabit Ethernet (QSFP28), with support for breakouts into
4x25G, 4x10G, or 2x50G modes, providing flexible high-speed
connectivity. It is part of the Nexus 3200 series, built for
low-latency, high-performance environments such as high-frequency
trading, web-scale IT, and cloud providers.
With support for both Layer 2 and Layer 3, as well as network
overlays using VXLAN and EVPN, this switch enhances scalability and
automation in the data center. The N3K-C3232C runs Cisco NX-OS
software and provides advanced visibility, programmability, and
telemetry capabilities.
Key Features
32 x 100G QSFP28 ports (backward compatible with 40G QSFP+)
Flexible breakout: 4x25G, 4x10G, or 2x50G per QSFP28 port
Switching capacity up to 6.4 Tbps
Forwarding rate up to 4.8 billion packets per second (Bpps)
Ultra-low latency for HFT and storage networks
Advanced VXLAN and EVPN support
Runs Cisco NX-OS with automation and programmability support
1RU compact form factor, hot-swappable power supplies and fans
Product Specifications Table
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Model Number | N3K-C3232C |
| Ports | 32 x 100G QSFP28 |
| Throughput | Up to 6.4 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 4.8 Bpps |
| Breakout Options | 4x25G, 4x10G, 2x50G per port |
| Latency | Sub-microsecond (< 400ns) |
| Buffer Size | 16 MB |
| Software | Cisco NX-OS |
| VXLAN/EVPN Support | Yes |
| Form Factor | 1RU, fixed configuration |
| Power Supply | Dual, hot-swappable |
| Fan Redundancy | Yes, hot-swappable |
Similar Models Comparison Table
| Model | Ports (Max) | Throughput | VXLAN Support | Use Case |
|---|
| N3K-C3232C | 32 x 100G (QSFP28) | 6.4 Tbps | Yes | High-density 100G spine/core |
| N3K-C31108TC-V | 48 x 10G + 6 x 40G | 1.2 Tbps | Yes | Mixed copper/fiber top-of-rack |
| N9K-C93180YC-FX | 48 x 25G + 6 x 100G | 3.6 Tbps | Yes | Scalable spine-leaf fabric |
| N3K-C3172PQ-XL | 48 x 10G + 6 x 40G | 1.4 Tbps | Yes | Low-latency ToR deployments |
