Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ 10GbE Data Center Switch

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ is a high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch built for modern data center environments that require scalable performance, unified connectivity, and enterprise-grade reliability. Designed as part of the Cisco Nexus 5500 Series, this platform delivers low-latency switching, advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, and flexible unified port architecture suitable for virtualization, storage, and aggregation deployments.

With up to 80 SFP+ 10GbE ports and support for NX-OS, the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ provides wire-speed performance and consistent throughput across demanding workloads.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ High-Density 10GbE Connectivity

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ offers up to 80 SFP+ interfaces supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. Each port can operate at 1GbE or 10GbE speeds depending on the installed optics, enabling gradual migration from legacy 1G infrastructure to full 10G deployments.

This high port density makes the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ ideal for:

• Top-of-Rack (ToR) deployments

• Server aggregation

• High-density virtualization clusters

• Data center access layers

The non-blocking architecture ensures full line-rate forwarding across all SFP+ ports.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Unified Port Architecture

A key advantage of the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ is its Unified Port (UP) design. Unified ports allow flexible configuration to support Ethernet and Fibre Channel (via expansion modules), enabling LAN and SAN convergence on a single platform.

This reduces infrastructure complexity, lowers cabling requirements, and simplifies data center architecture without sacrificing performance.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Layer 2 and Layer 3 Capabilities

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality, making it suitable for both access and aggregation roles.

Layer 2 features include:

• VLAN support

• Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)

• Multiple Spanning Tree (MST)

• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)

• Jumbo frame support

Layer 3 features include:

• Static routing

• OSPF

• EIGRP

• BGP (with licensing)

• VRRP

These capabilities allow the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ to function as a high-performance distribution switch in enterprise networks.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Performance and Low Latency

Performance is a defining characteristic of the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+. The platform delivers multi-terabit switching capacity with ultra-low latency measured in microseconds.

This makes the switch well suited for:

• Virtualized server farms

• Cloud computing environments

• Storage networking

• High-performance computing

The architecture ensures predictable performance even during peak traffic conditions.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Virtualization and vPC Support

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ supports Virtual Port Channel (vPC), allowing two physical switches to appear as one logical switch to downstream devices. This increases redundancy while eliminating Spanning Tree blocking issues.

Additional virtualization-ready features include:

• Data Center Bridging (DCB)

• Quality of Service (QoS)

• VM-aware networking capabilities

These technologies ensure efficient traffic handling in highly virtualized data center environments.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ NX-OS Operating System

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ runs Cisco NX-OS, a modular and resilient operating system designed for data center networks.

Key NX-OS benefits include:

• Process isolation for stability

• Role-based access control

• API programmability

• Secure management interfaces

• Automation support

This enhances operational efficiency and network reliability.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Reliability and Power Design

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ supports redundant power supplies and fan modules for high availability deployments. The 1100W single power supply configuration provides reliable energy delivery for full 10GbE operation.

Hot-swappable components allow maintenance without downtime, making the switch suitable for mission-critical environments.

Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ Security Features

Security features on the Cisco Nexus 5596UP include:

• Access Control Lists (ACLs)

• DHCP Snooping

• Dynamic ARP Inspection

• Control Plane Policing (CoPP)

• Port security

These capabilities protect the network infrastructure from internal and external threats.

Why Choose Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+?

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP delivers:

• High-density 10GbE connectivity

• Unified Ethernet and storage support

• Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality

• Ultra-low latency switching

• Enterprise-grade reliability

It is an ideal solution for scalable data center networking.

 Scalability and Future-Proof Architecture

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP  is designed to support long-term scalability within enterprise and data center environments. As network traffic continues to grow due to virtualization, cloud computing, and high-bandwidth applications, organizations require infrastructure that can evolve without complete hardware replacement. The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ provides flexible expansion options through unified ports and modular uplink capabilities, allowing businesses to adapt to increasing bandwidth demands.

With support for 1GbE and 10GbE SFP+ connectivity, this platform enables seamless migration strategies. Enterprises can initially deploy the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ in mixed-speed environments and gradually transition to full 10 Gigabit architecture without disrupting operations. This investment protection makes the Cisco Nexus 5596UP  a strategic choice for organizations planning phased infrastructure upgrades.

The switch also integrates easily with larger Cisco data center architectures, including aggregation and core layers, ensuring consistent policy enforcement, routing control, and traffic optimization across the network fabric.

 Deployment Flexibility and Enterprise Integration

Another major advantage of the Cisco Nexus 5596UP  is its deployment flexibility. It can function efficiently as a Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch, an end-of-row aggregation switch, or as part of a collapsed core architecture. This versatility allows IT teams to standardize on a single high-performance platform across multiple data center layers.

The Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ supports advanced traffic management features such as Quality of Service (QoS) policies, traffic shaping, and congestion management. These capabilities ensure predictable application performance even in high-density server environments. For enterprises running mission-critical applications such as ERP systems, databases, or virtual desktop infrastructure, the Cisco Nexus 5596UP 80-Port SFP+ guarantees consistent throughput and network stability.

In addition, integration with Cisco management tools and NX-OS automation capabilities simplifies provisioning, monitoring, and lifecycle management. This reduces operational overhead and enhances overall network visibility, making the Cisco Nexus 5596UP  an optimal choice for enterprises seeking performance, reliability, and simplified data center operations.

Official Reference

Cisco Nexus 5500 Series Official Datasheet