Cisco Nexus 1000v Series Virtual Switch License

Cisco Nexus 1000v license

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v is a software-based virtual switch that enables enterprises to virtualize their data center networks. The virtual switch is designed to provide advanced network services and security features for virtualized data center environments. In this article, we will discuss the different types of Cisco Nexus 1000v licenses and the features they offer.

Cisco Nexus 1000v Licenses

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v is available in two different license types: Essential Edition and Advanced Edition.

Essential Edition

The Essential Edition license provides basic functionality for Cisco Nexus 1000v virtual switches. This license is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that require basic networking functionality.

The Essential Edition license includes the following features:

• Standard 802.1Q VLAN tagging
• Basic Quality of Service (QoS) features
• Layer 2 switching
• Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
• Syslog support
• NetFlow support

Advanced Edition

The Advanced Edition license provides advanced functionality for the licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v virtual switches. This license is suitable for medium to large-sized businesses that require advanced networking functionality and security features.

The Advanced Edition license includes the following features:

• Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) features
• Layer 3 routing
• Security features, including Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Private VLANs (PVLANs)
• Multicast routing
• Virtual Port Channel (vPC) technology
• Cisco FabricPath technology
• Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) support

Features of Cisco Nexus 1000v License

Virtual Port Channel (vPC)

Virtual Port Channel (vPC) technology enables link aggregation between two switches. This technology enables active-active redundancy, load balancing, and increased bandwidth utilization. The vPC feature is included in the Advanced Edition license.

Layer 3 Routing

Layer 3 routing enables routing of IP packets between different subnets. This feature is essential for connecting devices across different broadcast domains. The Layer 3 routing feature is included in the Advanced Edition license.

Security Features

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v virtual switches offer several security features, including Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Private VLANs (PVLANs). These features enable network administrators to control access to network resources and protect against unauthorized access. The security features are included in the Advanced Edition license.

Multicast Routing

Multicast routing enables efficient delivery of multicast traffic across the network. The Multicast routing feature is essential for applications that require the efficient distribution of multicast traffic, such as video streaming. The Multicast routing feature is included in the Advanced Edition license.

FabricPath Technology

Cisco FabricPath technology enables the creation of a scalable, resilient, and flexible data center network. The FabricPath technology provides high-speed switching and routing of Ethernet frames. The FabricPath technology is included in the Advanced Edition license.

Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) Support

The licensed Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) is a management platform that provides a centralized view of data center network resources. The DCNM support enables network administrators to manage, configure, and monitor Cisco Nexus 1000v virtual switches. The DCNM support is included in the Advanced Edition license.

Use cases of Cisco Nexus 1000v License

Increased Network Visibility

One of the key benefits of using the licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v is increased network visibility. The switch provides a single point of control for the virtual network infrastructure, allowing administrators to monitor and manage network traffic more effectively. This is particularly useful in large virtual environments where it can be difficult to track down network issues.

Improved Security

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v provides an additional layer of security to virtual environments by offering distributed virtual firewall capabilities. With this feature, administrators can create and enforce firewall policies at the virtual machine level, providing granular control over network traffic. This helps to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.

Simplified Network Management

Managing a virtual environment can be a complex task, but the Cisco Nexus 1000v makes it easier. The switch provides a centralized management interface that allows administrators to configure and monitor network settings across the entire virtual infrastructure. This simplifies network management, reduces the risk of errors, and improves overall efficiency.

Seamless Integration

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v integrates seamlessly with existing virtualization platforms such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. This makes it easy for organizations to deploy the switch without disrupting their existing infrastructure. The Nexus 1000v also supports a wide range of virtualization features, including virtual machine migration and live virtual machine backup.

High Availability

The Cisco Nexus 1000v is designed to provide high availability in virtual environments. The switch supports features such as virtual machine port profiles, virtual port channels, and virtual network interface cards, which help to ensure that virtual machines remain available even in the event of hardware failures.

Network QoS

The licensed Cisco Nexus 1000v supports advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities that enable administrators to prioritize network traffic based on application requirements. This ensures that critical applications receive the network resources they need to operate effectively, even in congested network environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cisco Nexus 1000v virtual switches provide advanced networking functionality and security features for virtualized data center environments. The virtual switches are available in two different license types: Essential Edition and Advanced Edition. The Essential Edition license provides basic networking functionality, while the Advanced Edition license provides advanced networking functionality and security features, including vPC, Layer 3 routing, security features, Multicast routing, FabricPath technology, and DCNM support.