Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE vs 2348UPQ
Both are 10GbE fabric extenders, but the 2348UPQ is the modern replacement: it nearly doubles host density to 48 ports and swaps the 2232PP's 8x 10G uplinks for true 40G QSFP uplinks with far deeper buffers. If you are refreshing a 2232PP, the 2348UPQ is the direct upgrade.
Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extender
1RU FEX with 32x 1/10GE SFP+ host ports and 8x 10GE SFP+ fabric uplinks, controlled by a parent Nexus 5000/6000/7000/9000.
- 32x 1/10GbE SFP+ host ports plus 8x 10GbE SFP+ uplinks
- FCoE-capable host and fabric ports for converged access
- 4:1 maximum oversubscription when all host ports are active
- End-of-sale and end-of-life; no 40G uplink path
Cisco Nexus 2348UPQ 10GE Fabric Extender
1RU unified-port FEX with 48x 1/10GE SFP+ host ports and 6x 40G QSFP+ fabric uplinks plus deep buffers for bursty workloads.
- 48x 1/10GbE SFP+ unified host ports plus 6x 40G QSFP+ uplinks
- True 40 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks for higher fabric bandwidth
- Deep buffers to absorb traffic bursts common in data centers
- Unified ports support FCoE and native Fibre Channel with a 5600 parent
Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extender vs Cisco Nexus 2348UPQ 10GE Fabric Extender: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extender | Cisco Nexus 2348UPQ 10GE Fabric Extender |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 1RU | 1RU |
| Host (server) ports | 32x 1/10GbE SFP+ | 48x 1/10GbE SFP+ |
| Fabric (uplink) ports | 8x 10GbE SFP+ | 6x 40G QSFP+ |
| Uplink technology | 10 Gigabit Ethernet | True 40 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Unified ports (FC/FCoE) | FCoE only | FCoE plus native FC (with 5600 parent) |
| Max oversubscription | 4:1 | 8:1 (48x10G host : 6x40G fabric) |
| Buffering | Standard shared buffer | Deep buffers for burst absorption |
| Operating model | Remote line card of parent switch | Remote line card of parent switch |
| Redundant power and fans | Yes, hot-swappable | Yes, hot-swappable |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-sale / end-of-life | Current shipping FEX |
Choose Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extender if
Only keep the 2232PP if you have spare units on the shelf and a short-term need to maintain an existing 10G FEX row without buying new hardware. It has no upgrade path beyond 10G uplinks.
Choose Cisco Nexus 2348UPQ 10GE Fabric Extender if
Choose the 2348UPQ for any new build or refresh: more host ports per rack unit, 40G QSFP uplinks to relieve oversubscription, and deep buffers for storage, database, and virtualization traffic.
Verdict
Migrate to the 2348UPQ. It is the supported successor with 50 percent more host density, real 40G uplinks, and deep buffers, while the 2232PP is past end-of-life with only 10G uplinks. The only reason to keep a 2232PP is a temporary stopgap using inventory you already own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Nexus 2232PP end of life?
Yes. The 2232PP-10GE has reached end-of-sale and end-of-life. Cisco positions the Nexus 2348UPQ and the broader 2300 platform as the current fabric extenders for new deployments.
What is the replacement for the Nexus 2232PP?
The Cisco Nexus 2348UPQ (N2K-C2348UPQ-10GE) is the modern equivalent. It moves from 32 to 48 host ports and replaces eight 10G uplinks with six 40G QSFP+ uplinks.
Does the 2348UPQ support 40G uplinks?
Yes. The 2348UPQ provides six 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ fabric ports, whereas the 2232PP only offered eight 10GbE SFP+ uplinks.
Can I mix a 2232PP and a 2348UPQ under the same parent switch?
Generally yes, since both operate as remote line cards of a supported parent Nexus switch. Confirm the parent platform and NX-OS release support both FEX models before mixing them in production.
More Nexus comparisons
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