Cisco Nexus 5548P vs Nexus 93180YC-FX3
The Nexus 5548P is an end-of-life 10G/FCoE access switch, and the Nexus 93180YC-FX3 is the modern 25G replacement. The 93180YC-FX3 nearly quadruples throughput, moves the access layer to 25G with 100G uplinks, and runs current NX-OS with ACI support, so the 5548P should be retired.
Cisco Nexus 5548P
End-of-life 1RU 10 Gigabit Ethernet and FCoE access switch with one expansion slot.
- 32 fixed 1/10G SFP+ ports plus one expansion slot
- 960 Gbps switching throughput
- Unified ports with FCoE support
- End-of-life; last order date September 26, 2015
Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3
Current 1RU 25G leaf/access switch with 100G uplinks running NX-OS or ACI.
- 48x 1/10/25G SFP28 plus 6x 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks
- 3.6 Tbps switching throughput
- NX-OS standalone or ACI mode
- Telemetry, programmability, TAA-compliant
Cisco Nexus 5548P vs Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Nexus 5548P | Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 1RU fixed + 1 expansion slot | 1RU fixed |
| Access ports | 32x 1/10G SFP+ | 48x 1/10/25G SFP28 |
| Uplink ports | Via expansion module | 6x 40/100G QSFP28 |
| Switching throughput | 960 Gbps | 3.6 Tbps |
| Forwarding rate | ~714 Mpps | ~1.2 Bpps |
| Max access speed | 10G | 25G |
| FCoE / storage | Yes (unified ports) | Yes (FCoE-capable) |
| Software | NX-OS (legacy) | NX-OS standalone or ACI |
| Telemetry / automation | Limited | Streaming telemetry, NETCONF, programmable |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-life (LDoS reached) | Current, fully supported |
Choose Cisco Nexus 5548P if
Keep a 5548P only to bridge a legacy FCoE or 10G top-of-rack until your replacement arrives. It is past last-day-of-support, so it should not anchor any new design.
Choose Cisco Nexus 93180YC-FX3 if
Choose the 93180YC-FX3 for any new leaf/access deployment or to replace a 5548P. It moves the access layer to 25G with 100G uplinks, nearly quadruples throughput, supports both NX-OS and ACI, and is TAA-compliant for federal data centers.
Verdict
Migrate to the Nexus 93180YC-FX3. It replaces 10G access with 48 ports of 25G plus six 40/100G uplinks, raises throughput from 960 Gbps to 3.6 Tbps, and adds ACI and modern telemetry, while the 5548P is end-of-life. Keep a 5548P only briefly to bridge legacy FCoE connectivity.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Nexus 5548P end of life?
Yes. Cisco announced end-of-sale and end-of-life for the Nexus 5548P, with the last order date of September 26, 2015. The platform has passed its last-day-of-support milestones, though contracted customers may still reach TAC.
What is the modern replacement for the Nexus 5548P?
For a 1RU access/leaf switch, the Nexus 9300 family is the successor. The 93180YC-FX3 is a strong fit, offering 48 ports of 25G and six 40/100G uplinks in NX-OS or ACI mode.
How much faster is the 93180YC-FX3 than the 5548P?
The 93180YC-FX3 provides 3.6 Tbps of switching throughput versus 960 Gbps on the 5548P, and moves access ports from 10G to 25G while adding native 40/100G uplinks.
Does the Nexus 93180YC-FX3 support ACI?
Yes. The 93180YC-FX3 can run in standalone NX-OS mode or as an ACI leaf, giving you a path into Cisco ACI fabrics that the older 5548P does not support.
More Nexus comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.