Cisco Nexus 5596UP vs 56128P
The 56128P is the Nexus 5600-generation successor to the 5596UP: it moves to fixed 40G QSFP uplinks, larger per-port buffers, true 40GbE, and Layer 3 at line rate, with higher overall throughput. For a 5596UP refresh within the 5000/5600 family, the 56128P is the upgrade.
Cisco Nexus 5596UP
2RU 10GbE unified-port switch with 48x 1/10G SFP+ ports and three expansion slots, up to 1920 Gbps and FCoE/FC.
- 48x 1/10G SFP+ unified ports plus three expansion module slots
- Up to 1920 Gbps throughput; 1428 Mpps Layer 2
- Ports do Ethernet, FCoE, or native Fibre Channel
- End-of-sale and end-of-life
Cisco Nexus 56128P
2RU 10/40GbE switch with 48x 10G SFP+ and 4x 40G QSFP+ fixed ports, two GEM slots, 2.56 Tbps and line-rate L3.
- 48x 1/10G SFP+ plus 4x 40G QSFP+ fixed ports
- Two Generic Expansion Module (GEM) slots for 10G/40G/FC
- 2.56 Tbps switching with line-rate Layer 3 and VXLAN
- FCoE and native FC for LAN-SAN convergence
Cisco Nexus 5596UP vs Cisco Nexus 56128P: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Nexus 5596UP | Cisco Nexus 56128P |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 2RU | 2RU |
| Fixed 10G ports | 48x 1/10G SFP+ | 48x 1/10G SFP+ |
| Fixed 40G ports | None (via expansion) | 4x 40G QSFP+ |
| Expansion slots | 3 expansion module slots | 2 GEM slots (24x SFP+ and 2x QSFP+ each) |
| Switching throughput | Up to 1920 Gbps | 2.56 Tbps |
| Layer 3 | Limited / license-based L3 | Line-rate Layer 3 |
| VXLAN | No | Yes |
| Storage / FC | FCoE and native FC | FCoE and 2/4/8G native FC (on GEM) |
| FEX aggregation | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-sale / end-of-life | Mature 5600-platform switch |
Choose Cisco Nexus 5596UP if
Keep the 5596UP only to extend an existing 2RU 10G converged row short-term, especially if you rely on its three expansion slots and have no immediate need for 40G or line-rate L3.
Choose Cisco Nexus 56128P if
Choose the 56128P when you want fixed 40G QSFP uplinks, line-rate Layer 3 and VXLAN, and higher throughput in the same 2RU footprint, while still aggregating FEX and converging LAN-SAN.
Verdict
Move to the 56128P over the 5596UP. It adds fixed 40G uplinks, line-rate Layer 3, VXLAN, and more throughput in the same 2RU. The 5596UP is end-of-life with no 40G path. Note that for greenfield leaf designs Cisco now steers toward Nexus 9300 Cloud Scale switches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Nexus 5596UP and 56128P?
The 5596UP is a 10G-only 5500 switch with three expansion slots; the 56128P is a 5600-platform switch that adds four fixed 40G QSFP+ ports, line-rate Layer 3, VXLAN, and higher throughput.
Is the Nexus 5596UP end of life?
Yes. The 5596UP and the Nexus 5500 platform are end-of-sale and end-of-life. The 56128P is the in-family successor, and Nexus 9300 is the long-term direction.
Does the 56128P support native Fibre Channel?
Yes. Through its GEM modules the 56128P supports 2/4/8G native Fibre Channel along with FCoE for LAN-SAN convergence.
Should I buy a 56128P or move to Nexus 9000?
If you must stay in the 5600 family for FCoE or FEX aggregation, the 56128P is the upgrade. For a forward-looking leaf with 25G/100G and ACI, evaluate Nexus 9300 switches instead.
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.