Product Summary

The Cisco N5696-M12Q and N5696-M20UP are expansion modules designed for the Cisco Nexus 5696Q switch, providing flexible port configurations and seamless integration of high-speed Ethernet and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) into enterprise data centers. These modules enhance the switch’s scalability and adaptability for demanding network environments.

Product Description

Cisco N5696-M12Q

The N5696-M12Q is a 12-port 40-Gigabit Ethernet expansion module using QSFP+ transceivers. Each QSFP+ port can break out into four 10-Gigabit ports, providing up to 48 10G connections. Ideal for high-throughput workloads and aggregation layers, this module significantly increases the density and bandwidth capacity of the N5K-C5696Q chassis.

Cisco N5696-M20UP

The N5696-M20UP is a 20-port unified port (UP) expansion module supporting a mix of 1/10-Gigabit Ethernet and 2/4/8-Gbps Fibre Channel. It allows flexible deployment across storage and data networks, making it ideal for environments requiring FCoE and native FC connectivity.

Both modules are hot-swappable and seamlessly integrate into the Nexus 5696Q platform, providing optimized performance, flexibility, and investment protection.

Key Features

N5696-M12Q

12 x 40-Gigabit QSFP+ ports

Supports breakout to 48 x 10-Gigabit Ethernet

High-density aggregation or spine-layer expansion

Designed for low-latency, high-throughput applications

Supports Cisco NX-OS for programmable networking

N5696-M20UP

20 x Unified Ports (1/10GE or 2/4/8G FC)

Flexible Ethernet/FC/FCoE deployment

Ideal for mixed SAN and LAN environments

Enables storage convergence in enterprise networks

Reduces hardware and cabling complexity

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