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Ethan Brooks
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NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K provides core functionality with predictable B2B performance.
N3K-ES-XF2
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NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K
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N3K-ES-XF2
- Description:
- NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K
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- Brand:
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- List Price:
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N3K-ES-XF2 Overview
N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K is an operating system software designed for network management on Cisco Nexus 3000 series devices. It offers OEM licensing with lifetime validity, targeting enterprise IT management and suitable for SMBs and large organizations alike.
This product is delivered as a digital key and activated via online activation, ensuring quick deployment on the intended hardware. Optimized for usage on dedicated network platforms, it is provided as a downloadable format with vendor support included, making it ideal for global deployments in business and education environments.
N3K-ES-XF2 price is $12,562.00, a 47.2% saving from the Cisco list price of $23,811.00. N3K-ES-XF2 is in stock and available for next-day dispatch. (terms applied)
Request bulk order quote for N3K-ES-XF2 for additional pricing. Browse the full Cisco Nexus 3000 Switch Licenses series or explore all Cisco products.
N3K-ES-XF2 Specifications
- Use Case
- Enterprise
- Product Type
- Software License
- License Type
- OEM
- License Duration
- Lifetime
- User Count
- N/A
- Device Count
- N/A
- Platform Compatibility
- N/A
- Delivery Method
- Digital Key
- Activation Type
- Online Activation
- Bit Version
- N/A
- Cloud Integration
- N/A
- Support Included
- Vendor Support Required
- License Key Included
- Yes
- ESD (Electronic Software Delivery)
- Yes
- Renewable
- No
- Compliance Certifications
- N/A
- Product Region
- Global
- Language Support
- English
- Software Category
- Operating System
- Software Format
- Downloadable
- Product Name
- N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K
N3K-ES-XF2 Use Case
Multi-Tenant VXLAN/EVPN Overlay in Cloud Data Centers
A service provider deploys N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials on Nexus 3000 switches to host dozens of isolated tenants over a VXLAN/EVPN fabric. The solution delivers scalable Layer 2/3 segmentation, dynamic MAC mobility and automated tenant onboarding, reducing VLAN sprawl by 70% and accelerating provisioning by 50%.
Ultra-Low-Latency Spine-Leaf for Financial Trading
A high-frequency trading firm leverages N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials on Nexus 3000 as leaf switches in a spine-leaf topology, enabling MLAG, ECMP and optimized QoS. This configuration achieves sub-microsecond forwarding and predictable microburst handling, boosting transaction throughput by 35% while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Automated Provisioning & Compliance with NX-OS API
An enterprise IT team integrates N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials with Ansible and NX-API for script-driven VLAN, ACL and QoS deployment across 200+ Nexus 3000 devices. The automation pipeline enforces policy consistency, slashes manual configuration time by 80% and eliminates human error, ensuring audit-ready compliance.
Quality Certifications
To get the detailed certification, please go to the Compliance Center.
Product Comparison Table 
| N3K-ES-XF2 |  N3K-SEC-5Y |  N3K-AD-XF2-3Y |  N3548-ALGK9= |  N3K-AD-XF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Software License | Software License | Software License | Software License | Software License |
| Software Category | Operating System | Security | Operating System | Network Management | Operating System |
| License Type | OEM | Subscription | Subscription | Volume | Volume |
| License Duration | Lifetime | N/A | 3 Years | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Use Case | Enterprise | Enterprise | Enterprise | Enterprise | Enterprise |
| User Count | N/A | N/A | Unlimited | N/A | N/A |
| Device Count | N/A | 1 Device | 1 Device | 1 Device | 1 Device |
| Platform Compatibility | N/A | N/A | N/A | Cross-Platform | N/A |
| Delivery Method | Digital Key | Email Delivery | Digital Key | Digital Key | Digital Key |
| Activation Type | Online Activation | Online Activation | Online Activation | Online Activation | Online Activation |
| Language Support | English | English | English | English | English |
| Bit Version | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 64-bit |
| Cloud Integration | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Software Format | Downloadable | N/A | Downloadable | Downloadable | Downloadable |
| Support Included | Vendor Support Required | Vendor Support Required | Yes | Yes | Vendor Support Required |
| Product Name | N3K-ES-XF2-NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K | N3K-SEC-5Y-NX-OS Security for XF Nexus 3K | N3K-AD-XF2-3Y-NX-OS Advantage for XF Nexus 3K, 3 year | N3548-ALGK9=-Nexus 3500 Algo Boost License | N3K-AD-XF-NX-OS ADVANTAGE FOR XF NEXUS 3K |
| License Key Included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ESD (Electronic Software Delivery) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Renewable | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
| Compliance Certifications | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Product Region | Global | Global | Global | Global | Global |
Reviews & Ratings
I
Isabella Ward
4
Professional-grade usability and smooth deployment.
L
Lucas Hayes
5
Stable activation and minimal administrative effort.
S
Sophia Brooks
4
Reliable enterprise-grade network operations.
M
Mason Ward
5
Easy integration and predictable results.
Questions & Answers
What is NX-OS Essentials for XF2 Nexus 3K?
NX-OS Essentials for XF2 is a perpetual software license that activates core Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching features on Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches running the XF2 NX-OS image.
Which Nexus 3000 models support the XF2 Essentials license?
All Cisco Nexus 3100 and 3200 Series fixed-configuration switches running NX-OS Release 9.x (XF2) are compatible with the Essentials license.
What key capabilities does the Essentials license unlock?
It enables VLANs, STP, VPC, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, QoS, ACLs, NetFlow-Lite and basic SNMP for monitoring and management.
How do I install the NX-OS Essentials license on my switch?
Obtain the PAK or Smart Account entitlement, copy the license file to the switch, then run `license install <file>` from the NX-OS CLI and reload the device.
How do I activate Smart Licensing for Essentials?
Register your Smart Account with `license smart register`, configure a transport (DNS or direct), then sync entitlements using `license smart reservation commit`.
Can I upgrade from Essentials to Advanced or Premier?
Yes. Purchase the appropriate upgrade PAK, install it via `license install`, and reload. Your feature set expands to VXLAN, EVPN, telemetry and more.
What’s the difference between Essentials and Advanced licenses?
Essentials provides core switching and routing. Advanced adds programmability, VXLAN/EVPN, segment routing and comprehensive telemetry.
Is NX-OS Essentials a subscription license?
No. Essentials is a perpetual license. You only renew optional support contracts (e.g., Cisco SMARTnet) annually.
How do I verify my Essentials license status?
Use the NX-OS CLI commands `show license all` or `show license status` to confirm installed licenses and compliance state.
What happens if my Essentials license is not installed?
The switch boots with default basic features only. Licensed features remain offline and the system generates license violation logs.
Does Essentials include VXLAN or EVPN support?
No. VXLAN, EVPN and related overlay capabilities require an Advanced or Premier license upgrade.
How do I purchase NX-OS Essentials for XF2?
Order through a Cisco authorized partner or via Cisco Commerce Workspace using your switch’s serial number or UDI.
Where do I find my Product Authorization Key (PAK)?
After purchase, Cisco or your reseller emails the PAK. You then register it in your Smart Account to generate the entitlement file.
Can I transfer my Essentials license to another switch?
Yes. De-register the license from the source switch, then install the entitlement on the target switch, subject to Cisco’s transfer policy.
Is IPv6 routing supported under Essentials?
Yes. Essentials includes IPv6 OSPFv3, BGP for IPv6 and basic dual-stack support for IPv4/IPv6 environments.
What support options are available for NX-OS Essentials?
Cisco SMARTnet provides 24/7 technical support, software updates and hardware replacement services under a separate annual contract.