Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch N5K-C56128P Overview
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch N5K-C56128P is a genuine data-center switching fabric product from Cisco, a global name in networking whose platforms are used by enterprises, service providers and data-center operators alike. Belonging to the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series family, the N5K-C56128P unit is built to the original factory specification, so it integrates with existing Cisco deployments predictably and behaves exactly as the platform documentation describes. In the network, it is built for high-density data-center and cloud environments, where low latency, high availability and consistent forwarding matter most.
From a specification standpoint, it offers 48 ports for client, server or uplink connectivity. These are the original factory figures for this model, giving administrators a clear picture of what the unit can deliver before it enters service. Standard mounting, cabling and management practices apply, so deployment follows the same procedures as other Cisco hardware already running in the environment.
Typical deployments include access-layer deployments for user, phone and AP connectivity, distribution and core aggregation in campus networks, and top-of-rack and end-of-row switching in data centers. Organizations commonly source it for refresh programs, capacity expansion and spares management, keeping a tested unit on hand so outages stay short and replacements are predictable. The factory detail for this unit reads: “Nexus 56128P Chassis, 48x 10-Gbps SFP+, 4 x 40G QSFP+ Fixed Ports”. This makes it a practical choice when original-spec hardware is required at a predictable cost.
Every unit at LinkNewNet is inspected and tested before dispatch, and stock is graded, cleaned and verified for correct operation, including port status, console access and firmware state. Our warranty coverage and responsive technical support protect the purchase after it arrives, and our team can confirm revision levels and software compatibility before you order. For volume requirements we also offer configuration checks and staged delivery options.
Contact our sales team for current availability, lead time and shipping options for the N5K-C56128P. We respond quickly with stock status and a firm quote, so you can plan the refresh or expansion with confidence.
Key Specifications
Applications
Enterprise Campus
High-density ports power users, phones and APs at the access layer.
Branch Office
Stackable units simplify branch deployment and management.
Wireless & IoT
PoE budget supports dense wireless and IoT endpoints.
Buying a Pre-Owned N5K-C56128P
Verify the unit is tested, firmware confirmed, and condition documented. Every unit is fully tested and warranty covered. Contact our team for current stock and availability.
N5K-C56128P Specifications | |
Latency | 1 microsecond |
Expansion slots | 2 |
Number of ports | 1152 with FEX |
10 GE | Up to 96 wire-rate ports |
40 GE | Up to 8 QSFP ports |
Unified ports | Up to 48 ports (Ethernet; FCoE; 2/4/8-gigabit FC) |
10 and 40 Gbps FCoE | Yes |
Hardware VXLAN | Yes |
Form factor | 2-rack unit |
Interfaces | ● 48 fixed 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports with 4 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ fixed ports and 2 expansion slots ● Expansion module: 24 SFP+ unified ports plus 2 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports ● Conversion of 40 Gigabit Ethernet ports to 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces through QSFP+ breakout cable ● Fabric extension through the Cisco Nexus 2200 and 2300 platforms |
Performance | ● Layer 2 and 3 hardware forwarding at 2.56 Tbps; 1904 mpps (64-byte packets) ● Support for up to 256,000 combined entries of MAC addresses and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) entries ● Low latency of approximately 1 microsecond using cut-through forwarding for predictable, consistent traffic latency regardless of packet size, traffic pattern, or features enabled on 10 and 40 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces ● 25-MB buffer per 12 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ interfaces ● Line-rate traffic throughput on all ports in Layer 2 and 3 mode |
High-Availability Features | ● Cisco In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) for Layer 2 ● Hot-swappable field-replaceable power supplies and fan modules ● N+1 and N+N power redundancy ● N+1 fan module redundancy |
Data Center Bridging | ● CEE- and IEEE-compliant PFC (per-priority Pause frame support: IEEE 802.1Qbb) ● PFC link distance support: 20 km ● CEE-compliant DCBX Protocol ● CEE- and IEEE-compliant enhanced transmission selection |
SNMP MIBs | |
Ethernet MIBs | ● CISCO-VLAN-MEMBERSHIP-MIB ● CISCO-Virtual-Interface-MIB ● CISCO-VTP-MIB |
| Layer 3 MIBs | ● UDP-MIB ● TCP-MIB ● OSPF-MIB ● BGP4-MIB ● CISCO-HSRP-MIB |
Miscellaneous MIBs | ● START-MIB ● CISCO-LICENSE-MGR-MIB ● CISCO-FEATURE-CONTROL-MIB ● CISCO-CDP-MIB ● CISCO-RF-MIB ● CISCO-ETHERNET-FABRIC-EXTENDER-MIB ● CISCO-BRIDGE-MIB ● CISCO-FCOE-MIB ● CISCO-PORTCHANNEL-MIB ● CISCO-ZS-MIB |
Monitoring MIBs | ● DIFFSERV-DSCP-TC ● NOTIFICATION-LOG-MIB ● DIFFSERV-MIB ● CISCO-CALLHOME-MIB ● CISCO-SYSLOG-EXT-MIB ● CISCO-PROCESS-MIB ● RMON-MIB ● CISCO-RMON-CONFIG-MIB ● CISCO-HC-ALARM-MIB ● LLDP-MIB |
Standards | |
Industry Standards | ● IEEE 802.1D: Spanning Tree Protocol ● IEEE 802.1p: CoS prioritization ● IEEE 802.1Q: VLAN tagging ● IEEE 802.1Qaz: Enhanced transmission selection ● IEEE 802.1Qbb: Per-priority Pause ● IEEE 802.1s: Multiple VLAN instances of Spanning Tree Protocol ● IEEE 802.1w: Rapid reconfiguration of Spanning Tree Protocol ● IEEE 802.3: Ethernet ● IEEE 802.3ad: LACP with fast timers ● IEEE 802.3ae: 10 Gigabit Ethernet ● IEEE 802.3ba: 40 Gigabit Ethernet (Applies to 40G SR4, SR4-S, LR4, LR4-S, and CSR4 optics only) ● SFF 8431 SFP+ CX1 support ● RMON |
N5K-C56128P - Deployment Notes
This N5K-C56128P switch is suited to wiring-closet, distribution, or core roles depending on the port density and uplink options of the specific model. The port configuration is a key consideration when planning power budgets for attached devices such as IP phones and access points.
For a refresh or expansion, confirm the IOS/NX-OS software release supported by this specific SKU, the fan and power requirements, and the uplink modules that match your existing infrastructure. Our team can verify revision levels and software compatibility before you order.
Every unit at LinkNewNet is inspected and tested before dispatch, and this N5K-C56128P variant is graded, cleaned and verified for correct operation, including port status, console access and firmware state. Volume requirements can be staged with configuration checks.
N5K-C56128P - Cisco Series Notes
This listing is part of the Cisco enterprise networking product family, sourced and tested by LinkNewNet for enterprise deployment. Cisco Catalyst or Nexus switch is typically deployed in campus access, distribution, or data-center roles. It provides reliable Layer 2/3 switching for user, server and uplink connectivity, and integrates with Cisco DNA Center or traditional CLI-based management.
Deployment guidance: When planning this N5K-C56128P unit into a network, confirm the software image (IOS/IOS-XE/NX-OS) required, the power and cooling profile, and the upstream/downstream interface types that match your existing infrastructure. For a like-for-like refresh, match the feature set of the units already in service so management and automation behave consistently.
Our Cisco reconditioning process: Every pre-owned Cisco unit at LinkNewNet passes a documented reconditioning flow before dispatch - visual inspection, internal cleaning, firmware verification, port-by-port testing, and configuration reset to factory defaults. This ensures the unit you receive operates reliably and integrates cleanly with your existing Cisco management tools.
Related models in this family: N5K-C5548UP-FA, N5K-C5596UP-FA, C1-N5K-C5548UP-FA, C1-N5K-C5672UP, C1-N5K-C5648Q. Compare specifications to confirm the right port density, feature set and uplink options for your deployment.
Model code: P = PoE (Power over Ethernet) support - this suffix indicates the feature set, power, or regulatory variant of the N5K-C56128P, which affects software licensing and regional compliance.
