- Software compatibility
- Common software throughout the data center
- Modular software design
- Virtual device contexts (VDCs)
- Continuous system operation
- Hitless ISSU
- Smooth development of enhancements and problem fixes
- Process survivability
- Stateful supervisor failover
- Reliable interprocess communication
- Redundant switched Ethernet out-of-band channels (EOBCs)
- Troubleshooting and diagnostics
- Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN)
Cisco NX-OS is a data center-class operating system built with modularity, resiliency, and serviceability at its foundation. Based on the industry-proven Cisco SAN-OS Software, Cisco NX-OS helps ensure continuous availability and sets the standard for mission-critical data center environments. The self-healing and highly modular design of Cisco NX-OS makes zero-impact operations a reality and enables exceptional operational flexibility.
Focused on the requirements of the data center, Cisco NX-OS provides a robust and rich feature set that fulfills the routing, switching, and storage networking requirements of present and future data centers. With an Extensible Markup Language (XML) interface and a command-line interface (CLI) like that of Cisco IOS Software, Cisco NX-OS provides state-of-the-art implementations of relevant networking standards as well as a variety of true data center-class Cisco innovations.