Nexus Switching

ThousandEyes supports installing Enterprise Agents on Cisco Nexus switches running NX-OS, using either Cisco application hosting or the guestshell and the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (formerly DCNM).

This article outlines the differences between the installation options, the supported Cisco Nexus switches, and the system requirements.

Cisco Application Hosting and Guestshell

NX-OS version 10.3(3) and later supports installing ThousandEyes Enterprise Agents on Cisco Nexus switches using application hosting. This is an easier method to deploy an agent than previously available with the guestshell, and aligns Nexus devices with other Cisco routers and switches running Enterprise Agents.

Guestshell installations are still supported on N9k platform models that do not have application hosting support.

Entitlements

ThousandEyes licenses for Cisco Nexus devices are not included alongside the purchase of a Cisco DNA Advantage license. They are only available for purchase directly from the Cisco Global Price List (GPL). These licenses can be purchased in addition to the embedded entitlements in order to gain access to the use of Cloud Agent and Endpoint Agent vantage points, Internet Insights, and to expand your use of ThousandEyes.

Supported Devices and System Requirements

Nexus 9300 Series Switches

Cisco Nexus Switch	Supported Test Types	OS Requirements	Additional Requirements
Nexus 9300-EX	All non-browser tests	Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) or later (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-EX Series Switches Data Sheet
Nexus 9300-FX	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-FX Series Switches Data Sheet
Nexus 9300-FX2	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-FX2 Series Switches Data Sheet
Nexus 9300-FX3	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-FX3 Series Switch Data Sheet
Nexus 9300-GX	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-GX Series Switches Data Sheet
Nexus 9300-GX2	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Cisco Nexus 9300-GX2 Series Fixed Switches Data Sheet

Nexus 9400 Series Switches

Cisco Nexus Switch	Supported Test Types	OS Requirements	Additional Requirements
Nexus 9400	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later.	For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9400 Series Switches Data Sheet.

Nexus 9500 CloudScale Series Switches

Cisco Nexus Fabric Module	Supported Test Types	OS Requirements	Additional Requirements
Nexus 9504-FM-E Nexus 9508-FM-E Nexus 9516-FM-E	All non-browser tests	Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Modular switches use the SUP resources for hosting applications. For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches Data Sheet.
Nexus 9504-FM-E2 Nexus 9508-FM-E2 Nexus 9516-FM-E2	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Modular switches use the SUP resources for hosting applications. For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches Data Sheet.
Nexus 9504-FM-G Nexus 9508-FM-G Nexus 9516-FM-G	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Modular switches use the SUP resources for hosting applications. For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series Switches Data Sheet.

Nexus 9500 R-Series Switches

Cisco Nexus Fabric Module	Supported Test Types	OS Requirements	Additional Requirements
Nexus 9504-FM-R Nexus 9504-FM-RX Nexus 9504-FM-R2 Nexus 9508-FM-R Nexus 9508-FM-RX Nexus 9508-FM-R2 Nexus 9516-FM-R Nexus 9516-FM-RX Nexus 9516-FM-E2	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later. Guestshell: NX-OS 9.3(7) to 10.3(2)F (excluding 10.1).	Modular switches use the SUP resources for hosting applications. For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9504 R-Series Switches Data Sheet.

Nexus 9800 Series Switches

Cisco Nexus Switch	Supported Test Types	OS Requirements	Additional Requirements
Nexus 9808	All non-browser tests	Application Hosting: NX-OS 10.3(3)F and later.	For more information on the various switch requirements and specifications, see the Cisco Nexus 9800 Series Switches Data Sheet.

Installation Instructions

The following installation methods are supported for Cisco Nexus switches:

• Installing Enterprise Agents on Cisco Nexus Switches using Cisco Application Hosting

• Installing Enterprise Agents on Cisco Nexus Switches using DCNM