The Cisco Nexus N9300 Smart Switch is reshaping how enterprises think about data center infrastructure. As part of Cisco's Nexus 9000 series, the N9300 introduces a groundbreaking convergence of high-performance switching, network security and application services—all in a compact, scalable platform. With the growing demands of hybrid cloud, AI/ML workloads, and zero-trust environments, organizations need more than a traditional switch. The N9300 delivers by integrating Cisco Silicon One ASICs with a powerful Data Processing Unit (DPU) to offer not just speed and scalability, but intelligent, service-aware capabilities directly at the network edge.
What is a DPU and why it matters
A Data Processing Unit (DPU) is a dedicated hardware engine designed to offload non-switching tasks from the main ASIC. In the N9300, the DPU takes on critical responsibilities like telemetry, zero-trust segmentation, IPsec encryption, NAT and load balancing—functions typically handled by separate appliances. By isolating these services from the primary switching path, Cisco ensures ultra-low latency, high throughput and better resource efficiency. The result is a switch that can handle traditional workloads while performing advanced service processing in parallel.
Introducing Hypershield: Optional zero-trust security at scale
One of the most innovative features available for the N9300 is Cisco Hypershield. This optional, licensed software package leverages the onboard DPU to implement zero-trust segmentation, policy enforcement and deep telemetry right at the port level. Hypershield allows real-time inspection of east-west traffic and applies intelligent micro-segmentation without redirecting traffic to an external firewall. This is a game-changer for data center security, especially in AI clusters, hybrid cloud environments and multi-tenant infrastructures.
It's important to note that Hypershield is not mandatory. You can deploy the Cisco N9300 as a standard high-performance switch with NX-OS or ACI software and enable Hypershield later if desired. This gives IT teams the flexibility to adopt security services as their needs evolve, without replacing hardware.
Core use cases for the Cisco N9300
The Cisco N9300 is versatile enough to be deployed across a range of critical use cases:
1. Top-of-Rack (ToR) switching
With support for 25/100/400 GbE and VXLAN EVPN overlays, the N9300 makes an ideal leaf switch in modern spine-leaf architectures.
2. AI and ML infrastructure
DPU acceleration enhances east-west segmentation and telemetry in GPU clusters—perfect for AI training and inference workloads.
3. Hybrid cloud gateway
Acts as a secure bridge between private and public cloud environments, with full support for VXLAN routing and multi-site segmentation.
4. Telco and 5G edge
Compact 1RU form factor, built-in encryption and DPU-powered NAT services make it ideal for edge use cases with space and power constraints.
5. Security-conscious environments
Organizations can use the N9300 to enforce zero-trust network access (ZTNA) and replace traditional security appliances at the rack level.
6. Telemetry and observability
With model-driven streaming telemetry, sFlow and gRPC integration, the switch provides real-time visibility into network health, flow patterns and anomalies, enhanced by the DPU's parallel processing power.
Architecture overview
At the heart of the N9300 is the Cisco Silicon One ASIC, responsible for high-speed L2/L3 forwarding, VXLAN, QoS and fabric management. Sitting alongside it is the DPU, which handles advanced services like Hypershield security policies, telemetry, IPsec encryption and application visibility. This dual-engine design enables the switch to support a wide array of services without compromising performance or introducing bottlenecks.
Final thoughts
The Cisco N9300 Smart Switch isn't just a hardware upgrade—it's a strategic shift in how we build and secure the modern data center. With optional Hypershield, dedicated DPUs and programmable NX-OS support, the N9300 empowers organizations to scale securely, simplify their infrastructure and future-proof their network architecture. Whether you're running AI clusters, building multi-cloud fabrics or enforcing zero-trust, the N9300 is ready to meet the challenge.
