If your current lab uses nexus9300v.8.4.2.qcow2 or earlier, migrating to the nexus9300v939qcow2 new is a no-brainer.
The "new" image is not just a patch; it’s a re-architecture of the virtual data plane. For any network engineer building a VXLAN EVPN or Cisco ACI simulation lab, downloading and deploying this specific qcw2 file is the single most effective way to future-proof your skills.
Have you deployed the new nexus9300v image in your lab? Share your boot time results and any performance tweaks in the comments below.
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The nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 is the virtualized disk image for the Cisco Nexus 9300v platform running NX-OS Release 9.3(9). This image is primarily used in KVM-based environments like EVE-NG, GNS3, or Proxmox to simulate data center network control planes. Key Specifications for Release 9.3(9)
Virtual Hardware: Simulates a non-modular switch with one virtual supervisor and one virtual line card. Interface Capacity: Supports up to 64 virtual interfaces. Resource Requirements: Memory: 8 GB RAM minimum (recommended). nexus9300v939qcow2 new
CPU: 2 Physical CPU cores (Physical cores are required, not just threads). Disk Format: QCOW2 (standard for KVM/QEMU hypervisors). New & Supported Features (Release 9.3.x Train)
This release focuses on stability and expanding virtualized support for advanced data center features:
VXLAN EVPN: Full support for VXLAN with BGP EVPN control plane for multi-site and data center fabrics.
Segment Routing: Support for Segment Routing v6 (SRv6) and related licensing.
Programmability: Includes support for the Cisco NX-API, Model-Driven Telemetry, and YANG data models. Nexus 9300v9
Management: Integration with tools like Cisco ThousandEyes for enhanced network visibility. Installation Highlights for EVE-NG
To use the nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 image in a lab environment like EVE-NG:
Directory Naming: Create a folder named nxosv9k-9300v-9.3.9 under /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/.
File Renaming: Upload the file and rename it to sataa.qcow2 to ensure the hypervisor recognizes it as the primary boot disk.
Permissions: Run the fix-permissions script: /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions. Pros: 5x faster boot times (from 8 minutes
First Boot: During the initial power-on, you must manually abort Auto Provisioning (POAP) to enter the basic configuration dialog.
For the most up-to-date documentation and to download the official image, visit the Cisco Software Central (valid login required). Cisco Nexus 9000v switch - - EVE-NG
The Cisco Nexus 9300v Series is a line of data center switches designed to support the growing demands of modern data centers, including cloud, virtualization, and software-defined networking (SDN). The Nexus 9300v 9396C-O2 is a specific model within this series, offering high performance, scalability, and programmability.
Crucial Note: You cannot legally download this image from torrents or unofficial mirrors. Cisco requires a valid service contract.
Step-by-step download process:
nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 (or similar).Pro tip: If you see a file named nexus9300v939qcow2 new on community drives, always cross-check the hash. Malicious actors occasionally inject backdoors into NX-OS images.