Start the node. The first boot takes approximately 5-7 minutes as it formats the virtual disk and initializes NX-OS. Do not power cycle.
Cisco NX-OS 9.3.9 is a maintenance release that follows the 9.3(x) stable train. Unlike later 10.x versions (which introduced Smart Licensing mandatory enforcement), 9.3.9 offers a balance of modern features and lab-friendly behavior.
For advanced users and automation engineers, Vagrant offers a reproducible way to manage the Nexus 9300v as a virtual machine. The following steps show how to create a Vagrant Libvirt box for the Nexus 9300v.
Running the Nexus 9300v introduces the security posture of NX-OS into a virtual environment.
image. Follow these steps to properly provision the switch node: Step 1: Create the Image Directory via SSH
: When prompted with Do you want to enforce secure password standard? , select yes . When asked to enter the Power On Auto Provisioning (POAP) mode, type yes to abort or skip it to drop into the standard setup wizard.
Version 9.3(9) is a mature and stable NX-OS release, and it remains a popular choice for lab environments because of its reliability.
Configure a basic management IP address to allow SSH access:
Navigate to the portal ( ://cisco.com ). Log in with your Cisco Connection Online (CCO) credentials. Use the search bar to find Nexus 9300v Virtual Switch . Select NX-OS Software from the available software types. Expand the left-hand release menu and click on 9.3(9) . Locate the filename matching nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 . Click the Download icon.
The only legal and secure way to download this image is through the Cisco Software Central portal. Navigate to the page. Search for Nexus 9000v Switch . Select NX-OS Software and locate version 9.3.9 . Download the file labeled nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 .
: Look for the file named explicitly with the .qcow2 extension (e.g., nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 ).
Connect to your EVE-NG server via SSH.
Complete Guide to Cisco Nexus 9300v (9.3.9) QCOW2: Download, Lab Setup, and Deploy
Nexus 9000v is resource-intensive. Allocate at least 8GB RAM and 2-4 vCPUs per node.
Always verify the MD5 or SHA512 checksum provided on the Cisco download page against your downloaded file to ensure integrity. Technical Specifications & Requirements Nexus 9300v
Start the node. The first boot takes approximately 5-7 minutes as it formats the virtual disk and initializes NX-OS. Do not power cycle.
Cisco NX-OS 9.3.9 is a maintenance release that follows the 9.3(x) stable train. Unlike later 10.x versions (which introduced Smart Licensing mandatory enforcement), 9.3.9 offers a balance of modern features and lab-friendly behavior.
For advanced users and automation engineers, Vagrant offers a reproducible way to manage the Nexus 9300v as a virtual machine. The following steps show how to create a Vagrant Libvirt box for the Nexus 9300v.
Running the Nexus 9300v introduces the security posture of NX-OS into a virtual environment. Nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 Download
image. Follow these steps to properly provision the switch node: Step 1: Create the Image Directory via SSH
: When prompted with Do you want to enforce secure password standard? , select yes . When asked to enter the Power On Auto Provisioning (POAP) mode, type yes to abort or skip it to drop into the standard setup wizard.
Version 9.3(9) is a mature and stable NX-OS release, and it remains a popular choice for lab environments because of its reliability. Start the node
Configure a basic management IP address to allow SSH access:
Navigate to the portal ( ://cisco.com ). Log in with your Cisco Connection Online (CCO) credentials. Use the search bar to find Nexus 9300v Virtual Switch . Select NX-OS Software from the available software types. Expand the left-hand release menu and click on 9.3(9) . Locate the filename matching nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 . Click the Download icon.
The only legal and secure way to download this image is through the Cisco Software Central portal. Navigate to the page. Search for Nexus 9000v Switch . Select NX-OS Software and locate version 9.3.9 . Download the file labeled nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 . Cisco NX-OS 9
: Look for the file named explicitly with the .qcow2 extension (e.g., nexus9300v.9.3.9.qcow2 ).
Connect to your EVE-NG server via SSH.
Complete Guide to Cisco Nexus 9300v (9.3.9) QCOW2: Download, Lab Setup, and Deploy
Nexus 9000v is resource-intensive. Allocate at least 8GB RAM and 2-4 vCPUs per node.
Always verify the MD5 or SHA512 checksum provided on the Cisco download page against your downloaded file to ensure integrity. Technical Specifications & Requirements Nexus 9300v