The Cisco N7K-M148GT-11L is a high-density, data-center-class 48-port 10/100/1000 Base-T RJ-45 copper line card designed for the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series switches. Powered by the specialized M1-XL forwarding engine, this module provides non-blocking, wire-speed performance alongside large forwarding tables. It is uniquely engineered for high-availability enterprise cores, data center aggregation layers, and large-scale routing architectures requiring advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features.
The “L” suffix explicitly highlights the integrated XL (Extra Large) Option, which drastically expands routing capacities without requiring a separate software license upgrade.
Product Specifications
Technical Parameters
- Model Number: N7K-M148GT-11L
- Manufacturer: Cisco Systems
- Series: Nexus 7000 M1-Series
- Port Configuration: 48 x 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 Copper ports
- Forwarding Engine: M1-XL Architecture
- Forwarding Performance: 60 Mpps (Million packets per second) Layer 2 and Layer 3 IPv4 unicast; 30 Mpps IPv6 unicast
- Switching Capacity: 46 Gbps (92 Gbps full duplex) distributed across up to five fabric modules
- Buffer Size: 7.56 MB per port
- MAC Address Table: 128,000 entries
- VLAN Support: Up to 16,384 bridge domains and 4,096 simultaneous VLANs per Virtual Device Context (VDC)
Scalability Matrix (XL Mode Enabled)
- IPv4 Routing Table (FIB): Up to 1,000,000 routes
- IPv6 Routing Table (FIB): Up to 350,000 routes
- Access Control List (ACL) Entries: 128,000
- NetFlow Entries: 512,000
Physical Datasheet
- Form Factor: Plug-in module for Nexus 7000 (4-slot, 9-slot, 10-slot, and 18-slot chassis)
- Dimensions: 44mm x 389mm x 556mm (1.73″ x 15.3″ x 21.9″)
- Weight: 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs)
- Typical Power Consumption: 358 Watts
- Security Standards: Integrated hardware support for Cisco TrustSec® technology (including IEEE 802.1AE LinkSec on all ports)
Application Fields
The N7K-M148GT-11L is optimized for high-capacity networking environments:
- Data Center Core/Aggregation: Direct server connectivity and high-density copper access layer convergence.
- Enterprise Campus Backbones: Managing massive IPv4/IPv6 routing tables across extensive corporate structures.
- Service Provider Networks: Utilizing hardware-implemented Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and advanced Quality of Service (QoS).
- High-Performance Compute (HPC) Clusters: Offering Virtual Output Queuing (VOQ) with centralized arbitration to prevent congestion.
Product Usage Instructions
- Online Insertion and Removal (OIR): The module supports hot-swapping. It can be inserted into or removed from an active Nexus 7000 chassis without interrupting the remaining operational line cards.
- Chassis Slot Alignment: Guide the module carefully into the designated I/O slot until the ejector levers touch the chassis frame. Push the levers in simultaneously to completely seat the module pins into the midplane backplane.
- VDC Allocation: Because the module relies on the M1-XL engine, all ports on this module should ideally reside within a Virtual Device Context (VDC) mapped to similar M-series line cards to maintain protocol compatibility.
- Cabling: Use Category 5e (Cat 5e) or Category 6 (Cat 6) unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables for optimal 1 Gbps throughput up to 100 meters.
- Beacon LED Engagement: Utilize the software-activated identification (ID) Blue Beacon LED to locate the module visually within deep data center aisles during hardware audits or service calls.
Q&A – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I mix this M1-XL card with newer F-Series (e.g., F2/F3) cards in the same chassis? A: Yes, you can mix them within the same physical Nexus chassis. However, due to architectural differences, ports from an M-series card cannot share the same Virtual Device Context (VDC) as F-series ports unless specialized inter-VDC routing is configured.
Q: Does this module support Power over Ethernet (PoE)? A: No. The N7K-M148GT-11L is built strictly as a data center line card for server/switch connectivity and does not source PoE or PoE+ power.
Q: What is the main benefit of the XL variant compared to the standard N7K-M148GT-11? A: The regular version supports significantly smaller routing tables. The XL variant expands the IPv4 forwarding table from roughly 128k to 1 million routes, which is vital for holding global internet routing tables.
Q: Where can I check stock levels and get a quote for this line card? A: For official pricing, expedited shipping options, and to check on available new or refurbished stock with extensive warranties, please visit our Cisco Nexus N7K-M148GT-11L Digital Product Page.
Product Related News
In May 2026, the Nexus 7000 M1-Series—including the N7K-M148GT-11L—remains a core fixture in global enterprise architectures. While Cisco has transitioned its flagship data center line toward the Nexus 9000 series with ACI, the Nexus 7000 acts as a highly reliable, mature backbone switch for thousands of legacy campus layouts. NetOps engineers are currently taking advantage of the large XL routing tables to act as “Internal WAN Edge Borders,” allowing companies to parse specialized cloud-routing fabrics without replacing the physical chassis. Refurbished line cards have seen a steady demand in the infrastructure lifecycle market due to their ruggedized physical builds and exceptional mean time between failures (MTBF), offering a sustainable path for enterprise expansions.
