Todays data centers are increasingly filled with dense rack-mount & blade servers that host powerful multicore processors. The rapid increase in in-rack computing density & the increasing use of virtualization software combine to accelerate the demand for 10 Gigabit Ethernet & consolidated I/O: applications for which the Cisco Nexus 5000 series switches are an excellent match. With low latency, front-to-back cooling, & rear-facing data ports, the Cisco Nexus 5000 series is designed for a broad range of physical, virtual, storage access, & high-performance computing environments, thus giving customers the flexibility to meet & scale their data center requirements in a gradual manner & at a pace that aligns with their business objectives. The switch series, using cut-through architecture, supports line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet on all ports while maintaining consistently low latency independent of packet size & services enabled. It supports a set of network technologies known collectively as Data Center Bridging (DCB) that increases the reliability, efficiency, & scalability of Ethernet networks. These features allow the switches to support multiple traffic classes over a lossless Ethernet fabric, thus enabling consolidation of LAN, SAN, & cluster environments. Its ability to connect Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCo E) to native Fiber Channel protects existing storage system investments while dramatically simplifying in-rack cabling. In addition to supporting standard 10 Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) on servers, the Cisco Nexus 5000 series integrates with multifunction adapters called converged network adapters (CNAs) that combine the functions of Ethernet NICs & Fiber Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), making the transition to a single, unified network fabric transparent & consistent with existing practices, management software, & OS drivers. The Cisco Nexus 5000 series is designed for data center environments with cut-through technology that enables consistent low-latency Ethernet solutions, with front-to-back cooling, & with data ports in the rear, bringing switching into close proximity with servers & making cable runs short & simple. The switch series is highly serviceable, with redundant, hot-pluggable power supply & fan module. The Cisco Nexus 5596UP is a two rack-unit chassis that provides 48 fixed "unified ports" on the base chassis along with 3 expansion slots, scaling up to a total of 96 ports. The switch delivers architectural flexibility, infrastructure simplicity, & business agility. For traditional, virtualized, unified, & high-performance computing (HPC) environments, this switch offers the IT & business advantages.