Dell Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender Getting Started Guide
Summary
The Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell extends high-performance Cisco networking fabric directly to your Dell blade servers, functioning as a distributed modular switch extension. This Getting Started Guide is essential documentation for technical professionals and network administrators tasked with deploying or maintaining this specialized data center hardware. It provides comprehensive instructions covering system architecture overview, physical installation steps, NX-OS updates, and detailed configuration procedures, ensuring seamless integration into your existing enterprise infrastructure.
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Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell Getting Started Guide
This Getting Started Guide describes the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell and how to start using it. This Getting Started Guide includes the following sections: Information about the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell, page 1 Shipping Box Contents, page 2 Dell Blade System Architecture, page 4 Installing the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell, page 7 Updating NX-OS, page 8 Configuring the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell, page 9 Additional Information, page 21 Related Documentation, page 21 Technical Support, page 21
Information about the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell
The Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell provides an extension of the Cisco Nexus switch fabric to the Dell blade servers. The Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extenders behave as remote line cards for a parent Cisco Nexus switch. The Fabric Extenders are essentially extensions of the parent Cisco Nexus switch fabric, with the Fabric Extenders and the parent Cisco Nexus switch together forming a distributed modular system. The Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell support is limited to the Cisco Nexus 5500 series of switches. Each Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender connects via 10-Gigabit Ethernet for 16 servers within a Dell Blade Enclosure and contains 8 10-Gigabit Ethernet fabric uplinks towards the parent Cisco Nexus switch. Multiple low cost options are available for fabric connections between the Cisco Nexus B22 and the parent Cisco Nexus switch. Low-cost connections up to 10 meters can be made with copper Twin-ax cables, and longer connections up to 100 meters can use the Fabric Extender Transceiver. Other standard 10 Gigabit Ethernet optics such as 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR, and 10GBASE-ER are also supported for these fabric connections.
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Page Summary Contents For Dell Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender Getting Started Guide
Manual Details
| Brand | Cisco |
|---|---|
| Pages | 22 |
| File Size | 935.73 KB |
| Published | May 17, 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What switches are compatible with the Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell?
The Cisco Nexus B22 supports only the Cisco Nexus 5500 series of switches.
How do I connect the Fabric Extender to a parent switch over long distances?
Longer connections (up to 100 meters) require using the specialized Fabric Extender Transceiver. Copper Twin-ax cables work for up to 10 meters.
What prerequisites are needed before installing the switch module in the blade chassis?
You must fill all unoccupied interconnect and power module bays with blanks, and install the module into the I/O slot matching the installed adapter type (A, B, or C).
Who provides technical support for this hardware?
For Dell hardware replacement, contact Dell. For configuration or troubleshooting, it is covered by the parent Cisco Nexus switch's support contract.