In this mode, the switch acts as a leaf node within a spine-and-leaf architecture controlled by the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC). The switch essentially becomes a "dumb" forwarding engine managed by a central controller.
| Pitfall | Consequence | Prevention | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Downloading a "NXOS for C9300" | The file won't install; signature mismatch | Verify the filename contains "n9300" or "9372" | | Interrupting the copy process | Corrupted .bin file; switch fails to boot | Use verify /md5 before initiating install | | Ignoring the "Incompatible Image" message | Switch enters boot loop | Read the error – it often specifies minimum required loader version | | Using USB 3.0 drives | Switch may not detect the drive | Format USB 2.0 drive as FAT32 | n9k-c9372px-e software download