Cisco NIM-ES2-4 Full Official Technical Specification Document

1. Product Overview

Official Full Designation

Core Definition

SKU Naming Breakdown

1. NIM: Network Interface Module, single-wide expansion form factor for Cisco ISR 4000 Series routers
2. ES2: EtherSwitch Generation 2, integrated Layer 2 Gigabit switching ASIC architecture
3. 4: Four independent 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 copper switched ports
4. T: Twisted-pair copper media only, no SFP fiber slots; Non-PoE base model
5. =: Standard spare part suffix for brand-new standalone replacement kits (NIM-ES2-4=)
6. -RF: Cisco Refresh certified refurbished spare SKU variant (NIM-ES2-4-RF)

Product Lifecycle Notice

• Official Global Release Year: 2015
• End-of-Sale (EoS) Status: Discontinued; Cisco permanently ceased production of brand-new NIM-ES2-4 hardware units
• Direct Upgrade Replacement Models: NIM-ES2-8 8-port non-PoE switch NIM, NIM-ES2-8-P PoE+ 8-port switch NIM for branches requiring powered end devices; next-generation C-NIM switch modules for Catalyst 8200/8300 edge routers
• Minimum Supported IOS XE Software Version: Cisco IOS XE Release 3.15S minimum for ISR 4000 Series; Catalyst 8000 edge platforms adopt separate C-NIM hardware and are incompatible with this ISR 4000 EtherSwitch NIM
• Software Maintenance Status: Only critical security vulnerability patches are released for customers holding active Cisco DNA Advantage or SMARTnet service contracts; no new switching feature enhancements will be developed
• Legacy Status: End-of-sale legacy hardware; certified refurbished spare modules, validated IOS XE firmware images and 24×7 Cisco TAC engineering technical support remain available through authorized Cisco distribution partners

Supported Router Platform Compatibility

1. Cisco ISR 4300 Series: ISR4321, ISR4331, ISR4351
2. Cisco ISR 4400 Series: ISR4431, ISR4451, ISR4451-X, ISR4461

Deployment Restrictions

1. OIR operational requirement: Full OIR hot-swap functionality requires minimum IOS XE Release 3.15S; older software versions require a full chassis power cycle for module installation or replacement.
2. No PoE capability: This NIM-ES2-4 base model does not integrate PoE/PoE+ power supply hardware and cannot deliver power to IP phones, wireless APs or other PoE-powered end devices; PoE deployments must select NIM-ES2-8-P variantCisco.
3. Layer 2 switching only limitation: The module’s switching ASIC only forwards Layer 2 traffic between its four local RJ45 ports; all inter-VLAN Layer 3 routing is processed by the host ISR router’s main forwarding CPU. No internal routing function exists on the switch NIM itself.
4. Cable media limitation: Only CAT5e, CAT6 or CAT6a UTP/STP twisted-pair copper cabling is supported; there are no SFP fiber transceiver slots on this module for optical LAN connections.
5. Multigigabit fabric bandwidth sharing: When multiple NIM/SM-X expansion modules are installed in the same router chassis, all modules share the ISR’s internal Multigigabit Fabric bus bandwidth; heavy simultaneous LAN/WAN traffic may introduce minor forwarding latency under extreme load.
6. DC power caveat: PoE power upgrades are unavailable on ISR 4000 routers configured with DC power supplies; this non-PoE NIM-ES2-4 works normally on DC-powered chassis without PoE functions.

Standard Factory Complete Bundle Contents

1. NIM-ES2-4 four-port non-PoE Gigabit EtherSwitch NIM expansion card with front-panel four RJ45 copper ports and individual LINK/ACT status LED indicators for every port plus a global module ENABLE LED
2. Anti-static ESD handling storage bag and protective foam packaging
3. Quick-start hardware installation guide covering ESD static protection protocols, NIM slot OIR insertion/removal procedures, CAT5e/6 copper cabling specifications and IOS XE switch port/VLAN configuration command examples
4. Global regulatory compliance, safety, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) certification documentation packet

Core Integrated Functional Capabilities

1. Four Independent Line-Rate Gigabit Copper Switched Ports: The module provides four fully separated auto-sensing 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 ports, each operating at full line-rate bidirectional Gigabit forwarding via the dedicated on-board L2 switching ASIC. Auto-MDIX cable polarity correction eliminates the need for crossover Ethernet cables for end-device connections.
2. Comprehensive Industry-Standard Layer 2 Switching Feature Suite: Native hardware and software support for all enterprise-grade L2 switching functions: IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging and trunking (802.1Q trunk, access port, native VLAN configuration), VLAN database segmentation, 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Rapid Spanning Tree (802.1w RSTP), Multiple Spanning Tree (802.1s MSTP) to prevent layer 2 broadcast loops across branch LAN topologies.
3. Enterprise-Grade Layer 2 LAN Security Mechanisms: Built-in security policies to protect branch local area networks: port security with static/dynamic MAC address learning limits unauthorized device access, 802.1X port-based authentication for identity-aware LAN access, DHCP Snooping to mitigate rogue DHCP server attacks, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to block ARP spoofing, broadcast/multicast storm control to suppress malicious flood traffic and port isolation for segregating end devices on the same broadcast domain.
4. QoS Traffic Prioritization for Converged Voice, Video and Data: Full hardware QoS support for latency-sensitive unified communications workloads: 802.1p Class of Service (CoS) layer 2 frame marking, ingress traffic classification and marking, egress weighted round-robin queuing, traffic policing and shaping to enforce bandwidth limits for branch LAN devices including IP phones, video surveillance cameras and business workstations.
5. Unified IOS XE Single-Pane Management: All switch port, VLAN, STP, QoS and security configurations are managed directly through the host ISR router’s native IOS XE CLI without separate switch management IP addresses or standalone management software. Network administrators can monitor switch port traffic statistics, error counters, link status and fault alarms alongside router WAN interfaces in a single unified management environment, drastically reducing branch network operational complexity and maintenance overhead.
6. OIR Hot-Swap Maintenance Support: Compliant with Cisco Online Insertion and Removal specifications, enabling field technicians to replace or upgrade the EtherSwitch NIM module without powering down the entire ISR 4000 router chassis, minimizing branch LAN service outage windows during hardware failure replacement or capacity expansion maintenance operations.
7. Comprehensive LAN Diagnostics & Real-Time Monitoring Toolset: Built-in IOS XE diagnostic suite for switch port troubleshooting: real-time link up/down status reporting for all four copper ports, bidirectional ingress/egress packet and byte traffic counter statistics, detailed error frame logging (CRC errors, alignment errors, collision errors, runt/jumbo frames), copper cable length detection and link quality monitoring for all RJ45 ports.
8. SNMP MIB Remote Network Monitoring Support: Implements standard Cisco EtherSwitch and Ethernet interface SNMP MIBs for remote network monitoring of NIM module hardware operational status, individual switch port physical link up/down state, aggregate LAN ingress/egress throughput statistics, packet error counters and hardware fault alarm reporting, with SNMP trap generation triggered for all critical port link failure and module hardware fault conditions.

2. Hardware & Performance Specifications

Core Gigabit Copper Port Technical Specifications

RJ45 Copper Port (10/100/1000BASE-T)

• Auto-negotiation: Automatic speed and duplex detection (10Mbps / 100Mbps / 1000Mbps, half-duplex / full-duplex)
• Auto-MDIX: Automatic cable polarity correction, eliminating crossover cable requirements
• Cabling requirement: Category 5e, Category 6 or Category 6a UTP/STP copper twisted-pair cable
• Maximum copper cable transmission distance: 100 meters (328 feet) per port
• Connector type: Standard 8P8C RJ45 female port for each of the four switched ports
• Surge protection: Integrated 1500V isolation against power surges, compliant with IEC 61000-4-5 surge immunity standards

Universal Layer 2 Switching Performance Metrics

• Forwarding capacity: Full non-oversubscribed line-rate Layer 2 switching across all four Gigabit ports simultaneously
• MAC address table capacity: Supports up to 8,192 unique MAC address entries for branch LAN device mapping
• Supported VLAN range: VLAN ID 1 – 4094 compliant with IEEE 802.1Q standards
• Supported Layer 2 encapsulations: 802.1Q tagged frames, untagged access port frames
• Supported QoS mechanisms: 802.1p CoS marking, ingress traffic classification, egress weighted queuing, traffic policing and shaping

Front Panel LED Indicator Definitions

1. EN LED (Global Module Hardware Status)
   • Off: No power supplied to the NIM module, improperly seated module or critical hardware failure rendering the switch ASIC non-functional
   • Solid Green: NIM module powered, detected and fully operational; all four switched ports and onboard L2 switching ASIC online and available for packet forwarding
   • Blinking Green: Module undergoing IOS XE hardware initialization during router boot sequence
   • Solid Amber: NIM hardware fault detected, or multiple port link failure alarm triggered
2. Per-Port LINK/ACT LED (Four identical indicators for each RJ45 port)
   • Off: No valid copper link detected, no connected remote end device or copper cable fault on this port
   • Solid Green: Stable full-duplex Gigabit copper link established with connected LAN end device (IP phone, AP, workstation, camera)
   • Blinking Green: Active bidirectional data traffic transmitting/receiving over this Gigabit switch port link

Electrical & Thermal Specifications

Power Consumption

• Typical operating power draw under medium branch LAN mixed-device traffic load (multiple ports active): ~3.2 Watts typical total module power dissipation
• Maximum full-load power consumption with all four Gigabit ports running simultaneous line-rate bidirectional traffic: ≤3.8 Watts maximum full-load thermal dissipation
• Power Delivery: Powered exclusively through the ISR 4000 router chassis NIM slot internal backplane bus; no external power supply connectors mounted on the NIM module hardware

Thermal & Environmental Operating Parameters

• Certified Continuous Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) standard enterprise branch datacenter equipment room environment
• Extended Short-Term Operating Temperature Range: -5°C to 70°C (23°F to 158°F) for commercial wide-temperature deployments
• Non-operating Storage Temperature Range: -20°C to 65°C (-4°F to 149°F)
• Operating Relative Humidity: 10% to 90% RH, non-condensing operating environment
• Storage Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH, non-condensing non-operating storage
• Operating Altitude: Certified operational range -150 m to 2,000 m (-500 ft to 6,500 ft); extended validated range up to 4,570 m (15,000 ft)
• Cooling Design: Fully passive thermal dissipation architecture without onboard rotating cooling fans; cooling airflow supplied by the host ISR 4000 router’s internal chassis fan assembly
• Airflow Direction: Horizontal chassis airflow passing over the NIM module PCB for continuous thermal dissipation under full four-port Gigabit line-rate traffic load

Physical Form Factor & Weight

• Form Factor: Standard single-wide NIM network interface module expansion card form factor, designed exclusively for NIM dedicated expansion slots of Cisco ISR 4300/4400 Series multiservice integrated services routers
• Bare NIM Module Net Weight (without copper twisted-pair cables and accessory packaging): Approximately 260 grams (0.26 kg)
• Physical Dimensions (H × W × D): 21 × 79 × 122 mm (0.8 × 3.1 × 4.8 inches)Cisco

3. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications

1. Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1, EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, GB 4943 Chinese national safety standard
2. EMC & EMI Standards: FCC CFR Title 47 Part 15 Class A, VCCI Class A ITE, EN55022 Class A, CISPR 22 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, CISPR 24, EN 61000 series electromagnetic immunity standards
3. Ethernet & Layer 2 Switch Compliance: IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.3x full-duplex flow control, IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging, IEEE 802.1D STP, IEEE 802.1w RSTP, IEEE 802.1s MSTP, IEEE 802.1X port authentication
4. Environmental Directive: EU RoHS hazardous substance restriction compliance, WEEE electronic waste recycling directive compliant

4. Core Deployment Advantages

1. Integrated Routing-Switch Convergence Eliminates Standalone Branch Access Switches: The NIM-ES2-4 integrates four-port Layer 2 Gigabit switching directly into the ISR 4000 branch router chassis, removing the requirement for separate standalone access switches at small enterprise branch offices. This consolidated design reduces total branch IT hardware rack footprint, cuts auxiliary switch capital expenditure, simplifies branch power distribution and reduces physical cabling interconnection points that introduce potential network fault points, delivering significant total cost of ownership (TCO) savings for distributed multi-branch enterprise networks.
2. Unified IOS XE Single-Pane CLI Management Reduces Branch Operational Complexity: All LAN switching configurations, monitoring and troubleshooting operations are managed through the host ISR router’s native IOS XE command-line interface, eliminating the need to deploy separate switch management IP addresses, standalone switch management software or additional network monitoring infrastructure dedicated to access switches. Network administrators configure branch WAN routing, LAN VLAN segmentation, voice QoS prioritization and LAN security policies within one consistent IOS XE CLI environment, drastically reducing staff training overhead and streamlining branch network change management workflows.
3. Complete Enterprise-Grade Layer 2 Switching & LAN Security Feature Set: The on-board dedicated L2 switching ASIC delivers full line-rate forwarding alongside a comprehensive suite of industry-standard switching and security functions including VLAN trunking, multi-instance spanning tree protocols, port security, 802.1X identity authentication, DHCP Snooping and Dynamic ARP Inspection. These robust security features protect branch local area networks from common LAN-layer attack vectors including unauthorized rogue end devices, DHCP server hijacking and ARP spoofing, meeting enterprise security compliance requirements for financial, healthcare, government and retail branch network deployments.
4. OIR Hot-Swap Support Minimizes Branch LAN Service Maintenance Downtime: Native Online Insertion and Removal hot-swap functionality allows field technicians to replace or upgrade the EtherSwitch NIM module without powering down the entire ISR 4000 router chassis. This eliminates extended branch local area network service outages required for full chassis power cycles during hardware failure replacement or LAN capacity expansion maintenance operations, drastically improving business-critical branch LAN availability for employee workstations, business IP phone communications and mission-critical IP surveillance camera systems.
5. Passive Fanless Thermal Design Delivers Superior Long-Term Hardware Reliability and Low Maintenance Costs: The NIM-ES2-4 module utilizes a fully passive thermal dissipation architecture with no onboard rotating cooling fans. This eliminates all mechanical hardware failure risks associated with fan motor wear, dust accumulation, fan power supply faults and fan airflow blockages, enabling stable 24/7 continuous unattended operation in remote unmanned enterprise branch datacenter equipment closets, retail store IT rooms and off-grid branch office locations with minimal long-term on-site maintenance requirements. Low idle and full-load power consumption reduces overall router chassis energy draw and enterprise branch site cooling operational energy costs over multi-year hardware service lifecycles.
6. Converged QoS Support Optimizes Branch Unified Communications Workloads: Native hardware QoS processing on the switch ASIC enables granular layer 2 traffic marking, classification and queuing for converged voice-over-IP, real-time video surveillance and business data workloads on the same branch LAN infrastructure. Network administrators can prioritize latency-sensitive IP phone voice traffic and video surveillance streams over non-critical business workstation data traffic, eliminating audio clipping, video frame loss and real-time communication quality degradation during peak branch LAN traffic congestion periods.
7. Space-Efficient Single-Wide Form Factor Preserves Chassis Expansion Slots: As a single-wide NIM module, the NIM-ES2-4 occupies only one expansion slot to deliver four Gigabit switched LAN ports, conserving remaining NIM expansion slots for other critical branch edge services including T1/E1 MFT voice trunk modules, Gigabit/10G WAN interface modules, LTE wireless WAN NIMs and high-density PVDM DSP voice processing modules. This enables fully converged single-chassis branch edge router deployments that integrate routing, SD-WAN, security, LAN switching and unified communications voice media processing within a single router chassis, further reducing branch rack space and auxiliary hardware capital expenditure.

Supplementary Product Specification Notes

UNSPSC Classification Code

K9 Security Compliance Note

Factory Hardware Warranty Terms