NIM-ES2-4= - 4-Port Gigabit Ethernet NIM | Cisco
MPN: NIM-ES2-4= ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $724.38 | $724.38 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
NIM-ES2-4= Overview
A Network Interface Module is a plug-in router expansion card that adds connectivity functions through a host router platform. Unlike a standalone switch, this module relies on a compatible Cisco ISR chassis and its IOS XE software. Its four Gigabit Ethernet ports operate as switched Layer 2 access ports, allowing IP phones, workstations, wireless access points, cameras, and other endpoint devices to connect through one module.
The verified source data identifies line-rate Layer 2 switching across the four onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports. Each port supports 10, 100, or 1000 Mb/s operation. The module also provides a 1-Gbps connection to the router's Multigigabit Fabric, separating switched access traffic from the internal intermodule fabric. These figures distinguish the product from the eight-port NIM-ES2-8 and from legacy EHWIC Ethernet switch modules.
Typical deployments include enterprise branch routers connecting employee access points, IP phones, desktop computers, printers, and surveillance equipment. A campus edge router can aggregate several access switches through the four copper ports, while a small retail site can extend wired LAN services without adding a separate fixed switch. Installation requires a compatible Cisco 4000 Series ISR and appropriate IOS XE licensing.
Before procurement, verify router-slot availability, IOS XE support, Smart Licensing, software entitlement, and the required IOS XE feature or security image. Cisco announced end-of-sale for affected LAN switch NIMs after March 5, 2025, so verified stock and support milestones are essential when buying used or refurbished inventory.
This page combines Cisco specifications, current pricing evidence, compatibility guidance, and design considerations to help engineers distinguish genuine router modules from merely similar four-port cards before deployment.
Drop-in alternatives for NIM-ES2-4= — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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Request AlternativesNIM-ES2-4= Specifications
| Product Type | 4-port Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Switch Network Interface Module |
| Number of Ethernet Ports | 4 ports |
| Maximum Ethernet Data Rate | 1 Gb/s per port |
| Supported Ethernet Rates | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| Switching Layer | Layer 2 |
| Switching Performance | Line rate |
| Router Platform | Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers |
| Module Width | Single-wide |
| Intermodule Fabric Link | 1 Gb/s connection to the Multigigabit Fabric |
| Installation | Cisco ISR NIM module installation |
| End-of-Sale Date | 2025-03-05 for affected Cisco LAN switch NIMs |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
| REACH Status | unknown |
NIM-ES2-4= standard Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for NIM-ES2-4= (standard package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for NIM-ES2-4=.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
NIM-ES2-4= is suitable for 7 applications: Enterprise Branch LAN Expansion, IP Phone Access, Wireless Access-Point Backhaul, Small Retail Edge Connectivity, Campus Edge Aggregation, Video and Surveillance Segmentation, Legacy ISR Migration Planning.
Enterprise Branch LAN Expansion
NIM-ES2-4= fits a supported Cisco 4000 Series ISR that needs four additional wired access ports without a separate fixed switch. Its four 10/100/1000 ports support computers, printers, management stations, and other Layer 2 endpoints at line rate, while the 1-Gb/s Multigigabit Fabric link carries intermodule traffic. Before deployment, confirm the exact router model has a free NIM slot and supports the required IOS XE feature and licensing release.
Recommended
IP Phone Access
The four switched 10/100/1000 ports can connect IP phones in a branch office while local traffic remains at Layer 2 through the host router. This makes NIM-ES2-4= useful where four phone ports are needed but eight would be excessive. Confirm that phones are powered by an external PoE supply or a downstream switch; NIM-ES2-4= itself is not the PoE-equipped NIM-ES2-4-P variant.
Recommended
Wireless Access-Point Backhaul
Each of the four Gigabit Ethernet ports can provide a 10/100/1000-Mb/s wired backhaul for compatible business access points in a small branch or retail deployment. Line-rate Layer 2 switching avoids adding a separate access switch when only four wired links are required. Validate access-point PoE needs separately and use the PoE-capable variant or an external injector when appropriate.
Recommended
Small Retail Edge Connectivity
A supported ISR can use NIM-ES2-4= to connect four retail terminals, receipt printers, back-office PCs, or a small downstream switch at Gigabit Ethernet rates. The single-wide form reduces the need for a separate LAN switch in modest installations. Because the affected NIM family is end-of-sale, the installer should verify remaining Cisco support and acquire genuine inventory with traceable condition information.
Recommended
Campus Edge Aggregation
NIM-ES2-4= can connect four downstream access switches or edge devices to a compatible 4000 Series ISR. The switched Gigabit Ethernet ports operate at Layer 2, while router policies and intersegment traffic remain functions of the host platform and IOS XE configuration. Verify multicast, VLAN, quality-of-service, and security feature support in the selected software release before production deployment.
Recommended
Video and Surveillance Segmentation
The four 10/100/1000 ports can connect cameras or other surveillance endpoints when each device operates within the supported rate and the router platform provides the necessary Layer 2 policies. VLAN segmentation and traffic control can organize camera traffic without creating a separate physical switch. PoE-dependent cameras should use an external power source or the verified PoE-capable NIM-ES2-4-P rather than assuming standard NIM-ES2-4= output.
Recommended
Legacy ISR Migration Planning
Network engineers evaluating NIM-ES2-4= must distinguish current support from technical similarity. The verified community guidance says the module is not compatible with Cisco 2900-series platforms, whose legacy EHWIC slot cannot accept this NIM directly. A migration may require replacing the router, using a supported contemporary interface, or redesigning the expansion architecture instead of fitting an EHWIC-4ESG as a drop-in substitute.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for NIM-ES2-4= — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cisco |
| Package | Single-wide Cisco ISR NIM |
| Product Type | 4-port Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Switch NIM |
| Ethernet Port Count | 4 ports |
| Supported Ethernet Rates | 10/100/1000 Mb/s |
| Switching Performance | Line rate |
| Intermodule Fabric Link | 1 Gb/s Multigigabit Fabric connection |
| Router Platform | Cisco 4000 Series ISR |
| PoE Capability | Not stated in verified data |
| Verified Unit Price | US$724.38 as of 2026-10-20 |
Key Differentiators
- Exact four-port Gigabit Ethernet configuration (vs NIM-ES2-8)
- Purpose-fit without bundled PoE variant assumption (vs NIM-ES2-4-P)
- Correct expansion ecosystem for Cisco 4000 Series ISR (vs EHWIC-4ESG)
Design Notes
Verify the exact ISR model, slot type, IOS XE release, and Smart Licensing entitlement before ordering. NIM-ES2-4= belongs to the Cisco 4000 Series ecosystem and is not compatible with the legacy 2900-series EHWIC platform. The verified community source specifically rejects treating EHWIC-4ESG as interchangeable, so a shared four-port count must not be used as proof of mechanical, electrical, or software compatibility.
Do not assume that NIM-ES2-4= supplies PoE. Use an external PoE switch or injector for devices needing power, or evaluate the separately identified NIM-ES2-4-P only after verifying its mechanical, software, and power compatibility. The supplied data does not provide NIM-ES2-4= input power, maximum consumption, or chassis power-budget figures, so those values must come from Cisco before installation.
Cisco announced end-of-sale after March 5, 2025 for affected LAN switch NIMs. Treat used and refurbished procurement as lifecycle-sensitive rather than ordinary commodity purchasing. Request serial numbers, module condition, installed IOS XE evidence, return rights, warranty terms, and remaining support milestones. The single verified price of US$724.38 as of 2026-10-20 is not a guaranteed quotation or indication of abundant stock.
Compliance Information
The supplied web results provide no exact-SKU environmental certification evidence. Automotive qualification is not applicable to this Cisco router network module. Obtain Cisco compliance documentation for NIM-ES2-4= before making procurement claims.
