If one is dealing with a large amount of physical interfaces on a NX-OS device, it might be a useful to create logical groups to configure several interfaces at one time. There is a useful command in the NX-OS software where a configuration could be inherited from a template. Imagine there are 500 interfaces that need a one additional line of configuration. Traditionally one would prepare a text file with the change and copy paste it into the configuration of each physical/logical interface on the switch.

The NX-OS software has a useful tool where it is possible to create a port configuration template and inherit this configuration on desired port.

The definition of a port profile looks like below:

configure
!
port-profile type ethernet SERVERS
switchport
no shut
spanning-tree port type edge
switchport mode access
description IS-MISSING
state enabled
!

Inheriting the port profile on a port is done following way:

configure
!
int e1/1-2
 interit port-profile SERVERS

Any individual configuration made on the port overwrites the configuration of the port-profile, f.e. the description IS-MISSING can be overwritten in the port configuration with f.e. description auth1.example.net. Individual port configuration wins over port-profile configuration.

The inherited port-profile configuration is like a symlink to the port-profile and will not show up in the running configuration. To show the whole port configuration for f.e. port e1/1 following command needs to be used:

sh run int e1/1 expand-port-profile

Port profiles can be nested. However to keep things simply stupid I would rather not use nested port profiles, because while troubleshooting it adds a new level of complexity which is always bad when time is crucial.

Port profiles can be changed at all times, inherited profiles are changed at the same time on all included ports. For example if a NX-OS device had f.e. 2000 physical ports with one profile inherited, adding shutdown to the port profile would shut down all 2000 affected physical port where this profile has been applied. Port profiles are like a living piece configuration.