Since a truly “free” download violates Cisco’s terms, here are the three practical paths to get nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 or its functional equivalent.
Unlike IOS, NX-OS supports vPC in a virtual environment. You can test dual-homed server connectivity without physical Nexus hardware. nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 free download
Cisco’s official emulation platform includes the Nexus 9000v image. While CML is paid (starts around $199/year), it is the only fully legal, supported source for downloading the .qcow2 file for offline use. Since a truly “free” download violates Cisco’s terms,