Cisco MDS 9148T 32G Fibre Channel SAN Switch (DS-C9148T-24PETK9)
The Cisco MDS DS-C9148T-24PETK9 is a high-performance 32G Fibre Channel SAN switch. Featuring 24 active ports (upgradeable to 48), it delivers NVMe-ready speed, enterprise-grade high availability, and seamless pay-as-you-grow scalability for modern flash storage environments.
Quick Specs:
· Active Ports: 24 x 32G Fibre Channel (Out of 48 physical)
· Speed: Auto-sensing 8/16/32 Gbps
· Software: Enterprise Package Included
· Storage Support: Ready for NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe/FC)
· Form Factor: 1RU Rack-mountable
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Cisco MDS 9148T (Part Number: DS-C9148T-24PETK9) is a next-generation 32-Gbps Multilayer Fabric Switch designed specifically for enterprise Storage Area Networks (SAN). As businesses aggressively transition to All-Flash Arrays (AFA) and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) storage, legacy 8G/16G SAN infrastructure often becomes the bottleneck. The MDS 9148T eliminates this by providing ultra-low latency and massive line-rate bandwidth to ensure storage arrays operate at peak performance. This specific configuration (24PETK9) is an incredibly cost-effective entry point. It features a 48-port physical chassis but comes with 24 ports actively licensed and the Enterprise Software Package bundled. Utilizing Cisco’s “Pay-as-you-grow” licensing model, data center administrators can seamlessly unlock the remaining 24 ports in 8-port increments as their storage networking needs expand, all without requiring a forklift hardware upgrade.
Key Features & Business Benefits
Pay-as-You-Grow Scalability: Start with 24 active 32G Fibre Channel ports to meet today’s budget, and dynamically upgrade to 32, 40, or 48 ports via software Port-On-Demand (PoD) licenses as your storage infrastructure grows.
NVMe & All-Flash Ready: Engineered to handle the massive IOPS and microsecond latency requirements of modern solid-state storage. It natively supports NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe/FC) alongside traditional SCSI, allowing simultaneous multi-protocol traffic.
Enterprise Software Package Bundled: The “E” in the part number indicates the Enterprise package is included. This unlocks advanced SAN features such as Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR), Quality of Service (QoS), Cisco TrustSec FC Link Encryption, and advanced traffic management.
Mission-Critical High Availability: Designed for zero-downtime environments. It features dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and hot-swappable fan trays with front-to-back airflow, ensuring uninterrupted access to your core data.
Deep SAN Analytics & Telemetry: Powered by Cisco NX-OS, it offers built-in hardware-based analytics. Administrators can monitor I/O flows, detect slow-drain storage devices, and troubleshoot latency issues in real-time without external network taps.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Details for DS-C9148T-24PETK9
Product Series
Cisco MDS 9000 Family (MDS 9148T)
Switch Type
Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) Switch
Active Ports (Base)
24 ports active (out of 48 physical ports)
Port Speed Options
Auto-sensing 8, 16, and 32 Gbps
Maximum Bandwidth
1.536 Tbps full-duplex (when fully upgraded to 48 ports)
Software Bundle
Cisco MDS 9000 Enterprise Package
Operating System
Cisco NX-OS Software
Storage Protocols
FCP (SCSI), NVMe/FC, FICON
Power Supplies
Dual redundant hot-swappable (650W AC typical)
Cooling
4 hot-swappable fan trays (Port-side exhaust default)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
1.72 x 17.3 x 20.11 in. (4.37 x 43.94 x 51.08 cm)
Ideal Application Scenarios
All-Flash Storage Upgrades: The perfect ToR (Top-of-Rack) SAN switch to pair with high-speed All-Flash Arrays (such as Pure Storage, Dell EMC PowerMax, or NetApp) to ensure host servers get maximum IOPS.
Departmental or Mid-Sized Enterprise SAN: Serves as a highly reliable standalone SAN switch for small-to-medium businesses, providing enterprise-grade 32G storage connectivity at an accessible price point.
Edge/Leaf Switch in Large Core-Edge SANs: Deploy at the edge of the data center to connect multiple servers, then utilize the 32G uplinks to aggregate traffic back to a massive Cisco MDS 9700 Series Director core.
Supported Accessories & Licenses
To fully utilize the DS-C9148T-24PETK9, you will need compatible 32G Fibre Channel optics and optional upgrade licenses: · DS-SFP-FC32G-SW: Cisco 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP+ transceivers (Essential for connecting servers and storage via multi-mode fiber). · DS-SFP-FC16G-SW: Cisco 16-Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ transceivers (If connecting to legacy 16G HBAs or storage). · M9148T-PL8: Cisco MDS 9148T 8-Port On-Demand Activation License (Use this to upgrade from 24 ports to 32, 40, or 48 ports in the future).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the difference between an Ethernet switch and this MDS SAN switch?
A1: Ethernet switches (like the Cisco Catalyst or Nexus series) route standard IP data traffic. The Cisco MDS series is specifically designed for Storage Area Networks (SAN). It uses the Fibre Channel (FC) protocol to provide lossless, ultra-low latency connections directly between servers (via HBAs) and centralized storage arrays.
Q2: Does the DS-C9148T-24PETK9 include SFP transceivers?
A2: No. The base hardware includes the chassis, power supplies, and fans. You must purchase the Fibre Channel SFP+ transceivers (such as the DS-SFP-FC32G-SW) separately based on how many active ports you intend to connect.
Q3: Can I connect older 8G or 16G storage devices to this 32G switch?
A3: Yes. The 32G Fibre Channel ports are auto-sensing and fully backward compatible. If you plug in a 16G or 8G SFP+ module, the port will automatically negotiate down to match the speed of your legacy storage or server HBA.
Q4: How do I upgrade from 24 ports to 48 ports?
A4: You do not need to buy new hardware. You simply purchase the 8-port upgrade license (M9148T-PL8). Entering the license key into the NX-OS software instantly activates 8 additional ports on the existing chassis.
Q5: What does “Enterprise Package Included” mean for this model?
A5: The “E” in the part number means the Cisco MDS Enterprise software license is pre-bundled. This saves you money and provides immediate access to advanced SAN features like Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR) for secure data sharing across isolated fabrics, and advanced FC Security features.
