The Cisco MDS DS-C9396T-48ITK9 is a high-density 32-Gbps Fibre Channel SAN switch. Featuring 96 physical ports (48 licensed/populated out-of-the-box), it delivers seamless NVMe/FC connectivity and enterprise-grade analytics for modern All-Flash storage data centers.
Quick Specs:
· Type: Storage Area Network (SAN) Switch
· Ports: 96 max (48 Active & Populated)
· Speed: 8/16/32-Gbps Fibre Channel
· Bundled: Enterprise License + 48x 32G Optics
· Protocol: FC and NVMe/FC ready
· Form Factor: 2RU Rack-mountable
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Cisco MDS 9396T (DS-C9396T-48ITK9) is a next-generation, high-performance 32-Gbps Fibre Channel switch designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern enterprise Storage Area Networks (SANs). As data centers rapidly transition to All-Flash Arrays (AFA) and highly virtualized computing environments, traditional storage networks often become bottlenecks. The MDS 9396T eliminates these constraints by delivering massive bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and native NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe/FC) support. This specific SKU (DS-C9396T-48ITK9) offers an exceptional “pay-as-you-grow” financial model. While the robust 2-Rack-Unit (2RU) chassis contains 96 physical ports, it comes pre-licensed and populated with 48 active 32G ports and the Cisco Enterprise Software package. This allows organizations to deploy powerful core-to-edge SAN connectivity today, with the flexibility to seamlessly unlock the remaining 48 ports via simple software licenses as their storage footprint expands.
Key Features & Business Benefits
Massive SAN Throughput: Delivers up to 3-Tbps of front-panel Fibre Channel switching bandwidth. The auto-sensing 8/16/32-Gbps ports ensure your network is fast enough to handle the massive IOPS generated by modern All-Flash Arrays (AFAs).
NVMe over Fibre Channel Ready: Future-proof your storage infrastructure. The switch natively supports NVMe/FC concurrently with traditional SCSI workloads, providing radically lower latency for high-performance databases and AI/ML applications.
Pay-as-You-Grow Scalability: Starts with 48 active ports. As your server or storage density increases, administrators can activate additional ports in 16-port increments using Port-on-Demand (PoD) licenses, requiring zero hardware swaps.
Built-in SAN Analytics: Features dedicated network processing unit (NPU) hardware to deliver deep, wire-rate SAN telemetry and analytics. Monitor I/O performance, detect storage anomalies, and troubleshoot latency issues in real-time without external network taps
Enterprise-Grade High Availability: Designed for zero-downtime environments. It features dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and redundant hot-swappable fan trays, ensuring non-disruptive operations for mission-critical storage traffic.
Technical Specifications
Specification
Details for DS-C9396T-48ITK9
Product Series
Cisco MDS 9000 Family (MDS 9396T)
Physical Ports
96 x 32-Gbps SFP+ slots
Active Ports (Out-of-Box)
48 ports licensed and active
Included Optics
48 x 32G Short Wave (SW) SFP+ transceivers
Software Included
Cisco MDS 9000 Enterprise Package
Port Speeds
Auto-sensing 8, 16, and 32-Gbps FC
Aggregate Bandwidth
3 Tbps (Full duplex)
Storage Protocols
FCP (Fibre Channel Protocol), NVMe/FC, FICON
High Availability
Dual redundant AC power supplies, Redundant fans
Operating System
Cisco NX-OS for SAN
Dimensions (H x W x D)
3.38 x 17.45 x 22.28 in. (8.58 x 44.32 x 56.59 cm) - 2RU
Ideal Application Scenarios
All-Flash Array (AFA) Deployments: The perfect high-speed SAN switch to connect high-IOPS All-Flash storage systems from vendors like NetApp, Pure Storage, Dell EMC, or IBM to your compute clusters.
Dense Virtualized Data Centers: Utilize the 96-port capacity to connect dozens of highly virtualized VMware ESXi or Hyper-V hypervisors to a centralized, highly redundant storage fabric.
SAN Core-Edge Architecture: Deploy as a powerful standalone core switch in medium-sized data centers, or as a high-density Edge switch connecting back to larger MDS 9700 Series Directors in massive enterprise SANs.
Supported Upgrades & Accessories
Maximize your SAN investment with these official Cisco MDS upgrades: M93T-16P32G=: 16-Port On-Demand (PoD) activation license (Unlocks additional ports when you need them). DS-SFP-FC32G-SW: Cisco 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Short Wave SFP+ transceiver (To populate newly licensed ports). DS-SFP-FC32G-LW: Cisco 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Long Wave SFP+ transceiver (For long-distance data center interconnects up to 10km). Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC): (Formerly DCNM) Advanced software for comprehensive SAN management and analytics visualization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Why does the model DS-C9396T-48ITK9 mention “48” if it is a 96-port switch?
A1: The MDS 9396T chassis always physically features 96 SFP+ ports. However, this specific bundle (-48ITK9) is configured for a “pay-as-you-grow” deployment. It comes with 48 ports electronically licensed, 48x 32G optics pre-installed, and the Enterprise software package. You can license the remaining 48 ports later in 16-port increments.
Q2: Is this switch compatible with my older 8G and 16G Fibre Channel equipment?
A2: Yes, absolutely. The 32-Gbps ports are fully auto-sensing and backwards compatible. They will automatically negotiate down to 16-Gbps or 8-Gbps depending on the HBA (Host Bus Adapter) or storage array port they are connected to.
Q3: Can I use this switch for standard Ethernet (LAN) networking?
A3: No. The Cisco MDS family is exclusively built for Storage Area Networks (SAN) using the Fibre Channel (FC) protocol. If you need a data center LAN switch for Ethernet traffic, you should look at the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series (e.g., N9K-C93180YC-FX3).
Q4: Does this switch support NVMe over Fibre Channel?
A4: Yes. The MDS 9396T supports NVMe/FC out of the box. You can run traditional SCSI (FCP) and modern NVMe/FC storage traffic simultaneously on the exact same ports without requiring a hardware forklift upgrade.
Q5: Are the power supplies and fan trays field-replaceable?
A5: Yes. The switch includes dual redundant power supplies and hot-swappable fan trays. In the event of a component failure, you can replace the power supply or fan without disrupting ongoing storage traffic.
