Cisco Switching Module for MDS 9000 — 8-Gbps Fibre Channel

Introducing the Cisco Switching Module for the MDS 9000 family, a high-performance Fibre Channel (FC) switching solution engineered for today's largest and most dynamic data centers. These 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel Switching Modules deliver the reliability, density, and intelligent features you need to enable convergence, scale with confidence, and add storage-aware intelligence to your virtualized environments. Designed to support enormous fabrics, these modules provide up to 528 line-rate 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports per chassis, enabling storage networks to grow without sacrificing performance or manageability. In an era of multi-petabyte deployments, mission-critical workloads, and rapid cloud adoption, this module stands out by delivering the throughput, latency characteristics, and fabric control required to sustain flawless data access across countless servers, virtual machines, and containers. With Cisco, you gain a technology partner that emphasizes not only speed, but also ease of management, automated provisioning, and resilient operation across the SAN fabric.

• Exceptional port density and line-rate performance: The module supports up to 528 line-rate 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports per chassis. This dense port footprint delivers massive storage connectivity in a single chassis, reducing the number of switches required and trimming cabling complexity. The result is higher IOPS, lower latency, and a scalable foundation for large-scale virtualized workloads, database farms, backup windows, and analytics pipelines that demand fast, predictable access to storage targets.
• Convergence-ready for modern data centers: Built to enable storage network convergence, this module integrates seamlessly with virtualization platforms and cloud-ready architectures. It supports advanced fabric technologies that simplify provisioning, optimize path selection, and improve load balancing across large FC fabrics. As workloads migrate toward virtualization and containerization, the module provides the flexibility to adapt without sacrificing performance or fabric integrity.
• Industry-first technologies for intelligent fabrics: Cisco leads with innovative capabilities designed to optimize fabric efficiency and performance. Expect features that streamline zoning, accelerate fabric provisioning, and enable automation-driven management. These technologies help reduce manual configuration errors, shorten deployment cycles, and improve overall fabric utilization across dense storage environments.
• Enterprise-grade reliability and resilience: Engineered for continuous operation, the Switching Module emphasizes high availability with robust fault containment, redundant design considerations, and support for non-disruptive maintenance. Expect solid uptime, predictable latency, and consistent access to critical storage resources, even during maintenance windows or hardware refresh cycles.
• Ecosystem integration and centralized management: The module works within the broader Cisco MDS SAN ecosystem and integrates with Cisco DCNM and related management tools. Centralized fabric provisioning, health monitoring, and policy enforcement enable your storage administrators to implement common standards, streamline changes, and maintain consistent security and zoning across large-scale fabrics.

Technical Details of Cisco Switching Module

• Product family: Cisco MDS 9000 Series Advanced Fibre Channel Switching Modules, designed for high-density, scalable SAN fabrics.
• Ports and speed: Up to 528 line-rate 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports per chassis; 8 Gbps per port providing robust throughput for large storage fabrics.
• Aggregate bandwidth: Theoretical maximum bandwidth approaches 4,224 Gbps (528 ports × 8 Gbps), delivering ample headroom for peak I/O and multi-target storage access.
• Fabric capabilities: Optimized for converged storage networking in large virtualized data centers, with features that facilitate efficient path selection, zoning, and fabric health.
• Management integration: Designed to pair with Cisco DCNM and MDS management suites for centralized control, policy enforcement, and proactive fabric monitoring.
• Reliability and maintenance: Hot-swappable form factor and enterprise-grade reliability to maximize uptime and ease maintenance without disrupting fabric operations.
• Compatibility and ecosystem: Part of the Cisco MDS 9000 family, ensuring compatibility with existing Cisco SAN fabrics, storage targets, and zoning schemas.
• Security and zoning capabilities: Supports configurable zoning and access policies to protect data traffic and enforce access control across the SAN fabric.
• Power and cooling considerations: Engineered for data center deployment with efficient power usage and thermal characteristics appropriate for dense FC fabrics (specifics vary by chassis and configuration).

How to Install Cisco Switching Module

• Plan and verify prerequisites: Confirm chassis compatibility, licensing, and firmware alignment with your existing MDS 9000 environment. Review zoning requirements, port-channel design, and redundancy plans to ensure a smooth installation and consistent fabric behavior.
• Prepare for hot-swappable installation: In most MDS 9000 configurations, Switching Modules are hot-swappable. Follow your data center’s maintenance procedures and ensure power and data paths are ready for non-disruptive replacement if applicable.
• Insert and seat the module: Carefully remove the blank module or unused bay cover, slide the Switching Module into the designated bay, and secure it with the guide rails and locking mechanism. Confirm that the module is properly seated and that status indicators reflect healthy operation.
• Connect storage fabric interconnects: Attach Fibre Channel cables to the appropriate ports based on your fabric design, zoning plan, and redundancy strategy. Ensure target devices and storage arrays are reachable and that fabric paths are correctly enumerated.
• Configure management and fabric policies: Use Cisco DCNM or the MDS CLI to initialize the module, assign management IP if needed, configure port channels or virtual fabrics, and apply zoning and policy guidelines. Verify port status, fabric health, and basic reachability to storage targets, then document the configuration for future reference.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Cisco Switching Module for MDS 9000? It is an advanced Fibre Channel switching module designed for Cisco MDS 9000 SAN fabrics, delivering high-density, line-rate 8-Gbps connectivity for large storage networks and virtualized data centers.
• Q: How many 8-Gbps ports can the module provide per chassis? Up to 528 line-rate 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports per chassis, enabling substantial storage connectivity within a single chassis.
• Q: Can this module support virtualization and storage convergence? Yes. It is designed to support large virtualized data centers and convergence of storage networking with management, automation, and policy-based features within the Cisco MDS ecosystem.
• Q: Is installation hot-swappable? In Cisco MDS 9000 environments, switching modules are typically hot-swappable, allowing non-disruptive maintenance and upgrades.
• Q: What management tools work with this module? Cisco DCNM and the Cisco MDS management suite provide centralized fabric provisioning, monitoring, and policy enforcement for the Switching Module and the SAN fabric.