DS-C9148T-24IK9 – 24x32G FC Ports – 48-Port 1RU Chassis – Intake SAN Switch
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DS-C9148T-24IK9 Description
DS-C9148T-24IK9 is a Cisco MDS 9148T 32G Fibre Channel SAN switch for access-layer storage networking, ordered with 24 active Fibre Channel ports on a 48-port 1RU chassis. The intake-airflow base configuration supports 4, 8, 16, and 32 Gbps autosensing FC connectivity, uses M9148T-PL8 8-port activation licenses for growth toward 48 active ports, and ships without a factory optic bundle so transceivers can be matched separately to the SAN cabling plan.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
DS-C9148T-24IK9 |
|
Product type |
32G Fibre Channel SAN switch |
|
Form factor |
1RU fixed-switch form factor |
|
Chassis Fibre Channel ports |
48 SFP+ ports base |
|
Active ports at order |
24 active FC ports |
|
Airflow direction |
Port-side intake |
|
Included optics |
No factory optic bundle |
|
Port activation path |
M9148T-PL8 8-port activation license |
|
Fibre Channel speed support |
4, 8, 16, and 32 Gbps autosensing |
|
Aggregate bandwidth |
1.5 Tbps end-to-end full duplex |
|
Minimum NX-OS release |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
Product Performance
Key Features
DS-C9148T-24IK9 is the port-side intake base PID, so the rack plan should match front-to-back cooling and use intake replacement fan and PSU spares.
The base switch line does not include factory 32G SW optics, which keeps 32G, 16G, or 8G FC transceiver selection separate from the chassis order.
Cisco lists M9148T-PL8 licensing for 8 additional Fibre Channel ports, allowing the same 48-port chassis to expand in documented steps after the first 24 ports.
The MDS 9148T feature set includes VSANs, NPV, IVR, port channels, FC-NVMe, diagnostics, and flow- and zone-based QoS under the documented Cisco MDS software baseline.
Cisco identifies 4 fans, 2 power supplies, hot-swappable fan modules, dual redundant power supplies, and hot-swappable SFP+ optics for maintenance planning.
The switch provides mgmt0 10/100/1000BASE-T, mgmt1 1/10G SFP+, SNMPv3, NX-API REST interfaces, onboard Python, and Cisco DCNM support for operational access.
Application Scenarios
Use DS-C9148T-24IK9 when a rack row needs port-side intake airflow and the initial host, array, and ISL map fits within 24 active Fibre Channel ports.
This SKU suits projects where the chassis and port activation should be ordered first, while Cisco FC optics are selected later after fiber type, endpoint speed, and reach are checked.
DS-C9148T-24IK9 works for SAN designs that begin with a smaller port count but need a Cisco-documented path to activate 32, 40, or 48 ports on the same fixed switch.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
DS-C9148T-24IK9 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Form factor |
1RU fixed switch |
1RU fixed switch |
1RU fixed switch |
1RU fixed switch |
|
Chassis FC ports |
48 SFP+ ports |
48 SFP+ ports |
48 SFP+ ports |
48 SFP+ ports |
|
Active FC ports |
24 |
24 |
24 |
48 |
|
Fibre Channel speed support |
4/8/16/32 Gbps |
4/8/16/32 Gbps |
4/8/16/32 Gbps |
4/8/16/32 Gbps |
|
Included FC optics |
No factory optic bundle |
No factory optic bundle |
24 x 32G SW optics |
48 x 32G SW optics |
|
Fan modules |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Power supplies |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Airflow direction |
Port-side intake |
Port-side exhaust |
Port-side intake |
Port-side intake |
|
Port activation option |
M9148T-PL8 8-port license |
M9148T-PL8 8-port license |
M9148T-PL8 8-port license |
Fully active 48-port optic bundle |
|
Minimum NX-OS release |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
- In a DS-C9148T-24IK9 vs DS-C9148T-24EK9 comparison, the difference is airflow direction: DS-C9148T-24IK9 is intake and DS-C9148T-24EK9 is exhaust.
- The DS-C9148T-24IK9 difference from DS-C9148T-24PITK9 is the optic bundle. Both are intake 24-port orders, but DS-C9148T-24PITK9 includes 24 Cisco 32G SW optics.
- For DS-C9148T-24IK9 vs DS-C9148T-48PITK9, the comparison changes from 24 active ports with no optic bundle to 48 active ports with 48 Cisco 32G SW optics.
- Buyers deciding which model to choose should keep airflow, first-day active-port count, and bundled optics aligned with the SAN bill of materials.
Selection Guide
1. Match the intake cooling path first
Choose DS-C9148T-24IK9 only when the rack plan expects port-side intake airflow. Use DS-C9148T-24EK9 when the same 24-port base order must be exhaust.
2. Keep optic selection explicit
Select this base PID when the project needs separate Cisco FC optic lines after checking endpoint speed, fiber type, and link distance. Use DS-C9148T-24PITK9 when 24 Cisco 32G SW optics should be part of the intake bundle.
3. Plan port activation before staging
The delivered port count is 24 active FC ports. Add M9148T-PL8 licenses when the deployment needs 32, 40, or 48 active ports on the same MDS 9148T chassis.
4. Verify software and management baselines
Confirm Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later and Cisco DCNM 11(0) or later before deployment. Treat SAN Insights, Enterprise Package, and DCNM Advanced licenses as separate software items.
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Intake base chassis |
DS-C9148T-24IK9 with 24 active FC ports |
Separates this order from exhaust base SKUs and intake bundles that include optics |
|
Cooling spares |
DS-CAC-650W-I= and DS-C32S-FAN-I= for intake airflow |
Keeps future PSU and fan replacements aligned with the installed airflow path |
|
Expansion licensing |
M9148T-PL8 blocks for 32, 40, or 48 active ports |
Prevents a port-growth plan from being missed when the day-one design exceeds 24 ports |
|
Optical media |
Required Cisco SW or LW FC optic PIDs by endpoint speed and fiber |
Avoids assuming that transceivers are included in this base switch line |
|
Staging prerequisites |
NX-OS 8.3(1) or later, DCNM 11(0) or later, and C15 cord choice |
Keeps software readiness and installation hardware in the same purchase review |
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
M9148T-PL8 |
Cisco MDS 9148T 8-port On-Demand Activation license |
|
M9148T-PL8= |
Cisco MDS 9148T 8-port On-Demand Activation spare license |
|
M9148T-PL8-SL= |
Cisco MDS 9148T 8-port activation Smart License spare |
|
M9148T-PL8T |
Cisco MDS 9148T 8-port activation license with 8 x 32G SW optics |
|
DS-CAC-650W-I= |
AC PSU port-side intake spare for MDS 9148T |
|
DS-C32S-FAN-I= |
MDS 9148T fan module port-side intake spare |
|
DS-SFP-FC32G-SW* |
Cisco 32G FC shortwave optic |
|
DS-SFP-FC32G-LW=* |
Cisco 32G FC longwave optic |
|
DS-9148T-KIT-CSCO |
MDS 9148T accessory kit for Cisco |
Front View
|
1 |
Serial console port |
7 |
Activity status LED |
|
2 |
System status LED |
8 |
Ethernet management ports (2) |
|
3 |
Power status LED |
9 |
Fixed FC ports |
|
4 |
Fan status LED |
10 |
FC port status LEDs (48) |
|
5 |
USB port |
11 |
Airflow grill |
|
6 |
Link status LED |
Rear View
|
1 |
Power supply failure status LED |
6 |
Power supply status LED |
|
2 |
Power supply unit fan |
7 |
Power supply units (2 units) |
|
3 |
Power supply unit handle |
8 |
Chassis fan modules (4 units) |
|
4 |
Unswitched power receptacle |
9 |
Chassis fan module release latches (8) |
|
5 |
Power supply unit latch release |
|
1 |
Power supply unit slot 1 |
4 |
Chassis fan module slot 3 |
|
2 |
Chassis fan module slot 1 |
5 |
Chassis fan module slot 4 |
|
3 |
Chassis fan module slot 2 |
6 |
Power supply unit slot 2 |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | DS-C9148T-24IK9 | Product compatibility | Cisco MDS 9000 Family |
| Product type | 32G Fibre Channel SAN switch | Order configuration | 24 active FC ports, 4 fans, 2 PSUs, port-side intake airflow |
| Form factor | 1RU fixed-switch form factor | Fibre Channel ports | 48 SFP+ ports base |
| Active ports at order | 24 active FC ports | Port activation license | M9148T-PL8 8-port upgrade license |
| Maximum active ports | 48 active FC ports | Fibre Channel speed support | 4, 8, 16, and 32 Gbps autosensing |
| Dedicated bandwidth per port | 32 Gbps | Aggregate bandwidth | 1.5 Tbps end-to-end full duplex |
| Port groups | 3 port groups of 16 ports each | Buffer credits | Up to 8300 for a group of 16 ports, 500 default per port, 8270 maximum for a single port in the group |
| Port channel support | Up to 16 load-balanced physical links in one port channel | Fibre Channel port types | E, F, B, SD, ST, NP, and TE |
| FC-NVMe support | FC-NVMe listed in the protocol support | Fabric services | Name server, RSCN, login services, FCS, broadcast, and in-order delivery |
| Advanced functions | VSAN, NPV, IVR, port channel with multipath load balancing, and flow- and zone-based QoS | Security functions | VSAN isolation, hardware zoning ACLs, FC-SP, RBAC, SFTP, SSHv2, SNMPv3, control-plane security, TrustSec payload encryption, secure boot, and anti-counterfeit technology |
| Diagnostics | POST, OHMS, internal loopbacks, SPAN, Fibre Channel traceroute, Fibre Channel ping, Fibre Channel debug, Cisco Fabric Analyzer, syslog, port-level statistics, link diagnostics, and read diagnostic parameter | High availability components | Hot-swappable dual redundant power supplies, hot-swappable fan module, and hot-swappable SFP+ optics |
| Management Ethernet ports | mgmt0 10/100/1000BASE-T and mgmt1 1/10G SFP+ port | Console and USB ports | RS-232 serial console port and USB power-on auto-provision port |
| Programmability | NX-API RESTful interfaces, onboard Python interpreter, Cisco DCNM web services API, EEM, and NX-OS scheduler | Minimum NX-OS release | Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
| Minimum Cisco DCNM release | Cisco DCNM 11(0) or later | Default power supply | DS-CAC-650W-I 650W AC port-side intake power supply; two supplies in the order configuration |
| AC input voltage | 100 to 240 VAC, 10 percent range | AC input frequency | 50 to 60 Hz nominal |
| Typical power without optics | 217W for idle 48-port switch without optics modules | Typical power with 24 optics | 251W for 48-port switch with 24 32G SW optics under typical conditions |
| Typical power with 48 optics | 297W for 48-port switch with 48 32G SW optics under typical conditions | Airflow direction | Front to back inward from ports using port-side intake fans |
| System airflow rate | 50 CFM through system fan assembly at 77F (25C) | Maximum airflow rate | 100 CFM maximum |
| Dimensions | 1.72 x 17.3 x 22.3 in. (4.37 x 43.94 x 56.64 cm), excluding PSU and fan module handles | Operating temperature | 32 to 104F (0 to 40C) with exhaust and intake airflow variants |
| Operating relative humidity | 10 to 90 percent noncondensing | Operating altitude | -197 to 6500 ft (-60 to 2000 m) |
| Supported FC optics | 32G SW, 32G LW, 16G SW, 16G LW, 8G SW, and 8G LW optics listed | Included accessory kit | Cisco-specific MDS 9148T accessory kit shipped as standard |
Get More Information
Need pricing, stock, or shipping details for the DS-C9148T-24IK9 ? Layer23-Switch can help you check current availability, lead time, and delivery options for this. Send us the part number, quantity, and destination country via live chat or email sales@layer23-switch.com for a fast quotation.
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
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Which SAN deployment fits DS-C9148T-24IK9?
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Does DS-C9148T-24IK9 ship with 32G optics?
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What does the I suffix mean on DS-C9148T-24IK9?
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What does DS-C9148T-24IK9 omit compared with DS-C9148T-24PITK9?
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How does DS-C9148T-24IK9 align with intake-side cabling?
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Does DS-C9148T-24IK9 support port activation growth?
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What SAN compatibility checks matter for DS-C9148T-24IK9?
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When does DS-C9148T-24IK9 make sense?
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