DS-C9396T-48EK9 – 48 Active (96 Max) Ports – 32G Fibre Channel SAN Switch
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DS-C9396T-48EK9 Description
Cisco DS-C9396T-48EK9 is the 2RU, port-side-exhaust SKU of the MDS 9396T. It ships with 48 active 32-Gbps FC ports and expands in 16-port steps to the full 96, delivering up to 3 Tbps of aggregate bandwidth for dense, modern SANs . Built-in, hardware-assisted SAN Analytics and model-driven telemetry provide deep, real-time visibility for capacity planning and rapid troubleshooting . The platform is NVMe/FC-ready and sustains consistent low-latency forwarding across traffic conditions; at least six ports can be configured with up to 8270 B2B credits for extended-distance links up to 612 km at 32G, with greater distances at lower speeds . Redundant hot-swappable PSUs and fans, plus the ability to distribute port-channels across the six 16-port groups, underpin 99.999% availability designs in core-edge or end-of-row topologies .
Product Highlights
Key Features
High-density 32G FC aggregation in 2RU
48 active ports on day one, expandable to 96 in 16-port steps, consolidating edge and aggregation layers to reduce switch count, cabling complexity, and rack space.
Long-distance and inter-site ready
Designed for metro/long-haul replication use cases; extended buffer-to-buffer credit capabilities help maintain throughput over high-latency links for synchronous/asynchronous copy, DR, and backup.
Service assurance with deep observability
Hardware-assisted SAN Analytics, per-flow telemetry, and slow-drain detection provide early warning on congestion and misbehaving endpoints, improving SLO/SLA adherence.
Resilient fabric building block
Six 16-port groups, port-channels across groups, and hot-swappable PSU/fans limit fault domains and support 24×7 operations in core-edge and end-of-row topologies.
Multi-tenant segmentation and zero-trust posture
VSANs, IVR (license), and centralized AAA/RBAC enable workload/tenant isolation with policy consistency for regulated environments and shared infrastructures.
Operations at fleet scale
POAP zero-touch provisioning, templating in Cisco NDFC/DCNM, and REST/NX-API/Ansible workflows support infrastructure-as-code rollouts and repeatable change control.
Application Scenarios
Predictable 32G FC performance for synchronous/asynchronous replication between sites; extended credits help sustain high throughput across distance while maintaining database and EMR availability.
96-port density and VSAN segmentation make it efficient to onboard many tenants and tiers; analytics and telemetry back tenant SLAs with real evidence.
Deterministic latency and high fan-in for parallel builds, simulation scratch, and large repository check-in/out; port-grouping helps isolate issues without impacting the entire fabric.
Front View
|
1 |
LEM slot 1 |
3 |
LEM slot 3 |
|
2 |
LEM slot 2 |
|
1 |
Serial console port |
5 |
USB port |
|
2 |
System status LED |
6 |
Ethernet management ports (2) |
|
3 |
Power supply status LED |
7 |
Base Fibre Channel ports |
|
4 |
Fan status LED |
8 |
Airflow Grill |
Rear View
|
1 |
Power supply unit fan |
5 |
Power supply units (2) |
|
2 |
Power supply unit handle |
6 |
Chassis fan modules (2) |
|
3 |
Power receptacle |
7 |
Fan module locking screw |
|
4 |
Power supply unit locking latch |
|
1 |
Power supply unit slot 1 |
3 |
Chassis fan module slot 2 |
|
2 |
Chassis fan module slot 1 |
4 |
Power supply unit slot 2 |
Model Selection Guide – DS-C9396T-48EK9
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
DS-C9396T-48EK9 |
DS-C9396T-48IK9 |
DS-C9396T-96ETK9 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Physical FC ports |
96 |
96 |
96 |
|
Base licensed ports |
48 |
48 |
96 (bundle) |
|
Port expansion |
+16 up to 96 |
+16 up to 96 |
N/A (max) |
|
Port groups |
6 groups × 16 ports |
6 × 16 |
6 × 16 |
|
Line-rate speed |
32G FC (auto 4/8/16/32) |
Same |
Same |
|
Aggregate bandwidth |
3 Tbps |
3 Tbps |
3 Tbps |
|
NVMe/FC |
Ready |
Ready |
Ready |
|
SAN Analytics/telemetry |
Hardware-assisted |
Hardware-assisted |
Hardware-assisted |
|
Airflow |
Port-side exhaust (blue) |
Port-side intake (red) |
Port-side exhaust (bundle) |
|
Fans |
DS-C96S-FAN-E |
DS-C96S-FAN-I |
DS-C96S-FAN-E |
|
PSUs |
2 × DS-CAC-1200W (bidirectional) |
Same |
Same |
|
Form factor |
2RU |
2RU |
2RU |
|
Long-distance/B2B |
≥6 ports up to 8270 B2B; 612 km @ 32G |
Same |
Same |
Specifications
Packaging weight and dimensions included:| Weight | 21.97 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 82 × 65 × 20 cm |
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product model | DS-C9396T-48EK9 (MDS 9396T family) | Form factor | 2RU fixed FC switch |
| Physical ports | 96 x SFP+/SFP28 Fibre Channel | Base licensed ports | 48 active; expand in +16-port steps to 96 |
| Port speeds | Auto-sensing 4/8/16/32-Gbps FC | Aggregate bandwidth | Up to 3 Tbps per switch |
| Port groups | Six groups × 16 ports (smaller failure domains) | Line-rate forwarding | Consistent low-latency at 32G |
| NVMe/FC | NVMe-ready; seamless transition on same fabric | Long-distance credits | ≥6 ports up to 8270 B2B; up to 612 km @ 32G |
| Telemetry | Hardware-assisted SAN Analytics; streaming telemetry | Diagnostics | Slow-drain detection, ISL/HBA diagnostics |
| Fabric services | VSANs, Smart/Auto Zoning, IVR (license), QoS | High availability | Redundant hot-swappable PSUs and fans; port-channels across groups |
| Airflow | Port-side exhaust (blue), DS-C96S-FAN-E | PSUs | 2 × 1200W DS-CAC-1200W, bidirectional airflow |
| Typical power (ref.) | 497W @ 48×32G optics; 555W @ 96×32G optics | AC/DC input | 90–305 VAC; 192–400 VDC (DS-CAC-1200W) |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 3.39 × 17.42 × 22.28 in (8.61 × 44.25 × 56.59 cm) | Weight | Approx. 41.62 lb (18.88 kg) |
| Management | Cisco NX-OS; NX-API/REST; NDFC/DCNM | Interoperability | MDS 9000 family per Cisco matrix |
| Certifications | Safety/EMC/RoHS (per datasheet) | Accessories | Rail kit, regional power cords; optics ordered separately |
Get More Information
Need pricing, stock, or shipping details for the DS-C9396T-48EK9 ? 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 refresh role fits DS-C9396T-48EK9?
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What airflow does DS-C9396T-48EK9 use?
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Does DS-C9396T-48EK9 ship with 32G FC optics?
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How does DS-C9396T-48EK9 expand beyond 48 ports?
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Why do licensing checks matter on DS-C9396T-48EK9?
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Is DS-C9396T-48EK9 ready for NVMe over Fibre Channel?
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Which management stack pairs with DS-C9396T-48EK9?
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Which quote detail separates DS-C9396T-48EK9 from optic bundles?
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