DS-C9396T-96ETK9 – 96x32G FC Ports – 96x32G SW Optics – Exhaust SAN Switch
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DS-C9396T-96ETK9 Description
The DS-C9396T-96ETK9 is a Cisco MDS 9396T 2RU Fibre Channel switch for enterprise SAN fabrics. It provides 96 active ports at 4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing, 32 Gbps of dedicated bandwidth per port, 3 Tbps of aggregate bandwidth, 96 included 32G shortwave optics, and port-side exhaust airflow. The included shortwave optics reach 100 m (328 ft) on OM4 or OM5 fiber at 32G, and the switch runs Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
DS-C9396T-96ETK9 |
|
Product type |
32G Fibre Channel SAN switch bundle |
|
Order configuration |
96 active ports, 96 x 32G SW optics, 2 fans, 2 PSUs, port-side exhaust |
|
Active ports at order |
96 Fibre Channel ports |
|
Included FC optics |
96 x Cisco 32G Fibre Channel shortwave optics |
|
Airflow |
Port-side exhaust |
|
Port speed |
4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing |
|
Aggregate bandwidth |
3 Tbps per switch |
|
Port groups |
Six 16-port groups |
|
Power supplies |
2 x 1200W AC/HVAC/HVDC bidirectional PSUs |
|
Minimum NX-OS release |
Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
|
Form factor |
2RU rack-mountable switch |
Product Performance
Key Features
The full SFP+ port count is live from the first day, grouped as six 16-port groups. Host, array, and inter-switch links can be mapped to those groups in the cabling plan.
Two hot-swappable fan modules move air from the back of the chassis toward the ports. The two power supplies handle either airflow direction, so only the fan modules set it.
Each port runs 4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing with 32 Gbps of dedicated bandwidth, which adds up to 3 Tbps across the switch. Older 8G and 16G devices attach without a separate speed tier.
All 96 ports ship with 32G shortwave optics using dual LC connectors on 850 nm multimode fiber. Reach is 20 m on OM2, 70 m on OM3, and 100 m on OM4 or OM5.
Two 1200W AC/HVAC/HVDC supplies run in a 1+1 arrangement and accept 90V to 305V AC or 192V to 400V DC. A fully loaded switch with 96 optics draws a typical 555W.
Buffer-to-buffer credits default to 500 per port and reach 8270 on at least six ports, with up to 8300 per 16-port group. That headroom serves extended native Fibre Channel links.
Application Scenarios
In a data center SAN, the switch can anchor a fabric that connects dozens of hosts and storage arrays, with 96 active 32G ports and 3 Tbps of aggregate bandwidth on one 2RU chassis.
In an aisle where hot air is exhausted toward the cabling side, the switch moves air from the rear of the chassis out through the port side, so its airflow matches the rack layout.
A site that replicates storage to a second building can set at least six ports to up to 8270 buffer-to-buffer credits, which keeps native 32G Fibre Channel links filled over longer distances.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
DS-C9396T-96ETK9 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fibre Channel ports |
96 SFP+ ports |
96 SFP+ ports |
96 SFP+ ports |
96 SFP+ ports |
|
Port speed |
4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing |
4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing |
4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing |
4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing |
|
Aggregate bandwidth |
3 Tbps per switch |
3 Tbps per switch |
3 Tbps per switch |
3 Tbps per switch |
|
Included FC optics |
96 x 32G SW |
96 x 32G SW |
48 x 32G SW |
48 x 32G SW |
|
Airflow |
Port-side exhaust |
Port-side intake |
Port-side exhaust |
Port-side intake |
|
Fan module |
DS-C96S-FAN-E= |
DS-C96S-FAN-I= |
DS-C96S-FAN-E= |
DS-C96S-FAN-I= |
|
Port activation path |
All 96 ports active at order |
All 96 ports active at order |
M9396T-PL16, 16 ports at a time up to 96 |
M9396T-PL16, 16 ports at a time up to 96 |
|
Minimum NX-OS release |
MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later |
DS-C9396T-96ETK9 and DS-C9396T-96ITK9 are the same 96-port bundle with 96 active ports and 96 x 32G SW optics, split only by airflow: DS-C9396T-96ETK9 uses port-side exhaust fans (DS-C96S-FAN-E=) and DS-C9396T-96ITK9 uses port-side intake fans (DS-C96S-FAN-I=), so the choice follows the airflow direction the rack requires. Fabrics that can start smaller move to DS-C9396T-48ETK9, which keeps exhaust airflow with 48 active ports and 48 x 32G SW optics, then adds 16 ports at a time with M9396T-PL16 up to 96. A 48-port start with intake airflow is DS-C9396T-48ITK9. All four bundles require Cisco MDS NX-OS 8.3(1) or later.
Ordering Checklist
- Airflow direction: This PID is port-side exhaust; order spare fan module DS-C96S-FAN-E=. A fan module of the opposite direction reverses the airflow of the chassis.
- Port activation: 96 ports are active at order, so no M9396T-PL16 activation license is needed. Adding M9396T-PL16 to a 96-port bundle order duplicates a license the bundle does not use.
- Optics: 96 x DS-SFP-FC32G-SW are bundled; order 32G longwave or 16G and 8G optics such as DS-SFP-FC32G-LW= separately. The bundle cannot cover longwave or lower-speed links without extra optics.
- Power cords: Order two cords per switch: the standard CAB-HVAC-C14-2M, or a regional cord such as CAB-9K10A-UK or CAB-9K12A-NA. The switch has two 1200W supplies, and each needs a cord that fits the site outlet.
- Optional licenses: M9300ENT1K9= Enterprise Package and L-D-M93S-AXK9= SAN Insights are separate line items. Neither is included in the bundle PID.
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
DS-C96S-FAN-E= |
Cisco MDS 9396T fan module spare for port-side exhaust airflow |
|
DS-CAC-1200W= |
AC PSU bidirectional airflow spare listed for MDS 9396T |
|
Cisco 32G Fibre Channel SW SFP+ optic spare with LC connector | |
|
DS-9396T-KIT-CSCO |
MDS 9396T accessory kit for Cisco |
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 |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | DS-C9396T-96ETK9 | Product type | 32G Fibre Channel SAN switch bundle |
| Order configuration | 96 active ports, 96 x 32G SW optics, 2 fans, 2 PSUs, and port-side exhaust airflow | Form factor | 2RU rack-mountable fixed switch |
| Dimensions | 3.39 x 17.42 x 22.28 in. (8.61 x 44.25 x 56.59 cm) | Weight | 18.88 kg (41.62 lb) |
| Fibre Channel ports | 96 SFP+ ports | Active ports at order | 96 active Fibre Channel ports |
| Included FC optics | 96 x Cisco 32G Fibre Channel shortwave optics | Supported FC optics listed by Cisco | 32G SW, 32G LW, 16G SW, 16G LW, 8G SW, and 8G LW Fibre Channel optics |
| 32G SW optic product ID | DS-SFP-FC32G-SW | 32G SW connector | Dual LC connector |
| 32G SW wavelength | 850 nm | 32G SW fiber type | Multimode fiber |
| 32G SW 32G cable distance | 65 ft (20 m) on OM2, 230 ft (70 m) on OM3, and 328 ft (100 m) on OM4 or OM5 | Port speed | 4/8/16/32 Gbps autosensing with 32 Gbps dedicated bandwidth per port |
| Aggregate bandwidth | 3 Tbps per switch | Port group architecture | Six 16-port port groups |
| Extended B2B credits | At least 6 ports configurable with up to 8270 Buffer-to-Buffer credits | Fibre Channel port types | E, F, and B standard port types; SD, ST, NP, and TE enhanced port types |
| Port channel | Up to 16 load-balanced physical links in one port channel | Advanced functions | VSAN, NPV, IVR, Port Channel with multipath load balancing, and flow-based and zone-based QoS |
| Fabric services | Name server, RSCN, login services, Fabric Configuration Server, broadcast, and in-order delivery | Management port | mgmt0 10/100/1000BASE-T and mgmt1 1/10G SFP+ |
| Programming interfaces | Scriptable CLI, Cisco DCNM web services API, NX-API REST interfaces, onboard Python interpreter, Embedded Event Manager, and Cisco 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 | Fan modules | 2 hot-swappable fan modules |
| Fan direction for this PID | Port-side exhaust airflow with DS-C96S-FAN-E fan modules | Power supplies | 2 hot-swappable 1200W AC/HVAC/HVDC bidirectional airflow power supplies |
| Power redundancy | 1+1 power grid redundancy | AC input voltage | 90V to 305V |
| DC input voltage | 192V to 400V | Nominal input frequency | 50 to 60 Hz |
| Typical power with 96 x 32G optics | 555W under Cisco’s typical 96-optic condition | Maximum switch power | 585W maximum |
| Airflow | Back to front toward ports using port-side exhaust fans | Airflow rate | Maximum 255 CFM and nominal 110 CFM at 25C |
| Operating temperature | 32 to 104F (0 to 40C) | Storage temperature | -40 to 158F (-40 to 70C) |
| Operating humidity | 10 to 90 percent noncondensing | Operating altitude | -197 to 6500 ft (-60 to 2000 m) |
| Minimum cable distance for listed SFP+ optics | 6.5 ft (2 m) |
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
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Does DS-C9396T-96ETK9 need a port activation license?
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What Fibre Channel speeds does DS-C9396T-96ETK9 support?
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Which bracket kit supports DS-C9396T-96ETK9 during rack installation?
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How long can a fan module of DS-C9396T-96ETK9 stay out of the chassis?
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What is the maximum power draw of DS-C9396T-96ETK9?
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What is the shortest cable the 32G optics of DS-C9396T-96ETK9 allow?
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