Description
The Cisco MDS 9396S 16G Multilayer Fabric Switch is a high-performance, high-density storage networking platform engineered for enterprise SAN environments. Designed in a compact 2RU form factor, this configuration delivers 96 fully activated 16-Gbps Fibre Channel ports with port-side intake airflow, making it ideal for modern data center cooling architectures.
Built on Cisco NX-OS, the MDS 9396S provides line-rate performance on every port, advanced SAN services, and exceptional reliability for mission-critical workloads. It supports flexible deployment as a standalone SAN switch, top-of-rack or middle-of-row fabric component, or as part of a scalable core-edge architecture.
With features such as In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU), dual redundant hot-swappable power supplies and fans, VSANs, NPV, and NVMe over Fibre Channel readiness, the DS-C9396S-96IK9 ensures continuous availability, simplified management, and future-proof storage connectivity for enterprise and service-provider environments.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Cisco |
| Model | MDS 9396S |
| SKU | DS-C9396S-96IK9 |
| Switch Type | Multilayer Fibre Channel Fabric Switch |
| Form Factor | 2RU, rack-mountable |
| Total Ports | 96 Fibre Channel ports (active) |
| Port Speeds | 2 / 4 / 8 / 10 / 16 Gbps autosensing |
| Per-Port Bandwidth | Dedicated 16 Gbps |
| Airflow | Port-side intake (front-to-back) |
| Switching Architecture | Non-blocking, line-rate on all ports |
| Buffer Credits | Up to 500 per port (up to 4095 with Enterprise features) |
| Fabric Services | VSAN, NPV, NPIV, IVR, PortChannels |
| SAN Optimization | Fabric-wide QoS, zone-based QoS |
| NVMe Support | NVMe over Fibre Channel ready |
| High Availability | ISSU, redundant hot-swappable PSUs and fan trays |
| Management | Cisco NX-OS, CLI, SNMPv3, Cisco Prime DCNM |
| Security | RBAC, FC-SP, ACL zoning, SSHv2, SFTP |
| Power Supplies | Dual redundant AC power supplies |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | Approx. 3.4 × 17.4 × 22.3 in |
| Weight | Approx. 39 lb (fully configured) |
| Deployment Use Cases | Enterprise SAN, core-edge fabrics, data center storage networks |
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Return Policy (Short Summary)
We offer a 30-day return window for most unopened, factory-sealed items.
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