Specifications

Chapter 10 Storage Networking
10-3
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches
Cisco MDS 9000 Family Multilayer Directors and
Fabric Switches
Consisting of the Cisco MDS 9500 Series of Multilayer
Directors, the semi-modular Cisco MDS 9200 Series Multilayer
Fabric Switches, and the fixed configuration Cisco MDS 9100 Series Multilayer Fabric
Switches, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family provides a full line of products to meet requirements
for storage networks of all sizes and architectures. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family delivers
intelligent network services such as virtual SANs (VSANs), comprehensive security,
advanced traffic management, sophisticated diagnostics, and unified SAN management. In
addition, the Cisco MDS 9500 Series and the Cisco MDS 9200 Series provide
multiprotocol/multitransport integration and an open platform for embedding intelligent
storage services such as network-based virtualization. With its multilayer approach to
network and storage intelligence, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family ushers in a new era in storage
networking.
When to Sell
Key Features
• Configurable—provides embedded Cisco Fabric Manager, open APIs and integration
with CiscoWorks RME and third party SAN and network management platforms
• Serviceable—delivers embedded diagnostics (Fibre Channel ping, traceroute and
protocol analyzer) and “Call Home”
• Upgradeable—offers investment protection with multiple module options, all
interchangeable across Cisco MDS 9500 Series and Cisco MDS 9200 Series;
• High availability—Cisco MDS 9500 Series directors provides nondisruptive software
upgrades, stateful process failover and hot swappable components
• Secure—supports VSANs, hardware-enforced zoning, role-based access control,
FC-SP, IPsec, SNMPv3, RADIUS and access control lists
• Multiprotocol—integrates Fibre Channel, FICON, iSCSI, and FCIP in one system
(Cisco MDS 9500 Series and Cisco MDS 9200 Series)
• Flexible—introduces VSANs for consolidation of isolated SAN islands on a single
physical fabric
• Scalable—offers16 to 224 Fibre Channel ports; supports throughput up to 32Gbps in a
single Port Channel ISL
Sell This Product When a Customer Needs These Features
Cisco MDS 9500 Multilayer
Directors
• Maximum port densities—Up to 224 Fibre Channel ports in a single 9-slot chassis
• High availability—non-disruptive software upgrades, stateful processor restart/failover and redundancy of
all major components
• High performance—1.44 Terabit/sec backplane to provide 10Gbps future readiness
• Multiprotocol support —integration of Fibre Channel, FICON, FCIP, and iSCSI in single platform
• Hosting intelligent storage applications (network-based virtualization, volume management, data replication,
and snapshot capabilities)
• Modularity and flexibility for future growth
Cisco MDS 9200 Multilayer
Fabric Switches
• Moderate port densities - Up to 48 Fibre Channel ports in a single 2-slot chassis
• Multiprotocol support - integration of Fibre Channel, FCIP, and iSCSI in single platform
• Hosting intelligent storage applications (network-based virtualization, volume management, data replication,
and snapshot capabilities)
• Modularity and flexibility for future growth
Cisco MDS 9100 Series
Fabric Switches
• Lower port count—20 ports for Cisco MDS 9120; 40 ports for Cisco MDS 9140
• 1RU for space-constrained environments
• Fibre Channel-only connectivity
• Entry-level SAN where price per port more important than future modularity/flexibility