Release Notes HP C-series FC Switches for NX-OS_5.2(6b)(5697-2551, April 2013)

13 MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Director & Multilayer Fabric Switches Release Notes
MDS 9513 FABRIC-2 MODULE AND 8-Gbps MODULES
The MDS 9513 supports two types of crossbar modules, a pair of Fabric-1 modules or a pair of Fabric-2
modules. Two Fabric-2 modules double the active backplane bandwidth to 192-Gbps full duplex per slot
required for specific switching modules in the MDS 9513.
The following guidelines must be considered:
• Fabric-1 modules are backward and forward compatible with SAN-OS and NX-OS.
• Fabric-2 modules are supported with SAN-OS 3.x and NX-OS. If the MDS 9513 is running SAN-
OS 3.x, the Fabric-2 module functions as a Fabric-1 module. In order to use the increased
bandwidth capabilities of the Fabric-2, the following must be done:
o First upgrade the MDS 9513 to NX-OS
o Then reload the director.
• The 48-port 8-Gbps FC Host-Optimized Switching Module requires NX-OS. It will function with
either Fabric-1 or Fabric-2 modules.
• The 48-port 8-Gbps FC Performance Switching Module and the 24-port 8-Gbps FC Switching
Module requires NX-OS and Fabric-2 modules with the increased bandwidth capability enabled
• If you install just one Fabric-2 module, the active slot bandwidth is 96-Gbps full duplex.
• Once the 9513 is upgraded to NX-OS with Fabric-2 modules and reloaded, a downgrade to SAN-
OS will be disruptive.
• It is recommended for the pair of Fabric modules to be of the same model. Mixing Fabric-1 and
Fabric-2 modules with SAN-OS is supported. When mixing the two with NX-OS the following
must be considered:
o Before a reload – no issues with mixing Fabric-1 and Fabric-2
o After a reload – replacing Fabric-2 with a Fabric-1 is not supported
Refer to the Cisco MDS 9500 Series Hardware Installation Guide for additional information.