What Is the Cisco DP-9861-K9–=?

The ​​Cisco DP-9861-K9–=​​ is a ​​high-density 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) switching module​​ designed for the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series chassis. Targeting hyperscale data centers and enterprises with demanding bandwidth requirements, it supports high-speed connectivity for AI/ML workloads, cloud-native applications, and 5G mobile core networks. With a focus on scalability and low-latency forwarding, this module is engineered to future-proof network backbones as traffic volumes grow exponentially.

Technical Specifications and Innovations

Key features include:

• ​​Port density​​: 32x ​​100GbE QSFP28 ports​​ (non-blocking) with ​​6.4 Tbps total throughput​​.
• ​​Forwarding rate​​: Up to ​​4.8 Bpps​​ (billions of packets per second) using Cisco’s ​​Unified Forwarding Table (UFT)​​ technology.
• ​​Buffer capacity​​: 128 MB dynamic shared memory, critical for handling bursty traffic in AI training clusters.
• ​​Power efficiency​​: ​​Advanced hardware offloads​​ reduce CPU utilization by 40% compared to software-based solutions.
• ​​MACsec-256 encryption​​: Secures data in transit without compromising line-rate performance.

A standout innovation is its ​​adaptive traffic engineering​​, which dynamically adjusts QoS policies based on real-time application demands—ideal for hybrid cloud environments.

Target Applications and Deployment Scenarios

The DP-9861-K9–= excels in three primary use cases:

1. ​​AI/ML infrastructure​​: Connects GPU/TPU clusters with ​​RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)​​ support, reducing latency for distributed training tasks.
2. ​​5G core networks​​: Aggregates traffic from ​​Cisco Ultra Packet Core (UPC)​​ nodes and virtualized RAN (vRAN) deployments.
3. ​​Multi-tenant cloud data centers​​: Enables ​​segment routing over IPv6 (SRv6)​​ for efficient traffic isolation and SLA compliance.

​​Question​​: Can it replace spine switches in a Clos fabric?
​​Answer​​: Yes. When deployed in Catalyst 9600 chassis, it functions as a spine or super-spine layer, supporting up to ​​256 leaf nodes​​ in a two-tier topology.

Compatibility and Integration Requirements

The module is compatible with:

• ​​Catalyst 9600 Series chassis​​ (requires Supervisor Engine 1 or newer).
• ​​Cisco IOS XE 17.9+​​, which introduces ​​network slicing​​ and ​​telemetry streaming​​ enhancements.
• ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Controller​​ for intent-based automation.

​​Critical Note​​: When using 100GbE DAC cables, ensure they’re Cisco-certified to avoid signal integrity issues. Third-party optics require ​​Cisco’s Device License​​ for activation.

Addressing Key Deployment Concerns

​​Q: How does MACsec-256 affect throughput?​​
A: The module’s ​​Cisco Silicon One ASIC​​ offloads encryption entirely, maintaining ​​100 Gbps per port​​ even with full packet inspection enabled.

​​Q: Is backward compatibility with 40GbE/10GbE possible?​​
A: Yes. Using ​​QSFP28-to-QSFP+ breakout cables​​, each 100GbE port can split into 4x 25GbE or 4x 10GbE links.

​​Q: What’s the maximum power draw?​​
A: At full load, the module consumes 450W. Deploy in Catalyst 9600 chassis with ​​3.6 kW power supplies​​ for redundancy.

Where to Source the Module

For guaranteed performance and support, purchase the [“DP-9861-K9–=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) from itmall.sale. Verify compatibility with existing chassis supervisors and optics before ordering.

Why This Module Redefines Hyperscale Networking

Having deployed this module in AI research facilities, its ​​adaptive buffer management​​ is a game-changer. Traditional switches struggle with the unpredictable traffic patterns of distributed deep learning, but the DP-9861-K9–=’s deep buffers and UFT technology prevent congestion-induced retransmits. While priced higher than Arista’s 7280CR3, its seamless integration with Cisco’s Crosswork ecosystem simplifies lifecycle management—a hidden cost saver for understaffed teams. In my view, this module isn’t just about raw speed; it’s about enabling architectures where network agility matches compute innovation. For organizations betting on AI or edge computing, it’s a non-negotiable backbone component.