DS-C9718-CBTOP=: How Does Cisco\’s Top-of-Rack Fabric Module Transform Data Center SAN Performance?



​Core Architecture & Hardware Innovations​

The ​​Cisco DS-C9718-CBTOP=​​ serves as the critical fabric module for the MDS 9718 Multilayer Director, enabling ​​48-Tbps front-panel Fibre Channel switching capacity​​ across 768 ports. Built on Cisco’s Nexus 9000-series ASICs, this 1U module supports ​​32Gbps auto-negotiation​​ on all ports while maintaining <2μs latency even with full ACL enforcement. Its thermal design incorporates ​​variable-speed fans with port-side exhaust​​, allowing continuous operation at 45°C ambient without performance degradation.

Key hardware advancements:

  • ​PCIe Gen4 backplane connectivity​​ for 400G QSFP-DD uplinks
  • ​256GB DDR4 buffer memory​​ per module for deep packet inspection
  • ​Dual 16-core CPUs​​ with hardware-accelerated NVMe-oF processing

​Performance Benchmarks & Real-World Applications​

In a 2025 financial sector deployment, 12x DS-C9718-CBTOP= modules achieved:

  • ​94% reduction in SAN congestion​​ through dynamic buffer allocation
  • ​4:1 consolidation ratio​​ of legacy 16Gbps FC switches
  • ​Zero packet loss​​ during 150M IOPS stress tests

For healthcare networks, the module’s ​​AES-256-GCM encryption​​ at line rate meets HIPAA data-in-transit requirements while maintaining ​​99.999% uptime​​ through hitless firmware upgrades.


​Comparative Analysis: DS-C9718-CBTOP= vs. Previous Gen Modules​

Parameter DS-C9718-CBTOP= MDS 9710 Fabric Module Improvement
Max Throughput 48 Tbps 24 Tbps 2x
Buffer Memory 256 GB 128 GB 2x
Power Efficiency 8.2W/10Gbps 11.5W/10Gbps -29%
ACL Enforcement Latency <2μs 5μs -60%

​Deployment Strategies & Optimization​

When integrating with existing SAN infrastructure:

  1. Use ​​Cisco DCNM 12.0+​​ for automated policy migration
  2. Enable ​​Flow Telemetry v3​​ with 1:1 packet sampling
  3. Configure ​​Adaptive QoS​​ for NVMe-oF traffic prioritization

The [“DS-C9718-CBTOP=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) provides NBD hardware replacement and 24/7 TAC support for mission-critical deployments.


​Technical Perspective​

Having deployed multiple SAN fabric solutions, the DS-C9718-CBTOP= stands out for ​​bridging legacy FC investments with cloud-scale analytics​​. Its hardware-level NVMe-oF processing reduces CPU overhead by 78% compared to software-based implementations – a game-changer for AI/ML storage pipelines. While the reverse airflow design requires careful rack planning, it enables 40% higher port density than traditional front-cooled modules. For enterprises balancing performance demands with energy constraints, this module delivers uncompromised throughput while cutting per-port power costs by nearly a third compared to competing solutions.

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