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What Is the DS-C9710-NFRK9?
The DS-C9710-NFRK9 is a protocol-agnostic expansion module designed for Cisco MDS 9710 Multilayer Directors, enabling non-disruptive integration of FCIP, iSCSI, and NVMe-oF protocols within Fibre Channel SAN environments. This kit provides 48 additional virtual routing interfaces without requiring Fabric-3 module upgrades, making it ideal for organizations transitioning to hybrid cloud storage architectures. Unlike standard MDS 9700 configurations, it supports simultaneous zoning for legacy FICON and modern NVMe workloads while maintaining <35μs port-to-port latency.
Key capabilities include:
- Multi-protocol gateways: Native support for FCIP tunneling with 40Gbps AES-256 encryption
- NVMe-oF acceleration: Reduces CPU overhead by 60% compared to software-based implementations
- Backward compatibility: Works with Fabric-1 (DS-X9710-FAB1) and Fabric-3 (DS-X9710-FAB3) backplanes
DS-C9710-NFRK9 vs. Traditional SAN Routing Solutions
| Feature | DS-C9710-NFRK9 | MDS 9509 Base Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Max Virtual Interfaces | 384 (8:1 oversubscription) | 96 (4:1 oversubscription) |
| Encryption Throughput | 40Gbps line-rate | 10Gbps (requires add-on modules) |
| Protocol Stack | FC, FCoE, NVMe-oF, iSCSI, FCIP, SRv6 | FC, FCoE, FCIP |
| Zoning Flexibility | Cross-protocol zones (FC + NVMe-oF) | Protocol-specific zones only |
| Energy Efficiency | 0.9W per 32Gbps virtual port | 2.3W per 16Gbps physical port |
This comparison demonstrates how the DS-C9710-NFRK9 eliminates traditional SAN silos, enabling 40% higher storage utilization in mixed-protocol environments.
Deployment Strategies and Technical Best Practices
Three critical use cases highlight the DS-C9710-NFRK9’s operational value:
-
Hybrid Cloud Storage Gateways
- Implements SRv6-based policy enforcement between on-prem FC arrays and AWS/Azure FCoE endpoints
- Maintains <1ms latency for synchronous replication across FCIP tunnels
-
AI/ML Data Fabric Consolidation
- Enables RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2) for GPU-NVMe array communication
- Supports 1:8 oversubscription ratios for cost-effective cold data tiering
-
Mainframe Modernization
- Provides FICON Express16G acceleration while coexisting with Linux NVMe-oF clusters
- Reduces IBM z16 storage latency by 45% through adaptive QoS prioritization
For compatibility verification with Supervisor 4E modules and Fabric-3 chassis, consult itmall.sale’s Cisco SAN solutions portfolio.
The DS-C9710-NFRK9 redefines SAN extensibility by merging hardware-defined segmentation with software-driven protocol abstraction. Its true innovation lies in dynamic resource partitioning – enabling enterprises to concurrently operate mainframe-era FICON and cloud-native NVMe-oF workloads without performance tradeoffs. For architects designing petabyte-scale AI repositories, this module isn’t merely an upgrade path – it’s the cornerstone of protocol-agnostic storage networking.