FLMESH-HW-4500-2: How Does Cisco’s Industri
Hardware Architecture & Ruggedization The Cis...
What Is the Cisco DS-C9718?
The Cisco DS-C9718 serves as the 18-slot chassis for the MDS 9718 Multilayer Director, Cisco’s flagship storage area network (SAN) platform designed for hyperscale AI/ML workloads and NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) deployments. This chassis supports up to 6 Fabric-3 switching modules, enabling non-blocking 24 Tbps system-wide bandwidth—triple the capacity of earlier MDS 9706 models. Unlike the 10-slot DS-C9710, the DS-C9718 prioritizes horizontal scalability for enterprises managing petabyte-scale storage clusters.
Core Technical Specifications
- Port Density: Configures 1,152 Fibre Channel ports via 48-port 64G line cards, supporting 32G/64G FC and 100G FCoE in hybrid environments.
- Fabric Architecture: Fabric-3 crossbar modules (DS-X9718-FAB3) deliver 4 Tbps per slot, reducing latency by 40% compared to Fabric-1.
- Power Efficiency: Integrates 3K AC/DC power shelves with 96% efficiency, cutting operational costs by 22% versus legacy configurations.
- Compliance: Meets FIPS 140-3 and HIPAA/GDPR standards for healthcare/financial data encryption.
DS-C9718 vs. MDS 9700 Series: Strategic Differences
| Feature | DS-C9718 | MDS 9706 (DS-C9706) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Slots | 18 | 6 |
| Fabric Bandwidth | 24 Tbps (Fabric-3) | 12 Tbps (Fabric-3) |
| NVMe-oF Support | Native (NX-OS 9.4+) | Requires Sup-4 upgrade |
| Redundancy | 6 active fabric modules | 3 active fabric modules |
| Typical Use Case | Hyperscale AI data lakes | Mid-tier FC SAN consolidation |
Operational Insights:
- Cost: The DS-C9718’s 59,055.98baseprice∗∗[9](@ref)suitslargeenterprises,whilerefurbishedMDS9706unitsstartat∗∗59,055.98 base price** suits large enterprises, while refurbished MDS 9706 units start at **59,055.98baseprice∗∗[9](@ref)suitslargeenterprises,whilerefurbishedMDS9706unitsstartat∗∗28,000 on itmall.sale.
- Scalability: Supports Cisco CloudScale ASICs for software-defined SAN extensions to hybrid clouds.
Why Deploy DS-C9718 in Modern Data Centers?
- Unified Fabric Management: Integrates with Cisco DCNM 12.0 for cross-VSAN analytics, reducing troubleshooting time by 50%.
- Thermal Resilience: Front-to-back airflow maintains ≤2°C variance across modules in 45°C environments.
- Future-Proofing: Guaranteed 7-year hardware lifecycle with NX-OS 9.4+ support for Gen 7 Fibre Channel.
Final Recommendations
The DS-C9718 redefines SAN scalability for enterprises transitioning to 32G FC/NVMe-oF infrastructures. While its 24 Tbps throughput justifies hyperscale investments, organizations with sub-100TB storage should consider certified refurbished MDS 9706 directors through itmall.sale. Always validate rack depth (≥1,500mm) and power redundancy requirements before deployment. For AI/ML-driven environments, pair the DS-C9718 with Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 switches to create lossless unified fabrics.