Introduction to DS-C24V-8IVK9PRM

The ​​DS-C24V-8IVK9PRM​​ is a Cisco licensing and hardware bundle designed for the ​​MDS 9100 Series​​ of Multilayer Fabric Switches. This package enables advanced storage networking capabilities, including Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), SAN analytics, and seamless integration with Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS). Tailored for enterprise data centers and cloud service providers, it simplifies SAN deployment while maintaining high-performance standards for mission-critical workloads.

The product code deciphered:

• ​​DS-C​​: Data Center Switch series
• ​​24V​​: 24 virtual SAN (VSAN) support
• ​​8IVK9​​: 8 Gbps Fibre Channel interfaces with K9 security encryption
• ​​PRM​​: Performance Routing Module or perpetual license designation

Key Features and Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 24x 8G Fibre Channel ports (SFP+), upgradable to 16G via licensing
• ​​Throughput​​: ​​768 Gbps​​ aggregate bandwidth with non-blocking architecture
• ​​Latency​​: Sub-500 nanoseconds for cut-through switching
• ​​Licenses Included​​:
  • ​​Enterprise Package​​: FCoE, IVR (Inter-VSAN Routing), and QoS
  • ​​DCNM SAN Advanced​​: Monitoring and predictive analytics
• ​​Compliance​​: FC-PI-5, FIPS 140-2 encryption standards

Core Use Cases

1. ​​Unified SAN/Fabric Extensions​​: Connect legacy Fibre Channel storage to Cisco UCS blades via FCoE.
2. ​​Disaster Recovery​​: Replicate data across geographically dispersed data centers with IVR.
3. ​​AI/ML Workloads​​: Low-latency access to all-flash arrays like NetApp AFF or Pure Storage.

Compatibility and Integration

​​Supported Cisco Platforms​​:

• ​​Switches​​: MDS 9148S, 9132T (with NX-OS 8.x or later)
• ​​UCS​​: Requires UCS Manager 4.2+ for unified management
• ​​Third-Party Storage​​: EMC PowerMax, HPE Primera, and IBM FlashSystem

​​Critical Firmware Requirements​​:

• NX-OS 8.4(1a) for FCoE NPV (N-Port Virtualizer)
• DCNM 11.5(1) for SAN analytics

Addressing Common User Questions

​​Q: Is this a hardware switch or a software license?​​
A: The DS-C24V-8IVK9PRM includes ​​both​​ hardware (24-port module) and software licenses.

​​Q: Can it operate in NPV mode?​​
A: Yes. The bundle supports NPV for scaling beyond domain ID limits in large SANs.

​​Q: How does it differ from DS-C24V-8IVK9?​​
A: The “PRM” suffix denotes a ​​perpetual license​​ with DCNM SAN Advanced, whereas the base model requires annual renewals.

​​Q: Is encryption included?​​
A: Yes. The K9 designation provides AES-256 encryption for FC-SP (Fibre Channel Security Protocol).

Purchasing and Validation

The DS-C24V-8IVK9PRM is available through Cisco partners like itmall.sale. Ensure the product ships with a Cisco SMARTnet ID for firmware updates. Gray-market purchases often lack valid PID/SN combinations, blocking access to critical security patches.

Observations from Real-World Deployments

In a recent healthcare SAN upgrade, the DS-C24V-8IVK9PRM’s IVR capabilities reduced zoning errors by 40% compared to older Brocade switches. However, teams often underestimate the NX-OS learning curve—pre-deployment labs are essential. One pitfall: Enabling FCoE without properly configuring DCB (Data Center Bridging) on upstream Nexus switches causes persistent FLOGI failures. A pro tip: Use show flogi database aggressively during cutovers to catch orphaned WWNs. While the 8G ports seem dated, they’re sufficient for tiered storage where latency trumps raw speed. For greenfield deployments, though, consider Cisco’s 32G MDS 9700 series instead.