​What Role Does DS-C9706-SHPPKG= Play in Cisco’s Storage Networking Ecosystem?​
The DS-C9706-SHPPKG= functions as a ​​complete hardware expansion bundle​​ for Cisco MDS 9706 Directors, specifically designed for enterprises requiring ​​non-disruptive scaling from 96 to 192 Fibre Channel ports​​ while maintaining ​​N+1/N+N redundancy​​. Compatible with NX-OS 6.2(25)+ and SAN Analytics 3.0+, this package integrates ​​Supervisor-4 modules​​, ​​Fabric-5 switching engines​​, and ​​NXA-PDC-3KW power supplies​​ to support mixed 32G FC/64G FC-NVMe workloads.

Key operational advantages include:

  • ​Hot-swappable component architecture​​ enabling zero downtime maintenance
  • ​Unified management​​ across FC, iSCSI, and NVMe-oF protocols
  • ​Smart Zoning 2.0​​ with enhanced role-based access controls

​How Does It Compare to Previous MDS 9700 Hardware Packages?​

Parameter DS-C9706-SHPPKG= DS-C9706-BASEPKG (Legacy)
Port Density per Chassis 192 FC ports 96 FC ports
Protocol Support FC-NVMe, SRv6 FC, FCoE
Power Efficiency 2.8W per 32G port 3.5W per 16G port
Buffer Allocation 24 MB dynamic 12 MB static

This upgraded package resolves three historical limitations:

  1. ​Thermal resilience​​: Supports 45°C ambient temperature operations
  2. ​Energy optimization​​: 20% lower power consumption per port
  3. ​Scalability​​: Doubles FCNS database capacity to 26,000 entries

​Where to Source Certified DS-C9706-SHPPKG= Components?​
For guaranteed interoperability with MDS 9700 directors, procure configurations exclusively through Cisco SAN Infrastructure Solutions. Authorized channels provide:

  • ​Pre-validated chassis kits​​ with integrated Smart Licensing
  • ​Fabric module burn-in testing​​ reports for hyperscale deployments
  • ​Custom airflow templates​​ supporting front/back exhaust configurations

Operational best practices recommend:
• Maintaining rack clearance of 6U above chassis for optimal thermal performance
• Implementing ​​per-flow QoS policies​​ for mixed NVMe/FC traffic
• Scheduling fabric diagnostics every 5,000 operational hours

The DS-C9706-SHPPKG= redefines storage networking scalability by merging ​​64G FC-NVMe readiness​​ with ​​32G FC economics​​. Organizations migrating from 16G FC infrastructures should conduct ​​IOPS burst analysis​​ before full deployment. For financial institutions requiring deterministic latency, pairing this bundle with ​​Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 switches​​ enables sub-10μs transaction times across unified NVMe fabrics.

Related Post

C1000FE-24P-4G-L: How Does Cisco’s Enhanced

Overview of Cisco C1000FE-24P-4G-L The ​​Cisco Cata...

What Is the Cisco CP-8832-3PC-J-K9? Power Com

The ​​Cisco CP-8832-3PC-J-K9​​ is a power-relat...

Cisco C9200-NM-2Q=: What Is This Module? Feat

​​Overview of the C9200-NM-2Q=​​ The Cisco C920...