DS-C9710-V2K9: How Does Cisco’s Modular SAN Switch Optimize Enterprise Storage Scalability?



​Architecture & Core Capabilities​

The ​​Cisco DS-C9710-V2K9​​ belongs to the MDS 9700 Series Multilayer Directors, designed for hyperscale storage environments requiring ​​10Gbps背板带宽​​ and ​​48 active FC/FCoE ports​​ in a modular chassis. Unlike fixed-configuration switches, this model features:

  • ​Hot-swappable I/O modules​​: Supports mixed 16/32/64G FC and 10/40G FCoE ports for phased infrastructure upgrades
  • ​Dual supervisor engines​​: Ensures non-disruptive failover with ​​<50ms切换时间​​ during controller maintenance
  • ​Crossbar Fabric-3 switching​​: Delivers ​​49.152Tbps全双工带宽​​, 2.3x higher than Fabric-1 modules

​Performance Benchmarks & Use Case Validation​

In enterprise storage workloads, the DS-C9710-V2K9 demonstrates:

Metric DS-C9710-V2K9 Brocade G730 (64G) Advantage
Max FC Throughput 6.4Tbps 4.2Tbps +52%
Latency (64G FC) 1.8µs 3.2µs -44%
Concurrent VSANs 1024 512 +100%

​Healthcare PACS Deployment​
A regional hospital achieved 35% faster MRI retrieval by:

  1. Implementing 6 DS-C9710-V2K9 switches in core-edge topology
  2. Configuring ​​QoS zones​​ prioritizing DICOM traffic
  3. Enabling ​​FIPS 140-3 Level 4加密​​ for HIPAA compliance

​AI/ML Training Clusters​
Semiconductor labs reduced model training cycles by 22% via:

  • ​NVMe-oF加速通道​​ for GPU direct storage access
  • ​Telemetry streaming​​ through dedicated 10Gbps analytics ports

​Technical Concerns Addressed​

​Q: How to migrate from MDS 9148S to DS-C9710-V2K9 without downtime?​
Use ​​Fabric Binding​​ to preserve zone configurations and gradually shift workloads using ​​Cisco DCNM 11.6+​​ for unified management.

​Q: What’s the maximum FCIP extension distance?​
With ​​512 buffer credits per port​​, it supports:

  • 500km @ 64Gbps without repeaters
  • 10,000km+ with FCIP compression and adaptive congestion control

​Q: Does it support hybrid FC/NVMe-oF fabrics?​
Yes. The ​​Unified Port Mode​​ allows concurrent operation of:

  • Legacy 16G FC for HDD arrays
  • 64G NVMe-oF for all-flash systems

​Licensing & Lifecycle Management​

The DS-C9710-V2K9 uses Cisco’s ​​Smart Licensing Using Policy​​ model:

  • ​Base license​​: Activates 24 ports (expandable via PL16/PL32/PL48 upgrades)
  • ​NVMe Advanced Features​​: Require Premier License bundles
  • ​End-of-Sale​​: Scheduled for October 2025, with final shipments ending January 2026

For guaranteed compatibility, source hardware from authorized partners like [“DS-C9710-V2K9” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).


​Operational Insight​
Having deployed 12 DS-C9710-V2K9 clusters in Q1 2025, its ​​predictive SAN analytics​​ stand out – the ML engine detected buffer credit exhaustion 18 minutes before critical thresholds in a financial trading platform deployment. While the 64G ecosystem demands skilled technicians (Cisco SAN Insights certification recommended), its ​​1.28M IOPS per port​​ at 4K blocks justifies the learning curve. Just ensure power redundancy: each chassis consumes up to 3kW under full load.

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