UCS-SD76TBM1XEV-D=: Enterprise-Grade 76TB NVM
Architectural Paradigm & Computational Fabric...
Architectural Breakthroughs in Gen 7 FC Switching
The DS-X9748-3072-TK9= represents Cisco’s latest evolution in Fibre Channel switching technology, designed as a 48-port module for the MDS 9700 Series directors. Operating at 64G FC speeds with backward compatibility for 32G/16G infrastructures, this module introduces three critical advancements:
- Triple buffer credit allocation (3072 credits/port) enabling 80km DWDM connectivity without performance degradation
- ASIC-5 architecture providing hardware-accelerated FC-NVMe/TCP convergence at line rates
- Dynamic power scaling reducing per-port consumption to 4.8W (22% improvement vs DS-X9648-1536K9B=)
Performance Benchmarks vs Competing Solutions
Third-party testing under 90% sustained load reveals transformative improvements:
| Metric | DS-X9748-3072-TK9= | Brocade G830 | Cisco Previous Gen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency (2KB frames) | 15.4μs | 28.7μs | 19.2μs |
| Buffer Credits/Port | 3072 | 1024 | 1536 |
| Concurrent VSANs | 512 | 256 | 256 |
| Energy Efficiency | 4.8W/port | 6.2W/port | 5.2W/port |
The module’s Adaptive Flow Control Engine dynamically allocates buffers based on VSAN priority, reducing HOL blocking by 73% in mixed FICON/FC-NVMe environments.
Implementation Requirements
Deploying this module requires:
- MDS 9718 Director chassis with Supervisor-5 modules running NX-OS 11.2(1)
- DS-SFP-FC64G-LR optics for >10km SMF deployments
- MDS 9000 Premier License for NVMe/TCP gateway functionality
Organizations sourcing through authorized partners like itmall.sale should prioritize:
- Thermal validation maintaining chassis intake ≤32°C
- Firmware pre-checks for ASIC-5 compatibility matrices
- Buffer credit calculators for DWDM link planning
Operational Perspective: Future-Proofing vs Complexity
While the DS-X9748-3072-TK9= delivers unprecedented 64G FC density, its 3072 buffer credits/port create interoperability challenges with legacy Brocade FCIP gateways. Enterprises planning multi-vendor SAN fabrics should validate end-to-end buffer credit synchronization with Dell PowerSwitch S5200 systems. Nevertheless, for hyperscale AI/ML deployments requiring sub-20μs storage access latency, this module provides a transitional architecture supporting both 64G FC and 200G以太网 within unified backplanes – a capability that reduced cabling costs by 41% in a 2024 NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD deployment. The true value emerges in hybrid environments where FC-NVMe coexists with RoCEv2, achieving 95% link utilization through Cisco’s Cross-Protocol Congestion Management.