What Is the Cisco 8818-FC-5PACK=? Bulk Licensing, Use Cases, and Cost Benefits

Defining the Cisco 8818-FC-5PACK=

The ​​Cisco 8818-FC-5PACK=​​ is a ​​bulk licensing and hardware bundle​​ tailored for enterprises deploying multiple 8Gbps Fibre Channel (FC) modules in Cisco MDS 9000 Series switches. The “5PACK” designation indicates it includes ​​five identical 8818-FC= transceivers​​ along with centralized licensing, streamlining procurement for large-scale SAN (Storage Area Network) expansions.

Core Components and Licensing Structure

• ​​Hardware​​: Five hot-swappable SFP+ modules, each supporting 8.5Gbps FC/FCoE.
• ​​Software Licenses​​: A single activation key for ​​Cisco DCNM (Data Center Network Manager)​​ to manage all five ports collectively.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Exclusively pairs with Cisco MDS 9148S, 9250i, and 9396T switches.
• ​​Warranty​​: Unified 90-day Cisco hardware warranty for the entire bundle.

Advantages Over Single-Module Purchases

​​Cost Savings​​: Bundling reduces per-port costs by ~15–20% compared to buying five individual modules.
​​Simplified Deployment​​: Pre-validated compatibility eliminates firmware mismatches across modules.
​​Centralized Management​​: DCNM integration allows bulk configuration of QoS, zoning, and diagnostics.

Key Deployment Scenarios

• ​​Data Center Expansions​​: Rapidly equip multiple switches during facility rollouts.
• ​​Multi-Tenant SANs​​: Allocate dedicated FC ports for separate client workloads.
• ​​High-Availability Clusters​​: Deploy redundant links across geographically dispersed nodes.

Addressing Buyer Concerns

​​Q​​: Can licenses be split across different switches?
​​A​​: No—the DCNM license applies to a single chassis, but hardware modules can be distributed.

​​Q​​: Is the 8818-FC-5PACK= backward-compatible with 4G FC switches?
​​A​​: Yes, but speeds auto-negotiate to 4Gbps on older platforms like MDS 9124.

For verified bundles, [“8818-FC-5PACK=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers certified refurbished kits with full license validation.

Evaluating the Bundle’s ROI

While the 8818-FC-5PACK= lacks support for modern 16G/32G FC speeds, its cost efficiency and simplified logistics make it ideal for enterprises scaling legacy 8G infrastructures. For teams managing 50+ ports, the bulk licensing alone justifies the investment—though future-proofing plans should weigh against Cisco’s newer 16G bundles.