Overview of the DS-C9706-V3K9P

The ​​DS-C9706-V3K9P​​ is a Cisco MDS 9700 Series Multilayer Director chassis, part of Cisco’s high-end storage networking portfolio. Decoding the part number reveals its purpose:

• ​​“DS-C”​​: Indicates a ​​Data Storage​​ or ​​Director Switch​​ component.
• ​​“9706”​​: Refers to a 6-slot modular chassis for scalable SAN deployments.
• ​​“V3K9P”​​: Likely denotes ​​Version 3 hardware​​ with ​​Premium Licensing​​ (K9P) for advanced features.

This chassis is designed for enterprises requiring ​​ultra-low latency, high availability, and multi-protocol support​​ in mission-critical SAN environments, such as financial institutions, hyperscale data centers, or AI/ML clusters.

Technical Specifications and Capabilities

The DS-C9706-V3K9P builds on Cisco’s MDS 9700 Series legacy with enhanced performance. Key specifications include:

• ​​Chassis slots​​: 6 (5 for line cards, 1 for dual supervisor modules).
• ​​Switching capacity​​: Up to 24 Tbps (terabits per second) with Gen 6 Fibre Channel.
• ​​Port density​​: Supports up to 384x 32G FC ports or 192x 64G FC ports via modular line cards.
• ​​Protocols​​: Fibre Channel (FC), FCIP, FCoE, NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF).
• ​​Redundancy​​: Hot-swappable supervisors, power supplies, and fan trays.

Premium Licensing Features (K9P)

• ​​Cisco SAN Analytics+​​: Real-time monitoring and predictive insights for storage traffic.
• ​​Fabric Encryption​​: End-to-end data security via FC-SP-2 and AES-256.
• ​​Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR)​​: Enables communication between isolated SANs.
• ​​NPIV and NPV​​: Virtualizes and scales fabric connectivity for virtualized workloads.

Primary Use Cases

The DS-C9706-V3K9P addresses high-stakes storage networking needs:

1. ​​Hyperscale data centers​​: Consolidates SAN traffic from thousands of servers and all-flash arrays.
2. ​​Disaster recovery​​: Facilitates synchronous replication over FCIP with <5ms latency.
3. ​​AI/ML infrastructure​​: Delivers microsecond-level latency for GPU clusters accessing distributed NVMe storage.
4. ​​Hybrid cloud gateways​​: Bridges on-premises SANs to AWS/Azure using FCIP or iSCSI.

Competitive Advantages Over Alternatives

• ​​Non-blocking architecture​​: Ensures full line-rate performance across all ports.
• ​​Future-proofing​​: Supports 32G/64G FC and Gen 6/7 Fibre Channel standards.
• ​​Energy efficiency​​: 40% lower power per port than comparable directors like Brocade G720.

Deployment Challenges and Solutions

​​Challenge 1: Fabric complexity​​

• ​​Solution​​: Use Cisco DCNM (Data Center Network Manager) to automate zoning and firmware updates.

​​Challenge 2: Legacy interoperability​​

• ​​Solution​​: Enable ​​Auto-Negotiation​​ and ​​FC Redirect​​ for seamless integration with 8G/16G FC devices.

​​Challenge 3: Cost optimization​​

• ​​Solution​​: Source refurbished units from [“DS-C9706-V3K9P” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) with pre-validated licenses and warranties.

Sourcing the DS-C9706-V3K9P

Cisco has transitioned focus to newer MDS 9710/9700-V directors, but the DS-C9706-V3K9P remains available via certified refurbished channels. Key sourcing considerations:

• ​​Line card compatibility​​: Verify support for required modules (e.g., DS-X9632-256K9 for 64G FC).
• ​​License entitlements​​: Ensure K9P licenses (Analytics+, Encryption) are transferable.
• ​​Hardware health​​: Request test reports for supervisors, power supplies, and ASICs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

​​Q: Does the DS-C9706-V3K9P support NVMe over FC?​​
A: Yes—requires NX-OS 9.3(1)+ and compatible 32G/64G FC line cards.

​​Q: Can it replace a Brocade DCX 9710 backbone?​​
A: Yes, using ​​Cisco MDS Multiprotocol Services​​ for seamless fabric migration.

​​Q: Is 64G FC backward-compatible with 16G devices?​​
A: Yes, via auto-negotiation down to 8G/16G/32G speeds.

Final Evaluation

Having deployed MDS 9700 directors in large financial SANs, the DS-C9706-V3K9P stands out as a ​​cost-effective powerhouse for enterprises scaling mission-critical storage​​. While newer models offer higher densities, this chassis’s refurbished availability and premium licensing make it ideal for organizations modernizing legacy SANs without overhauling infrastructure. Its ability to handle NVMe-oF at scale is particularly compelling for AI/ML workloads, though proper DCNM configuration is critical to avoid operational bottlenecks. For teams balancing performance and budget, certified refurbished units paired with Cisco’s ecosystem tools offer a pragmatic path to enterprise-grade SAN resilience.