Description
Product Overview of Cisco MDS 9148 Fabric Switch
The Cisco DS-C9148-16P-K9, also known as the MDS 9148 Multilayer Fabric Switch, is a powerful and versatile network switch designed for storage area networks (SANs). With 16 ports supporting 8Gb Fibre Channel technology, this switch is a critical component for efficient and reliable data storage and retrieval.
Purpose of a Multilayer Fabric Switch
A multilayer fabric switch, like the MDS 9148, serves as a central hub for connecting storage devices within a network. Its primary purpose is to enable seamless communication between servers and storage systems, providing a high-speed and reliable infrastructure for data transfer.
Understanding the Technical SpecificationsPort Configuration
- 16 Ports: The MDS 9148 comes equipped with 16 ports, facilitating the connection of multiple devices within the storage network.
- 8Gb Fibre Channel: Each of these ports supports 8 Gigabits per second (Gb) Fibre Channel technology, ensuring fast and efficient data transfer.
Cisco DS-C9148-16P-K9 Model
- Model Designation: The DS-C9148-16P-K9 model designation is specific to this switch, outlining its unique features and capabilities within the Cisco MDS series.
Importance of Fibre Channel in Storage NetworksHigh-Speed Data Transfer
- Fibre Channel technology ensures high-speed data transfer between storage devices, reducing latency and enhancing overall network performance.
Scalability and Bandwidth
- With 8Gb speeds, Fibre Channel provides the necessary scalability and bandwidth to accommodate the increasing demands of data-intensive applications.
Reliability
- Fibre Channel is known for its reliability, making it a preferred choice for storage networks where data integrity and accessibility are paramount.
Application in Storage Area Networks (SANs)Integration into SANs
- The MDS 9148 switch is designed specifically for integration into Storage Area Networks (SANs), providing a robust foundation for storage infrastructure.
Connectivity for Storage Devices
- It serves as the central connectivity point for storage devices such as disk arrays, ensuring seamless communication with servers.
Features and CapabilitiesMultilayer Functionality
- The “Multilayer” designation indicates the switch’s ability to operate at different layers of the network stack, optimizing data flow and management.
Fabric Switching
- As a fabric switch, it uses a fabric-based topology, efficiently handling data traffic and ensuring reliable connectivity.
Port Expansion
- With 16 ports, the MDS 9148 allows for the expansion of storage connectivity, accommodating the growth of storage infrastructure.
Benefits of Cisco DS-C9148-16P-K9 MDS 9148 SwitchImproved Network Performance
- The switch’s 8Gb Fibre Channel ports contribute to enhanced network performance, supporting faster data transfers and reducing latency.
Scalability
- With 16 ports, the switch provides scalability for expanding storage networks, accommodating additional devices and storage capacity.
Reliability and Redundancy
- Cisco switches are known for their reliability, and the MDS 9148 includes features for redundancy, ensuring continuous operation even in the event of component failures.
Advanced Security Features of Fibre Channel Switch
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch is designed to provide advanced security features for high-performance data center networks. The switch supports Fibre Channel security protocols, including FC-SP, which provides secure zoning and access control, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data.
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch also supports secure authentication and encryption protocols, such as Secure Fibre Channel (FC-SEC) and FCIP, which provide end-to-end protection of data in transit. These protocols help to prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data from cyber threats such as eavesdropping, tampering, and hacking.
The switch also supports advanced threat mitigation techniques, such as in-band and out-of-band access control, which help to prevent malicious activities such as denial-of-service attacks. The switch is equipped with hardware-based security features, such as the Security Access Module (SAM), which provides enhanced security for key management and access control.
In addition, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch is designed to meet the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), providing a secure and reliable platform for data center networks. The switch also supports the implementation of Access Control Lists (ACLs), which can be used to restrict network access based on specific criteria, such as source IP address, destination IP address, and port number.
In conclusion, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch provides advanced security features for high-performance data center networks. With its support for Fibre Channel security protocols, secure authentication and encryption, and hardware-based security features, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 helps to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data, making it an ideal solution for data center networks requiring advanced security features.
Advanced Switching Capabilities
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch is designed to provide advanced switching capabilities for high-performance data center networks. The switch supports Fibre Channel protocols, including Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), which allows for the consolidation of storage and network traffic onto a single 10Gbps Ethernet network, reducing the number of cables and switches required in the data center.
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch also supports virtualization technologies, such as Virtual SAN (VSAN), which enables multiple storage networks to be consolidated onto a single physical fabric, improving data center efficiency and reducing management overhead. The switch also supports advanced virtual machine (VM) mobility technologies, such as Fabric Path, which enables VMs to be moved between physical servers with no disruption to network connectivity.
The switch also supports advanced management capabilities, including Cisco Fabric Manager, which provides a centralized management solution for Fibre Channel fabrics. The switch also supports the use of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which enables network administrators to monitor and manage the switch remotely.
In addition, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch is designed for high availability, providing redundancy and failover capabilities to ensure the continuous availability of critical applications and services. The switch supports the use of multiple fabrics and redundant switches, which can be used to provide increased network resiliency and minimize downtime in the event of a switch failure.
In conclusion, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch provides advanced switching capabilities for high-performance data center networks. With its support for Fibre Channel protocols, virtualization technologies, advanced management, and high availability features, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 helps to improve data center efficiency, reduce management overhead, and ensure the availability of critical applications and services.
High Availability and Redundancy Options
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch is designed to provide high availability and redundancy options for high-performance data center networks. The switch supports the use of redundant switches, which can be used to provide increased network resiliency and minimize downtime in the event of a switch failure.
The DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch supports the use of multiple fabrics, which can be used to provide additional redundancy and ensure the continuous availability of critical applications and services. The switch also supports advanced failover technologies, such as Fabric Failover, which enables automatic switchover in the event of a switch failure, ensuring that critical applications and services continue to be available.
The switch also supports the use of redundant power supplies, which can be used to provide additional power redundancy and ensure the continuous availability of critical applications and services. The switch also supports advanced power management features, such as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), which helps to reduce power consumption and lower energy costs.
In addition, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 switch is designed for ease of use, with a user-friendly interface and a simple setup process. The switch also supports advanced monitoring and management capabilities, including Cisco Fabric Manager, which provides a centralized management solution for Fibre Channel fabrics.
In conclusion, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 Cisco 16 Ports Fibre Channel Switch provides high availability and redundancy options for high-performance data center networks. With its support for redundant switches, multiple fabrics, advanced failover technologies, redundant power supplies, and advanced monitoring and management capabilities, the DS-C9148-16P-K9 helps to ensure the continuous availability of critical applications and services and reduce downtime in the event of a switch failure.
General Information about this Cisco DS-C9148-16P-K9
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# DS-C9148-16P-K9
- Product Series: MDS 9100
- Product Model: MDS 9148
- Product Name: MDS 9148 Multilayer Fibre Channel Switch
- Product Type: Fibre Channel Switch
Interfaces/Ports
- Number of Fibre Channel Ports: 16
- Fiber Channel Port Type: E_Port
- Fiber Channel Port Type: FL_Port
- Fiber Channel Port Type: F_Port
- Management Port: Yes
Media & Performance
- Data Transfer Rate: 8.48 Gbit/s
I/O Expansions
- Expansion Slot Type: SFP+
Management & Protocols
- Manageable: Yes
Power Description
- Redundant Power Supply: Yes
In summary, the Cisco DS-C9148-16P-K9 MDS 9148 Multilayer Fabric Switch is a vital component in Storage Area Networks, offering efficient and reliable connectivity with its 16 8Gb Fibre Channel ports. Its role in enabling high-speed data transfer, scalability, and ensuring a robust SAN environment makes it a valuable asset for organizations managing complex storage infrastructures.





