Cisco MDS 9000 SAN DS-C9124-K9 Cisco MDS Fibre Channel storage switch

Brand: Cisco | Category: Network Switches

SKU: CSC-DS-C9124-K9 | Part #: DS-C9124-K9 | MPN: DS-C9124-K9

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At 48 Gbps of switching fabric bandwidth and a forwarding rate capable of sustaining line-rate performance across all 24 ports simultaneously, the Cisco MDS 9124 (part number DS-C9124-K9) sits at the intersection of density and reliability that storage architects demand when consolidating SAN infrastructure. This 1RU fixed-configuration switch processes traffic without bottlenecking, a critical requirement in environments where storage I/O saturation directly impacts application latency and backup window compliance. The DS-C9124-K9 achieves this through a non-blocking fabric architecture—every port pair can communicate at full speed without contention, meaning a storage team deploying this Cisco switch can rely on predictable, deterministic performance even during peak data centre operations.

The port configuration reflects practical reality in modern data centres. Twenty-four SFP-based Fibre Channel ports support auto-sensing across 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, and 4 Gbps speeds, allowing heterogeneous SAN environments to coexist on the same fabric without requiring separate switching tiers. Enterprise organisations with legacy 2 Gbps arrays running alongside newer 4 Gbps infrastructure find the DS-C9124-K9's port-level speed negotiation invaluable—there is no forced upgrade cycle, no stranded hardware. Storage engineers typically make the purchasing decision for a switch like this one, often working in concert with the network team to ensure fabric integration aligns with existing VSAN segmentation and zoning policies. Cisco's NX-OS operating system underpins the entire feature set, delivering the same CLI syntax and management paradigm that teams already know from other Cisco MDS platforms, reducing operational friction during deployment.

Virtual SAN (VSAN) capability extends beyond simple logical separation. The Cisco MDS 9124 supports up to 256 VSANs per switch, with hardware-enforced zoning available for each VSAN independently—a distinction that matters because hardware-enforced zoning prevents accidental cross-fabric connectivity at line rate, whereas soft zoning relies on end-device compliance. Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR) is supported on the DS-C9124-K9, enabling controlled traffic flows between isolated SANs without full fabric merge, useful for multi-tenant environments, disaster recovery topologies, and departmental storage isolation. Cisco Fabric Services (CFS) provides distributed configuration management across switch clusters, meaning changes to zoning rules, VSAN maps, or device aliases propagate consistently without manual intervention on each switch. Combined with SNMPv3 monitoring and integration with Cisco Data Centre Network Manager (DCNM), the platform delivers visibility and control that aligns with modern data centre operations, where configuration drift and unknown fabric states are treated as compliance risks.

Redundancy and availability features are embedded, not bolted on. The internal AC power supply is supplemented by optional redundant power module support, critical in data centres where power loss translates to storage unavailability. Out-of-band management via a dedicated 10/100 Ethernet port and RS-232 console access ensures that fabric troubleshooting continues even if the production SAN becomes congested or unresponsive. The operating temperature range of 0°C to 40°C aligns with standard data centre conditions, and the 1U form factor means the DS-C9124-K9 occupies minimal rack real estate—a factor that network planners value when space and power budgets are constrained. Compliance with Fibre Channel standards (FC-SW-2, FC-GS-4, FC-MI) and ANSI T11 ensures interoperability with third-party SAN equipment, so organisations are not locked into an all-Cisco fabric architecture if their workload requirements evolve.

Omnixon Global stocks the Cisco MDS 9124 (DS-C9124-K9) for immediate deployment across the UAE, GCC region, and beyond. Whether you are consolidating aging SAN infrastructure, expanding fabric capacity for AI training clusters, or building redundancy into a new data centre, our team has the inventory depth and technical expertise to support your deployment. Contact us for a detailed RFQ tailored to your fabric topology, port speed requirements, and redundancy expectations.

Fibre Channel Fabric Specifications

• 48 Gbps switching fabric bandwidth supporting non-blocking, line-rate forwarding across all 24 ports
• Twenty-four SFP-based Fibre Channel ports with auto-negotiating 1/2/4 Gbps per-port speed selection
• Up to 256 Virtual SANs (VSANs) with hardware-enforced zoning, soft zoning, and Inter-VSAN Routing (IVR)
• Cisco NX-OS operating system with CLI, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, DCNM integration, and XML/HTTPS API support
• Optional redundant power module and out-of-band management via dedicated Ethernet and RS-232 console ports
• 1U fixed-configuration rack mount with standard operating temperature of 0°C to 40°C
• Full compliance with Fibre Channel standards (FC-SW-2, FC-GS-4, FC-MI) and ANSI T11 specifications