Product Summary:
The Cisco DS-C9396S-48ESK9 is a high-performance, 48-port 16-Gbps Fibre Channel switch from the MDS 9300 Series. Designed for enterprise SAN deployments, it provides reliable, scalable, and secure connectivity with pay-as-you-grow licensing to expand up to 96 ports.
Product Description:
The Cisco DS-C9396S-48ESK9 switch offers a robust solution for data centers requiring high-density Fibre Channel connectivity. With 48 pre-activated ports and the ability to scale to 96, it supports speeds from 2 Gbps up to 16 Gbps, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of storage devices.
Its 2RU chassis includes hot-swappable redundant power supplies and fans for high availability. The switch supports advanced SAN features such as virtual SANs (VSANs), NPIV, zoning, slow-drain detection, and integrated telemetry. It is fully manageable via Cisco NX-OS, CLI, SNMP, and Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), enabling centralized monitoring and management.
Key Features:
48 active ports with scalability up to 96 ports
Supports 2/4/8/10/16 Gbps Fibre Channel speeds
Hot-swappable dual redundant power supplies and fan trays
Port-side exhaust airflow for flexible cooling
Integrated SAN analytics and diagnostics
Advanced SAN features including VSANs, NPIV, and zoning
Centralized management via Cisco DCNM
Product Specifications Table:
| Specification | Details |
| Product Code | DS-C9396S-48ESK9 |
| Series | Cisco MDS 9300 Series |
| Chassis Height | 2RU (3.4 inches / 8.6 cm) |
| Port Count | 96 ports maximum (48 enabled by license) |
| Port Speeds | 2/4/8/10/16 Gbps auto-negotiation |
| Switching Capacity | Line-rate per port; total fabric bandwidth up to 1.536 Tbps |
| Buffer Credits | 512 |
| Redundancy | Dual hot-swappable AC power supplies and fans |
| Airflow Direction | Port-side exhaust |
| Management | Cisco NX-OS CLI, SNMP, Cisco DCNM |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 3.4 x 17.4 x 22.3 inches (8.6 x 44.2 x 56.7 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 23 lbs (10.4 kg) fully loaded |
Similar Models Comparison Table:
| Model | Active Ports | Max Ports | Port Speed | Key Difference |
| DS-C9396S-48ESK9 | 48 | 96 | 2/4/8/10/16 Gbps | Base 48-port licensed model |
| DS-C9396S-96K9 | 96 | 96 | 2/4/8/10/16 Gbps | Fully licensed 96-port configuration |
| DS-C9396S-24PK9 | 24 | 96 | 2/4/8/10/16 Gbps | Entry-level 24-port licensed variant |
| DS-C9392T-24K9 | 24 | 24 | 8/16 Gbps | 1RU 32 Gbps-capable switch |
| DS-C93108-48K9 | 48 | 48 | 8 Gbps | Previous generation MDS 9300 fixed-port model |
