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DS-C9396S-48EK9
Cisco DS-C9396S-48EK9 MDS 9396S 48-Port 16G Fiber Channel Sw...
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DS-C9396S-48EK9 is a managed storage fabric switch with 48 activated 16G Fiber Channel ports in a fixed 96-port chassis. Port-side exhaust moves cooling air toward the connector side, making airflow direction part of the configuration choice. The MDS 9396S occupies two rack units and supports standalone SANs, redundant fabrics, and enterprise data center core-edge connections. Fiber Channel ports provide host, target, and inter-switch connectivity rather than separate Ethernet access and uplink banks. The discontinued DS-C9396S-48IK9 differs by using port-side intake airflow. NX-OS supplies the operating environment within the Cisco MDS 9000 Family.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 price for new stock is $1,234.79, a 92.1% saving from the Cisco list price of $15,600.00. DS-C9396S-48EK9 refurb price is $738.05. DS-C9396S-48EK9 is in stock and available for next-day dispatch. (terms applied)
Request bulk order quote for DS-C9396S-48EK9 for additional pricing. Browse the full Cisco MDS 9300 Switches series or explore all Cisco products.
700W maximum consumption applies to the base configuration at full 16G traffic load and 25°C; a fully populated configuration reaches 800W, so expansion affects electrical sizing. 500 buffer-to-buffer credits per port are available without Enterprise licensing, while M9300ENT1K9= raises the allowance to 4095. Inter-VSAN Routing also requires that optional Enterprise package rather than the base configuration. DS-C9396S-48EK9 supports CLI access through its serial console and Ethernet management interface, with SSHv2, SNMPv3, and Cisco Prime DCNM management. PortChannels aggregate as many as 16 physical inter-switch links into one logical connection; this is fabric connectivity, not chassis stacking.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 is offered new sealed or certified refurbished, with ORM warranty coverage of up to 3-year extended for new units and up to 1 year for certified refurbished units. Refurbished units are inspected and bench-tested, including optics bay recognition, with firmware verified and configuration wiped to factory default. State the required condition and quantity on the purchase order; returns are available for 30 days on every condition, with terms applying. For enterprise and volume orders, POs are accepted, Net-30 is available for government, and RMA includes advance replacement, with regional stock and RMA across the UK, EU, US, and MEA.
| Key Specs | Key Spec Values |
|---|---|
Operating System | NX-OS |
Port Configuration | 48 active 16G Fiber Channel ports; 96 physical ports |
Max Power Draw | 800W fully populated; 700W base configuration |
Cooling | 2 fan modules; port-side exhaust |
Lifecycle Status | End of sale June 10, 2022. |
Replacement PID | DS-C9396T-48EK9. |
An existing fabric approaching its activated-port limit can use intermediate configurations of 60, 72, or 84 enabled ports. M9396S-PL12= adds activation in 12-port increments, but spare upgrade licenses reached end of sale on August 2, 2024. Confirm available entitlements and expansion inventory before specifying the purchase order.
A spare for an installed exhaust-airflow fabric needs matching cooling components, not merely the same chassis designation. Mixing DS-C96S-FAN-E and DS-C96S-FAN-I causes immediate power-down. Specify an exhaust-compatible assembly and verify the installed fan and power supply configuration before placing the spare into the purchase order.
32G Fiber Channel connections
DS-C9396S-48EK9 stops at 16G Fiber Channel. DS-C9396T-48EK9 is the 32G replacement, retaining 48 activated ports in a 96-port chassis with port-side exhaust airflow.
Cisco support beyond June 2027
Cisco support for DS-C9396S-48EK9 ends June 30, 2027. DS-C9396T-48EK9 is the current replacement; specify its required service entitlement separately rather than carrying forward the older switch's coverage.
Native Ethernet endpoint switching
DS-C9396S-48EK9 supplies Fiber Channel storage connections. Its Ethernet interface serves out-of-band management rather than Ethernet host access, so it cannot replace an Ethernet access switch.
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| DS-C9396S-48EK9 |  DS-C9396S-96EK9 |  DS-C9396S-48IK9 |  DS-C9222I-K9 |  DS-C9216I-K9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 565.9 mm | 565.9 mm | 565.9 mm | 575.6 mm | 574.56 mm |
| Form Factor | Rack-Mount 2U | Rack-Mount 2U | Rack-Mount 2U | Modular | Modular |
| Height | 86.4 mm | 86.4 mm | 86.4 mm | 133.4 mm | 133.4 mm |
| Manufacturer Part Number | DS-C9396S-48EK9 | DS-C9396S-96EK9 | DS-C9396S-48IK9 | DS-C9222I-K9 | DS-C9216I-K9 |
| Weight | 17.8 kg. | 17.8 kg | 17.8 kg | 28.2 kg | 32 kg |
| Width | 442.5 mm | 442.5 mm | 442.5 mm | 439.9 mm | 439.9 mm |
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Every device is inspected, bench-tested, and firmware-verified, with configurations wiped before dispatch. Additional testing can be arranged to confirm full working condition on request.
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DS-C9396S-48EK9 identifies an MDS 9396S 16G Fiber Channel switch with 48 activated ports and port-side exhaust airflow. The model segment identifies the switch, 48 identifies the enabled-port configuration, and E distinguishes exhaust airflow. The configuration does not include the bundled transceivers supplied with optics-bundle variants.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 is managed through the CLI using the serial console or Ethernet interface, including SSHv2, and through Cisco Prime DCNM. SNMPv3 supports Ethernet and in-band IP-over-Fiber-Channel access, while SMI-S provides another management interface. These management connections are separate from the switch's storage-facing Fiber Channel links.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 reached end of sale on June 10, 2022, and its last date of Cisco support is June 30, 2027. Security support ended June 9, 2025, and service-contract renewals ended September 5, 2026. DS-C9396T-48EK9 is the named replacement with 32G Fiber Channel capability.
ORM Systems offers DS-C9396S-48EK9 new sealed or certified refurbished, with up to 3-year extended coverage for new units and up to 1 year for refurbished units. Returns are available for 30 days in either condition; terms apply. Cisco's separate 1-year hardware warranty is entitlement-dependent, and Cisco support ends June 30, 2027.
The MDS 9396S supports separate port-activation, Enterprise, and advanced-management licenses rather than a Network Essentials or Network Advantage tier. M9396S-PL12= activates additional ports, and M9396S-PL12-SL= is the Smart license variant. M9300ENT1K9= adds Enterprise features; DCNM-SAN-M93-K9= adds advanced management. Traditional spare licenses require license-file installation using a product authorization key.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 is the base switch configuration without bundled Fiber Channel transceivers. DS-SFP-FC16G-SW= provides a compatible short-wave 4/8/16G option, while DS-SFP-FC16G-LW= provides a long-wave option. Specify the appropriate optics separately and match the wavelength and media requirements at both ends of each connection.
The MDS 9396S ships with two redundant power supplies, but power-grid redundancy requires 180-264V AC input. Separate power sources are needed for grid redundancy, and both supplies must remain installed for supported continuous operation. The presence of two supplies alone does not establish independent upstream power paths.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 can activate additional ports in 12-port increments, reaching 96 enabled ports through M9396S-PL12= entitlements. Intermediate configurations are 60, 72, and 84 ports. Spare port-upgrade licenses reached end of sale on August 2, 2024, so expansion requires confirmed entitlement availability rather than assuming a new license can be ordered.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 uses port-side exhaust airflow, whereas DS-C9396S-48IK9 uses port-side intake airflow. Both configurations provide 48 activated 16G Fiber Channel ports and are discontinued. Exhaust suits an existing exhaust-oriented installation; intake suits an intake-oriented installation. Their current replacements are DS-C9396T-48EK9 and DS-C9396T-48IK9 respectively.
DS-C9396S-48EK9 starts with 48 activated ports, while DS-C9396S-96EK9 starts with 96 activated ports. The difference is enabled-port quantity rather than physical chassis density. Both models are discontinued. The 48-port configuration suits lower initial connection counts; the 96-port configuration suits installations requiring every physical port enabled from the outset.
DS-C9396T-48EK9 supports 32G Fiber Channel where DS-C9396S-48EK9 supports 16G, and both configurations have 48 activated ports. DS-C9396S-48EK9 is discontinued, with Cisco support ending June 30, 2027. Existing 16G installations may require matching spares; buyers specifying 32G connections should use the current DS-C9396T-48EK9 replacement.
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