The Cisco MDS 9148S 48-Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Switch (DS-C9148S-48PK9) is a high-performance, enterprise-class SAN switch designed for small to medium-sized storage networks that demand low latency, high availability, and scalable Fibre Channel connectivity. As part of the trusted Cisco MDS 9000 Series, the MDS 9148S delivers advanced storage networking capabilities in a compact 1RU form factor.
Equipped with 48 fully licensed 16-Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ ports, the switch supports autosensing speeds of 2, 4, 8, and 16 Gbps, enabling seamless integration with existing SAN infrastructures while providing a clear upgrade path for higher-speed storage. With an aggregate bandwidth of 768 Gbps, sub-microsecond latency, and up to 8,000 buffer-to-buffer credits, the MDS 9148S ensures consistent performance for latency-sensitive, mission-critical workloads.
Running Cisco MDS NX-OS, the switch offers rich SAN features including hardware-based intelligent zoning, Virtual SANs (VSANs), NPIV and NPV for virtualization, and advanced diagnostics such as SFP monitoring, port tracking, and IO Accelerator. Support for FC, FCP, FICON, and FC-NVMe (via software upgrade) makes it future-ready for modern flash and NVMe-based storage environments.
Built for nonstop operations, the Cisco MDS 9148S includes dual hot-swappable AC or DC power supplies, redundant fan modules, and front-to-back airflow for efficient cooling. Strong security features - such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), RADIUS, and TACACS+ - help meet enterprise governance and compliance requirements.
Fully interoperable with Cisco MDS 9700 and 9300 Series, Cisco UCS, and third-party Fibre Channel storage systems, the Cisco MDS 9148S is an ideal solution for organizations seeking a reliable, scalable, and high-performance 16Gb Fibre Channel SAN switch.
Product Specifications – Cisco MDS 9148S 48-Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Switch (DS-C9148S-48PK9)
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| Category |
Specification Details |
| Product Name |
Cisco MDS 9148S |
| Model Number |
DS-C9148S-48PK9 |
| Product Series |
Cisco MDS 9000 Series |
| Product Type |
Fibre Channel SAN Switch |
| Target Deployment |
Small to Medium-Sized Enterprise SANs |
| Form Factor |
Fixed Configuration, Rack-Mountable |
| Rack Height |
1 Rack Unit (1RU) |
| Fibre Channel Ports |
48 × 16G Fibre Channel SFP+ |
| Port Speed Support |
2 / 4 / 8 / 16 Gbps (Auto-Sensing) |
| Port Licensing |
All 48 Ports Licensed |
| Console Port |
1 × RJ-45 |
| Management Port |
1 × 10/100/1000 Ethernet |
| USB Port |
1 × USB (Configuration & Image Management) |
| Aggregate Switching Bandwidth |
768 Gbps |
| Latency |
Sub-Microsecond |
| Buffer-to-Buffer Credits |
Up to 8,000 |
| Traffic Management |
Advanced Flow Control & Congestion Management |
| Operating System |
Cisco MDS NX-OS |
| Storage Protocols Supported |
FC, FCP, FICON |
| FC-NVMe Support |
Supported (Software Upgrade Dependent) |
| Zoning |
Hardware-Based Intelligent Zoning |
| Virtual SANs (VSANs) |
Supported |
| Security & Access Control |
RBAC, RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Diagnostics & Visibility |
SFP Diagnostics, Port Tracking, IO Accelerator |
| Virtualization Support |
NPIV, NPV |
| Management Tools |
Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) |
| Power Supplies |
Dual Redundant, Hot-Swappable |
| Power Supply Type |
AC or DC |
| Typical Power Consumption |
~100 W |
| Cooling System |
Redundant Fan Modules |
| Airflow Direction |
Front-to-Back |
| Operating Temperature |
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Storage Temperature |
−40°C to 70°C |
| Operating Humidity |
10% to 90% (Non-Condensing) |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) |
1.72 × 17.3 × 21.8 in (4.37 × 43.9 × 55.4 cm) |
| Weight |
Approx. 18 lbs (8.2 kg) |
| High Availability |
Redundant Power & Cooling |
| Interoperability |
Cisco MDS 9700, MDS 9300, Nexus Storage Switches |
| UCS Compatibility |
Cisco UCS Supported |
| Third-Party SAN Support |
Yes (Standards-Based Fibre Channel) |
| Use Case – SAN Edge/Core |
High-Performance 16G Fibre Channel Switching |
| Use Case – Virtualization |
Enterprise Virtualized Storage Fabrics |
| Use Case – Scalability |
Fully Licensed 48-Port SAN Expansion |
| Package Contents |
Switch Chassis (SFPs, Cables Sold Separately) |
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FAQs for DS-C9148S-48PK9:
Can the 48 ports operate at different Fibre Channel speeds?
Yes, each port supports autosensing at 2, 4, 8, or 16 Gbps depending on the SFP used.
Is this switch suitable for core or edge SAN deployments?
It's ideal for edge deployments or as a top-of-rack SAN switch in small and medium environments.
Does the switch support NVMe over Fibre Channel?
Yes, NVMe/FC is supported with a software upgrade and proper configuration.
Is it possible to license ports in stages?
Yes, you can purchase base and incremental port licenses for flexible scalability.
Can this be managed through Cisco DCNM?
Yes, the MDS 9148S is fully manageable via Cisco DCNM and NX-OS CLI.
