Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148S
The Cisco MDS 9148S is a 48-port 16-Gbps Fibre Channel SAN switch providing reliable, cost-effective storage connectivity for virtualized data center environments. Offering high availability, robust security features, and port expansion from 12 to 48 ports, it served as an industry standard departmental storage switch.
Specifications
| Brand | Cisco |
|---|---|
| Family | Cisco MDS 9000 Series |
| Form factor | 1U |
| Released | Jul 2014 |
| End of sale | Oct 2019 |
| End of support | Oct 2024 |
| Form factor | 1U rackmount |
| Ports | 48x 16Gb FC SFP+ (12, 24, 36, or 48 ports active) |
| Switching capacity | 768 Gb/s full duplex |
| Latency | Cut-through architecture |
Generations
- Next generation: Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148T
Compatible parts
Transceivers
DS-SFP-FC16G-SW Cisco 16Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP+ Transceiver
Works together
How the Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148S connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
Fibre Channel SAN
Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).
Servers
Dell PowerEdge R430 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R530 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R630 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730xd 2U rack
HPE ProLiant DL120 Gen9 1U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BBUU Dell Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BBUV Dell QLogic 2692 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BCMS Dell QLogic 2770 Single Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
Storage
HPE MSA 2060 2U rack
HPE StoreEver MSL2024 Tape Library 2U rack tape library
HPE MSA 1040 2U rack entry SAN
HPE MSA 2040 2U rack enterprise SAN
Dell Unity XT Unity 300 2U rack
Dell Unity XT Unity 400 2U rack
Optics
- DS-SFP-FC16G-SW Cisco 16Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP+ Transceiver
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16Gb Shortwave SFP+ Optical Transceiver
407-BBOG Dell 16Gb Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- SAN transport and NVMe over FC for backup mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with Cisco
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Cisco has tested with the Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148S.
- Compatibility Cisco interoperability page for the Cisco MDS 9000 Series MDS 9148S
- Compatibility Cisco UCS Hardware Compatibility List
- Compatibility Cisco Optics-to-Device Compatibility Matrix
- Support Cisco Support and Downloads
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
What port increments were available on the Cisco MDS 9148S?
The MDS 9148S scaled from a base of 12 ports up to 48 ports in 12-port increments via software Port-On-Demand licenses.
Is the Cisco MDS 9148S still supported by Cisco?
The MDS 9148S reached end-of-sale in 2019 and end-of-support in October 2024, widely available in refurbished channels.
Buying or selling MDS 9148S?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Cisco MDS 9148S 16G Multilayer Fabric Switch Data Sheet, checked 2026-10-27