Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S

Name: Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S
Brand: Dell

End of supportNetwork1U switch

The Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S is an entry-to-midrange 1U 16Gb Fibre Channel switch based on the Cisco MDS 9148S platform. Featuring flexible pay-as-you-grow port licensing from 12 up to 48 ports, the MDS-9148S provides high-availability dual power supplies, Virtual SAN (VSAN) fabric isolation, and enterprise Cisco NX-OS management for cost-conscious SAN environments.

Also written as: Connectrix MDS-9148S, Dell MDS-9148S, Cisco MDS 9148S 16Gb FC Switch

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Specifications

Brand	Dell
Family	Connectrix
Form factor	1U switch
Released	Jun 2014
End of sale	Jan 2019
End of support	Jan 2024
Port count	Up to 48 Fibre Channel ports (base 12 ports expandable to 48 ports in 12-port increments)
Port speeds	Auto-sensing 2, 4, 8, and 16Gb/s Fibre Channel speeds
Switching bandwidth	768 Gbps aggregate bandwidth with line-rate non-blocking switching
Operating system	Cisco NX-OS Software for MDS 9000 Series
Power supply	Dual redundant hot-plug power supplies with hot-swappable fan modules

Generations

Next generation: Dell Connectrix MDS-9132T

Compatible parts

Network adapters

540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter

OCP adapters

540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter

Transceivers

407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)

Rail kits

770-BCKW Dell ReadyRails II Sliding Rails for 2U PowerEdge Servers (B6)

Works together

How the Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.

Fibre Channel SAN

Serverwith an FC HBAFC switchtwo fabrics, A and BStorage arrayFC host ports

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

Adapters for the server

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
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter

Storage

Optics

407-BBOG Dell 16Gb Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
407-BCBI Dell 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16G FC SFP+ ELWL 25 km

Fibre Channel SAN: how it fits together

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
Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com

Check compatibility with Dell

Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Dell has tested with the Dell Connectrix MDS-9148S.

Compatibility Dell E-Lab Navigator (storage and SAN interoperability) (free vendor sign-in)
Support Dell Support: drivers, manuals and service tag lookup

Equivalent models from other brands

Buying a used Connectrix MDS-9148S: what to check

Verify activated port count via Cisco CLI, check 16Gb SFP+ optical transceivers, confirm dual power supplies and fan trays, and verify admin password reset functionality.

FAQ

Can the MDS-9148S connect to older 8Gb or 4Gb storage arrays?

Yes, its 16Gb SFP+ ports automatically negotiate down to 8Gb, 4Gb, or 2Gb speeds.

What management tools are used for the MDS-9148S?

Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), Cisco NX-OS command-line interface, and SNMP/REST APIs.

Buying or selling Connectrix 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.

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Sources

Dell Connectrix MDS Series Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27