Dell Connectrix MDS-9706
The Dell Connectrix MDS-9706 is a 9U 6-slot modular multilayer director based on the Cisco MDS 9706 platform. Engineered for mission-critical enterprise core SANs, it provides hitless supervisor failover, crossbar fabric module redundancy, and seamless module upgrades from 16Gb and 32Gb to 64Gb Fibre Channel, delivering uninterrupted storage availability.
Also written as: Connectrix MDS-9706, Dell MDS-9706, Cisco MDS 9706 6-Slot Director
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | Connectrix |
| Form factor | 9U director chassis |
| Released | Jun 2014 |
| Slot count | 6 slots (4 switching module slots + 2 Supervisor module slots) in a 9U chassis |
| Port count | Up to 192 Fibre Channel ports (supporting 16Gb, 32Gb, and 64Gb switching modules) |
| Switching bandwidth | Up to 12.288 Tbps aggregate front-panel bandwidth |
| Operating system | Cisco NX-OS Software for MDS 9000 Director Series |
| Power supply | Up to 3 redundant hot-plug power supplies with dual redundant fan trays |
Compatible parts
HBAs
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
Transceivers
407-BCBI Dell 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
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-9706 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 R220 1U rack
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
Adapters for the server
540-BDLM Dell Emulex LPe36002 Dual Port 64Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
4XC7A77485 ThinkSystem Emulex LPe36002 64Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter
UCSC-PCIE-BD16GF Cisco Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16G Fibre Channel HBA
UCSC-PCIE-BD32GF Cisco Broadcom LPe32002 Dual-Port 32G FC HBA
Storage
Dell PowerVault MD3800i 2U rack
Dell Compellent SC4020 2U rack
Dell PowerVault MD3600i 2U rack
Dell PowerMax 2500 4U multi-node rack
Dell PowerMax 8500 system bay multi-enclosure
HPE StoreEver MSL2024 Tape Library 2U rack tape library
Optics
57-1000495-01 Brocade 64G FC SFP+ SWL
DS-SFP-FC64G-SW Cisco 64Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP56 Transceiver
57-1000114-01 Brocade 10G FC SFP+ SWL
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-9706.
- 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-9706: what to check
Examine dual Supervisor-4 or Supervisor-1 modules, test fabric module redundancy across rear slots, inspect 48-port switching line cards, and confirm chassis power supplies.
FAQ
Can the MDS-9706 support 64Gb FC line cards?
Yes, with Gen 4 Fabric Modules and Supervisor-4 modules, the MDS-9706 fully supports 64Gb 48-port switching blades.
Does the MDS-9706 support FICON for mainframe environments?
Yes, with Cisco Enterprise Package and FICON licenses, the director concurrently serves mainframe and open-systems hosts.
Buying or selling Connectrix MDS-9706?
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
- Dell Connectrix Director Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27