Dell PowerEdge MX7116n
The PowerEdge MX7116n is a zero-latency Fabric Expander Module engineered for secondary MX7000 chassis. Acting as an unmanaged physical repeater, it transparently extends internal 25GbE server connections over QSFP28-DD cables directly into primary MX9116n fabric engines across the multi-chassis cluster.
Also written as: PowerEdge MX7116n, Dell MX7116n, MX7116n Fabric Expander
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | PowerEdge MX |
| Form factor | 1U fixed switch |
| Released | Sep 2018 |
| Internal ports | 16x 25GbE internal connections to blade sleds |
| Ports | 16x 25GbE internal links, 2x QSFP28-DD expander ports connecting to MX9116n |
| Switching capacity | Pass-through unmanaged repeater throughput |
Works together
How the Dell PowerEdge MX7116n connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 ways, with the parts and products on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Servers
Dell PowerEdge R240 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R340 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R840 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R940xa 4U rack
Dell PowerEdge R6515 1U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Storage
Dell Isilon F810 4U 4-node chassis
Dell PowerProtect DD6400 2U appliance
Dell PowerProtect DD6900 2U appliance + shelves
Dell PowerProtect DD9400 2U appliance + shelves
Dell PowerProtect DD9900 2U appliance + shelves
Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Optics
407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
SFP-25G-LR-AR Arista 25GBASE-LR SFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
SFP-25G-SR Arista 25GBASE-SR SFP28 Optical Transceiver
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
- Dell PowerEdge R240 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R340 1U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R840 2U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R940xa 4U rack
- Dell PowerEdge R6515 1U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
- 540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
- 540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
- 540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Storage
- Dell Isilon F810 4U 4-node chassis
- Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 680F 2U rack
Optics
- 407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
- SFP-25G-LR-AR Arista 25GBASE-LR SFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
- SFP-25G-SR Arista 25GBASE-SR SFP28 Optical Transceiver
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
HCI nodes
Dell VxRail E560F 1U rack
Dell VxRail G560 2U 4-node chassis
Dell VxRail G560F 2U 4-node chassis
Dell VxRail E560N 1U rack
Adapters for the server
- 540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
- 540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
- 540-BBJL Dell Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 Network Daughter Card (rNDC)
- 540-BCND Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx Dual Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter
Optics
- 407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
- SFP-25G-LR-AR Arista 25GBASE-LR SFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
- SFP-25G-SR Arista 25GBASE-SR SFP28 Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared 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 PowerEdge MX7116n.
- 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
FAQ
Does the MX7116n perform local packet switching?
No, the MX7116n operates as an unmanaged physical-layer repeater, forwarding all traffic to the central MX9116n switch to maintain a single management domain.
What cabling connects the MX7116n to the MX9116n?
High-density QSFP28-DD passive copper DAC or active optical cables link the MX7116n expander ports directly into the fabric engine.
Buying or selling MX7116n?
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 PowerEdge MX7116n Product Details, checked 2026-10-27
- Dell PowerEdge MX7116n Technical Documentation, checked 2026-10-27