Advanced Storage Networking
Comprehensive traffic management for high-performance SANs
The advanced traffic management capabilities integrated into the Cisco MDS 9124 simplify deployment and optimization of core edge fabrics.
Virtual output queuing
Virtual output queuing helps ensure line-rate performance on each port, independent of traffic pattern, by eliminating head-of-line blocking.
Extensible buffer credits
Each port group consisting of 4 ports has a pool of 64 buffer credits, with a default of 16 buffer credits per port. When extended distances are required, up to 61 buffer credits can be allocated to a single port within the port group. This extensibility is available without additional licensing.
PortChannels optimize bandwidth
PortChannels allow you to aggregate up to 16 physical ISLs into a single logical bundle, providing optimized bandwidth use across all links. The bundle can consist of any port from the switch, helping to ensure that the bundle remains active even in the event of a port failure.
Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF)
FSPF-based multipathing provides the intelligence to load balance across up to 16 equal-cost paths and, in the event of a switch failure, dynamically reroute traffic.
QoS can be used to manage bandwidth and control latency, to prioritize critical traffic. Comprehensive port and flow statistics facilitate sophisticated performance analysis and service-level agreement (SLA) accounting.
Advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting tools
Managing storage networks requires proactive diagnostics, tools to verify connectivity and route latency, and mechanisms for capturing and analyzing traffic.
Analysis and debugging
The Cisco MDS 9124 integrates the industry's most advanced analysis and debugging tools. Power-on self-test (POST) and online diagnostics provide proactive health monitoring.
The Cisco MDS 9124 provides the integrated hardware functions required to implement diagnostic capabilities such as Fibre Channel Traceroute to detail the exact path and timing of flows and SPAN to intelligently capture network traffic.
After traffic has been captured, you can analyze it with the Cisco Fabric Analyzer, an embedded Fibre Channel analyzer. With the Cisco MDS 9124, Cisco delivers a comprehensive toolset for troubleshooting and analysis of an organization's storage network.
Comprehensive Security
Recognizing the need for unassailable security in storage networks, the Cisco MDS 9124 offers an extensive security framework to protect highly sensitive data crossing today's enterprise networks.
VSANs provide complete isolation
VSANs help achieve higher security and greater stability by providing complete isolation among devices that are connected to the same physical SAN.
Intelligent packet inspection
The Cisco MDS 9124 also provides intelligent packet inspection at the port level, including the application of access control lists (ACLs) for hardware enforcement of zones, VSANs, and advanced port security features.
Extended zoning capabilities
Extended zoning capabilities help ensure that broadcasts are restricted to the selected zones (the broadcast zones).
FC-SP provides switch-to-switch and host-to-switch Diffie-Hellman Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (DH-CHAP) authentication supporting RADIUS or TACACS+, to help ensure that only authorized devices access protected storage networks.
This feature, in conjunction with management access and control plane security, makes the Cisco MDS 9000 family among the most secure platforms of its kind.
