| Ports (standard): | 8 x 8/16/32/64-Gbps FC | 8 x 4/8/16/32-Gbps FC | 24 x 8/16/32/64-Gbps FC | 24 x 4/8/16/32-Gbps FC | 48 x 8/16/32/64-Gbps | 48 x 4/8/16/32-Gbps | 4 x 4/8/16/32-Gbps FC, 2x 1-Gbps IP | 20 x 2/4/8/16-Gbps FC, 8 x 10-Gbps FCoE, 2 x 1/10 GE |
| Ports (expansion): | License upgrade in 8-port increments up to 24 ports | 16-Port 32-Gbps expansion module to expand to 24 Ports. 8-Port license upgrade to 16 ports in base switch and up to 32 ports with expansion module | License upgrade in 8-port increments up to 48 ports | License upgrade in 8-port increments up to 48 ports | license upgrade in 16-port increments up to 96 ports | license upgrade in 16-port increments up to 96 ports | 12 x 4/8/16/32-Gbps FC, 4 x 1/10-Gbps OR 2x 25-Gbps OR 1x 40-Gbps IP | License upgrade to 40 x 16-Gbps FC |
| Form factor: | Fixed | Semi-modular | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed |
| Expansion slots: | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Supported interface modules: | - | Cisco MDS M9XT-FC1632 16-Port 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Port Expansion Module | - | - | Cisco MDS M9396-PL16 16-Port 64-Gbps Fibre Channel Port Expansion License | Cisco MDS M9XT-FC1632 16-Port 32-Gbps Fibre Channel Port Expansion Module | - | - |
| Smart storage services: | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | FCIP, Cisco MDS 9000 I/O Accelerator with a software license, Cisco Data Mobility Manager with a software license |
| Advanced traffic management: VSAN, IVR, up to 16 links for port channels: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE): | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| iSCSI: | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| FICON support: | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Air flow: | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Bi-directional airflow | Front to back |
| Physical dimensions: | 1.72 x 17.299 x 18 in. (4.37 x 43.94 x 45.72 cm) | 1.72 x 17.3 x 20.11 in. (4.37 x 43.94 x 51.08 cm) | 1.72 x 17.299 x 18 in. (4.37 x 43.94 x 45.72 cm) | 1.72 x 17.3 x 22.3 in ( 4.37 x 43.94 x 56.64 cm) | 3.4 x 17.4 x 23.9 in (8.64 x44.23 x 60.73cm) | 3.4 x 17.42 x 22.28 in. (8.64 x 44.25 x 56.59 cm) | 1.72 x 17.16 x 16.34 in. (4.37 x 43.59 x 41.50 cm) | 3.84 x 17.22 x 21.40 in. (9.75 x 43.74 x 54.36 cm) |
| Rack Unit (RU) size: | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Weight (fully configured): | 18.73 lb. (8.5 kg) | 21.64 lb. (9.82 kg) | 21.8 lb. (9.9 kg) | 18.73 lb. (8.3 kg) | 44 lb (20 kg) | 41.62 lb. (18.88 kg) | 21.6 lb. (9.8 kg) | 22.4 lb. (10.16 kg) |