> # Generations of Modules and Switches

> Cisco MDS 9000 Family hardware modules and switches are categorized into generations based on the time of introduction, capabilities, features, and compatibilities:

> - Generation 1—Modules and switches with a maximum port speed of 2 Gbps.
> - Generation 2—Modules and switches with a maximum port speed of 4 Gbps.
> - Generation 3—Modules and switches with a maximum port speed of 8 Gbps.
> - Generation 4—Modules with a maximum port speed of 8-Gbps or 10-Gbps.

> The Cisco MDS 9500 Series switches, Cisco MDS 9222i, Cisco MDS 9216A, and Cisco MDS 9216i switches support the Generation 2 modules. Each module or switch can have one or more ports in port groups that share common resources such as bandwidth and buffer credits.

> In addition to supporting Generation 2 modules, the Cisco MDS 9500 Series switches and the Cisco MDS 9222i switch support the Generation 3 modules. Similar to Generation 2, each Generation 3 or Generation 4 module can have one or more ports in port groups that share common resources such as bandwidth and buffer credits.

> Generation 3 modules are supported on the Cisco MDS 9506 and 9509 switches with Supervisor-2 modules. The MDS 9513 Director supports 4/44-port Host-Optimized Fibre Channel switching module with either Fabric 1 or Fabric 2 modules, but requires Fabric 2 module for support of the 48-port and the 24-port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching modules. The MDS 9222i switch supports the 4/44-port Host-Optimized Fibre Channel switching module.

> The Cisco 9500 Series switches support the following Generation 4 modules: the 48-port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching module (DS-X9248-256K9) and the 32-port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel module (DS-X9232-256K9). Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 6.x or higher is required to support the Generation 4 modules.

> Table 13-1 identifies the Generation 2, Generation 3, and Generation 4 modules, as well as the Fabric switches.

> Table 13-1 Fibre Channel Modules and Fabric Switches
> Part Number | Product Name and Description
> --- | ---
> Generation 4 Modules
> DS-X9248-256K9 | 48-port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9232-256K9 | 32-port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9530-SF2A-K9 | Supervisor-2A module for Cisco MDS 9500 Series switches.
> DS-13SLT-FAB3 | Fabric 3 module that enables the 32-port and the 48-port 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching module to use the full 96-Gbps or 256-Gbps backplane crossbar bandwidth.
> Generation 3 Modules
> DS-X9248-96K9 | 48-port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9224-96K9 | 24-port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9248-48K9 | 4/44-port 8-Gbps Host-Optimized Fibre Channel switching module
> DS-13SLT-FAB2 | Fabric 2 module that enables the 24-port and the 48-port 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module to use the full 96-Gbps backplane bandwidth with any-to-any connectivity.
> Generation 3 Fabric Switch
> DS-C9148-K9 | Cisco MDS 9148 Fabric switch. 48-port 8-Gbps Fabric switch.
> Generation 2 Modules
> DS-X9148 | 48-port 4-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9124 | 24-port 4-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9304-18K9 | 18-port 4-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module with 4-Gigabit Ethernet ports.
> DS-X9112 | 12-port 4-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9704 | 4-port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel switching module.
> DS-X9530-SF2-K9 | Supervisor-2 module for Cisco MDS 9500 Series switches.
> Generation 2 Fabric Switches
> DS-C9134-K9 | Cisco MDS 9134 Fabric switch. 32-port 4-Gbps Fabric switch with 2 additional 10-Gbps ports.
> DS-C9124-K9 | Cisco MDS 9124 Fabric switch. 24-port 4-Gbps Fabric switch.
> DS-C9222i-K9 | Cisco MDS 9222i Multiservice Modular switch. 18-port 4-Gbps switch with 4-Gigabit Ethernet IP storage services ports, and a modular expansion slot to host Cisco MDS 9000 Family switching and services modules.

> Note Generation 2 Fibre Channel switching modules are not supported on the Cisco MDS 9216 switch; however, they are supported by both the Supervisor-1 module and the Supervisor-2 module.

> For detailed information about the installation and specifications for these modules and switches, refer to the hardware installation guide for your switch.

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