Cisco MDS 9513 vs 9718
The MDS 9718 is the high-end successor to the end-of-life MDS 9513, expanding from 528 ports of 8G Fibre Channel to 768 ports of 32G/64G FC in an 18-slot chassis. Large SANs still on the 9513 should plan migration to the 9718 for density and 64G readiness.
Cisco MDS 9513 Multilayer Director
Legacy 13-slot SAN director supporting up to 8G Fibre Channel, now end of life.
- 13-slot chassis (11 line card + 2 supervisor)
- Up to 528 ports of 1/2/4/8G Fibre Channel
- Dual supervisor high availability
- End of life; migrate to MDS 9700 Series
Cisco MDS 9718 Multilayer Director
Flagship 18-slot MDS 9700 director with the industry's highest SAN port density at 32G/64G FC.
- 18-slot chassis (16 line card + 2 supervisor)
- Up to 768 line-rate 32/64G Fibre Channel ports
- Up to 3 Tbps per slot with six Fabric-3 crossbar modules
- 64G FC ready with non-disruptive upgrades
Cisco MDS 9513 Multilayer Director vs Cisco MDS 9718 Multilayer Director: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco MDS 9513 Multilayer Director | Cisco MDS 9718 Multilayer Director |
|---|---|---|
| Chassis slots | 13 (11 line card + 2 supervisor) | 18 (16 line card + 2 supervisor) |
| Max Fibre Channel ports | Up to 528 | Up to 768 |
| Fibre Channel speeds | 1/2/4/8G | 16/32/64G (and 10G) |
| Supervisor redundancy | Dual supervisor | Dual supervisor |
| Crossbar / fabric modules | Integrated crossbar | Up to 6 Cisco Fabric-3 crossbar modules |
| Per-slot bandwidth | Lower (8G-era fabric) | Up to 3 Tbps per payload slot |
| FCoE support | Limited (10G modules) | Yes (10/40G FCoE) |
| 64G FC readiness | No | Yes |
| Lifecycle status | End of life | Current shipping product |
Choose Cisco MDS 9513 Multilayer Director if
Retain the MDS 9513 only to bridge an existing large SAN until a migration window. It is end of life and capped at 8G Fibre Channel, so it is not a basis for new capacity.
Choose Cisco MDS 9718 Multilayer Director if
Choose the MDS 9718 for the largest, highest-density director-class SANs. It scales to 768 ports at 32G/64G with massive per-slot bandwidth, ideal for consolidating multiple older directors and supporting NVMe-over-FC at scale.
Verdict
Migrate from the MDS 9513 to the MDS 9718. The 9513 is end of life and limited to 8G FC at 528 ports, while the 9718 delivers 768 ports of 32G/64G FC and far greater fabric bandwidth. For large enterprise and federal SAN cores, the 9718 is the long-term consolidation target.
Frequently asked questions
What replaces the Cisco MDS 9513?
The MDS 9718, the largest member of the MDS 9700 Series, is the modern replacement, offering more slots, more ports, and 32G/64G Fibre Channel.
How many ports does the MDS 9718 support?
The MDS 9718 supports up to 768 line-rate Fibre Channel ports in an 18-slot chassis, the highest SAN director port density Cisco offers.
Does the MDS 9718 support 64G Fibre Channel?
Yes. The MDS 9718 supports 16/32/64G Fibre Channel line cards for full investment protection on all-flash and NVMe-over-FC SANs.
Is the MDS 9513 still supported?
No. The MDS 9513 has reached end of life after roughly 16 years, and Cisco directs customers to the MDS 9700 Series, typically the 9718 for high-density needs.
More MDS comparisons
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