HP Cisco Nexus 5000 HP StorageWorks C-Series Fabric Switches for NX-OS 4.2(1a) - Page 7

MDS 9513 FABRIC-2 MODULE AND 8-Gbps MODULES The MDS 9513 supports two types of crossbar modules, a pair of Fabric-1 modules or a pair of Fabric-2 modules. Two Fabric-2 modules double the active backplane bandwidth to 192-Gbps full duplex per slot required for specific switching modules in the MDS 9513. The following guidelines must be considered:  Fabric-1 modules are backward and forward compatible with SAN-OS and NX-OS.  Fabric-2 modules are supported with SAN-OS 3.x and NX-OS. If the MDS 9513 is running SAN-OS 3.x, the Fabric-2 module functions as a Fabric-1 module. In order to use the increased bandwidth capabilities of the Fabric-2, the following must be done: o First upgrade the MDS 9513 to NX-OS o Then reload the director.  The 48-port 8-Gbps FC Host-Optimized Switching Module requires NX-OS. It will function with either Fabric-1 or Fabric-2 modules.  The 48-port 8-Gbps FC Performance Switching Module and the 24-port 8-Gbps FC Switching Module requires NX-OS and Fabric-2 modules with the increased bandwidth capability enabled  If you install just one Fabric-2 module, the active slot bandwidth is 96-Gbps full duplex.  Once the 9513 is upgraded to NX-OS with Fabric-2 modules and reloaded, a downgrade to SAN-OS will be disruptive.  It is recommended for the pair of Fabric modules to be of the same model. Mixing Fabric-1 and Fabric-2 modules with SAN-OS is supported. When mixing the two with NX-OS the following must be considered: o Before a reload - no issues with mixing Fabric-1 and Fabric-2 o After a reload - replacing Fabric-2 with a Fabric-1 is not supported Refer to the Cisco MDS 9500 Series Hardware Installation Guide for additional information. 7 MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Director & Multilayer Fabric Switches Release Notes