Users Guide

Dell EMC Networking MX9116n Fabric Switching

Engine

The Dell EMC Networking MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine (FSE) is a scalable, high-performance, low latency 25 GbE switch purpose-

built for the PowerEdge MX platform. The MX9116n FSE provides enhanced capabilities and cost-effectiveness for enterprise, mid-

market, Tier 2 cloud, and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) service providers with demanding compute and storage traffic

environments.

In addition to 16 internal 25 GbE ports, the MX9116n FSE provides:

• Two 100 GbE QSFP28 ports

• Two 100 GbE QSFP28 unified ports

• Twelve 2x100 GbE QSFP28-Double Density (DD) ports

The QSFP28 ports can be used for Ethernet uplink connectivity. For more information, see Management host section. The unified ports

can be used for Ethernet uplink connectivity and supporting eight 32 Gb Fibre Channel (FC) ports for SAN connectivity supporting both

NPIV Proxy Gateway (NPG) and direct attach FC capabilities.

The QSFP28-DD ports provide fabric expansion connections for up to nine more PowerEdge MX7000 chassis using the MX7116n Fabric

Expander Module. The QSFP28-DD ports also provide capacity for extra uplinks, VLTi links, and connections to rack servers at 10 GbE or

25 GbE using breakout cables. The PowerEdge MX7000 chassis supports up to four MX9116n FSEs in Fabric A or B, or both.

Figure 9. MX9116n FSE

Express service tag 2. Storage USB port

3. Micro-B USB console port 4. Power and indicator LEDs

5. Handle release 6. Two QSFP28 ports

7. Two QSFP28 unified ports 8. 12 QSFP28-DD ports

Dell EMC Networking MX7116n Fabric Expander

Module

The Dell EMC Networking MX7116n Fabric Expander Module (FEM) acts as an Ethernet repeater, taking signals from an attached

compute sled and repeating them to the associated lane on the external QSFP28-DD connector. The MX7116n FEM provides two

QSFP28-DD interfaces, each providing up to eight 25 GbE connections to the chassis.

There is no operating system or switching ASIC on the MX7116n FEM, so it never requires an upgrade. There is also no management or

user interface, making the MX7116n FEM maintenance-free. The PowerEdge MX7000 chassis supports up to four MX7116n FEMs in

Fabric A or Fabric B, or both.

Figure 10. MX7116n FEM

Express service tag 2. Supported optic LED

3. Power and indicator LEDs 4. Module insertion or removal latch

5. Two QSFP28-DD fabric expander ports

18 Hardware overview