Cisco MDS 9000 Family Release Notes for Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 5.2(8a) (OL-27554-05, May 16, 2013)

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Cisco MDS 9000 Family Release Notes for Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 5.2(8a)
OL-27554-05
Licensed Cisco NX-OS Software Packages
See the Cisco MDS 9500 Series Hardware Installation Guide for descriptions of, and specifications for
the new Generation 4 modules. This guide also provides instructions for migrating to the new Fabric 3
module and guidelines for installing the new 8-Gbps Advanced Fibre Channel switching modules.
Licensed Cisco NX-OS Software Packages
Most Cisco MDS 9000 family software features are included in the standard package. However, some
features are logically grouped into add-on packages that must be licensed separately, such as the Cisco
MDS 9000 Enterprise package, SAN Extension over IP package, Mainframe package, Storage Services
Enabler (SSE) package, Storage Media Encryption package, and Data Mobility Manager package.
On-demand ports activation licenses are also available for the Cisco MDS Blade Switch Series and
4-Gbps Cisco MDS 9100 Series Multilayer Fabric switches.
Note A license is not required to use the Cisco MDS 9000 8-port 10-Gbps Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
module (DS-X9708-K9).
Enterprise Package
The standard software package that is bundled at no charge with the Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches
includes the base set of features that Cisco believes are required by most customers for building a SAN.
The Cisco MDS 9000 family also has a set of advanced features that are recommended for all enterprise
SANs. These features are bundled together in the Cisco MDS 9000 Enterprise package. Refer to the
Cisco MDS 9000 Enterprise package fact sheet for more information.
SAN Extension over IP Package
The Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension over IP package allows the customer to use FCIP to extend SANs
over wide distances on IP networks using the Cisco MDS 9000 family IP storage services. Refer to the
Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Extension over IP package fact sheet for more information.
Mainframe Package
The Cisco MDS 9000 Mainframe package uses the FICON protocol and allows control unit port
management for in-band management from IBM S/390 and z/900 processors. FICON VSAN support is
provided to help ensure true hardware-based separation of FICON and open systems. Switch cascading,
fabric binding, and intermixing are also included in this package. Refer to the Cisco MDS 9000
Mainframe package fact sheet for more information.
Storage Media Encryption Package
The Cisco MDS 9000 Storage Media Encryption package enables encryption of data at rest on
heterogeneous tape devices, virtual tape libraries, and disk arrays as a transparent fabric service. Cisco
SME is completely integrated with Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches and the Cisco DCNM for SAN
application, enabling highly available encryption services to be deployed without rewiring or
reconfiguring SANs, and allowing them to be managed easily without installing additional management