This document describes the features, issues, and deployment guidelines for the Cisco MDS NX-OS software for use on the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches.

Note:

●      The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product.

●      Release notes are updated on an as needed basis with new information on restrictions and issues. See the following website for the most recent version of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Release Notes.

Date

Description

September 16, 2025

Added CSCwo09244 to the Open Issues section.

September 09, 2025

Updated the severity of CSCwo00133 and CSCwm79623 in the Open Issues section.

August 29, 2025

Upgrading and Downgrading Cisco MDS NX-OS Software Image sections are moved to Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS Software Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 9.x.

Added CSCwo41374 to the Open Issues section.

August 18, 2025

Added CSCwn37613 to the Resolved Issues section.

March 28, 2025

Initial Release

Introduction

The Cisco MDS 9000 Series of Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches provide best-in-class high availability, scalability, security, and management that enables to deploy high-performance storage area networks. Layering a rich set of intelligent features onto a high-performance switch fabric, the Cisco MDS 9000 Series has the flexibility to fit small deployments and to address the stringent requirements of large data center storage environments: high availability, security, scalability, sustainability, ease of management, and seamless integration of new technologies.

About Software Images

The Cisco MDS NX-OS operating system is shipped with the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches. The Cisco MDS NX-OS software consists of two images: the kickstart image and the system image. These images can be upgraded or downgraded to different versions. The versions of both images must match for the system to boot.

Each model of the Cisco MDS switch has unique kickstart and system images. For more information on the image names for each Cisco MDS switch, see the Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS Software Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 9.x.

To download the new Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches NX-OS software, go to the Storage Networking Software download website at https://software.cisco.com/download/find/MDS.

Upgrade and Downgrade Paths

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(3a) supports non-disruptive upgrade and downgrade to other Cisco MDS NX-OS Releases. For upgrade and downgrade paths, and guidelines that are recommended for upgrading or downgrading Cisco MDS NX-OS software images, see Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS Software Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 9.x.

Note:      Upgrading to Cisco MDS NX-OS 9.4(3a) is highly recommended as it resolves the issue with FSPF instability that can affect network performance and stability. (See CSCwn58100).

Note:      If you have the SAN analytics feature enabled, ensure that you disable the SAN analytics feature using the no feature analytics command before upgrading. For detailed instructions, see Preventing SAN Analytics Corruption during ISSU section in the Cisco MDS 9000 NX-OS Software Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 9.x.

About Firmware Images

Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches contain a number of hardware components with updatable firmware. The Transceiver Firmware bundle contains updates for various port transceivers. The EPLD Firmware bundle contains updates for programmable logic devices in the system.

These updates can be disruptive and so are not part of the Cisco NX-OS software image. They are released with every Cisco NX-OS release but do not frequently contain changes. Refer to the specific Release Notes for any recommended fixes.

For more information on Transceiver Firmware, see the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Transceiver Firmware Release Notes, Release 9.4(3a).

For more information on EPLD bundles, see the Cisco MDS 9000 Series EPLD Release Notes, Release 9.4(3a).

Choosing Between Cisco MDS NX-OS Open Systems Releases

Cisco uses release numbering to indicate the maturity of a Cisco MDS NX-OS release train. Cisco MDS NX-OS major versions are incremented when significant software features or hardware support are added. Because of the focus on new features and hardware, all bugs may not yet have been fixed. After an initial release, minor version numbers of the release train are incremented as bugs are resolved, and minor feature enhancements and security patches are integrated. This provides increased stability to the new features and updated security.

For Cisco recommended MDS NX-OS releases for each type of hardware, see Recommended Releases for Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches document.

Components Supported

For information on supported software and hardware components, see Cisco MDS 9000 Series Compatibility Matrix.

IBM FICON Qualification Status

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(3a) is not IBM FICON qualified.

Cisco TrustSec FC Link Encryption

For more information about which set of interfaces on each module support FC-SP, see the Configuring Cisco TrustSec Fibre Channel Link Encryption chapter of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Security Configuration Guide, Release 9.x.

New Hardware Features

There are no new hardware features in Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(3a).

New and Enhanced Software Features

There are no new software features in Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(3a).

Unsupported Features

MD5 Hash in FCSP

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(2) and later releases do not support the MD5 hash algorithm in Fibre Channel Security Protocol (FC-SP) as it is no longer considered secure. The default hash algorithm has been changed to SHA1.

10G and 40G FCoE linecards

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.4(2) and later releases do not support the following FCoE linecards:

●      DS-X9848-480K9 – 48-port 10-Gbps FCoE Switching Module

●      DS-X9824-960K9 – MDS 9700 24-port 40-Gbps FCoE Switching Module

For more information, see the Cisco MDS 9700 Series Multilayer Directors Hardware Installation Guide.

SDV feature

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.3(2) and later releases do not support Cisco SAN device virtualization (SDV).

Traditional and Smart Licensing Version 1.0 Licenses

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2) and later releases does not support installation of Product Authorization Key (PAK) or Smart Licensing version 1.0 licenses. Licenses are now managed through Smart License using Policy (SLP).

For more information such as how to migrate licenses, see Smart Licensing Using Policy chapter in Cisco MDS 9000 Series Licensing Guide, Release 9.x.

Python 2

Support for Python 2 is deprecated from Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2). Python 3 remains supported instead. Python 2 scripts should be checked for compatibility with Python 3 to ensure they continue to function as expected.

For more information, see the Python API chapter in the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Programmability Guide, Release 9.x.

Zoning Features

LUN zoning, read-only zones, and broadcast zones are no longer supported.

If these features are already configured, completely remove all the configurations that include these features before attempting to boot any module. In addition, you cannot configure these features after you bring up any module.

XRC Acceleration License

From Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.1(1a), the Cisco Extended Remote Copy (XRC) acceleration license is obsoleted on Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches due to improvements in the mainframe XRC feature.

Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.3(1) and later releases do not support the VRRP feature on Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches.

Data Encryption Standard (DES) for SNMP

From Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.5(1), AES-128 is the default encryption mechanism for SNMPv3. DES encryption for SNMP is supported only for DES users who upgrade from previous releases to Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.5(1). Ensure that you delete all the SNMPv3 users configured with DES encryption before upgrading to Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.5(1) and later releases. Any downgrades from Cisco MDS NX- OS Release 8.5(1) will be restricted if any of the SNMPv3 users have DES encryption configured as the privacy protocol. All such users will either need to be deleted or reconfigured to use no privacy protocol or AES128 encryption before downgrading.

For more information, see Cisco MDS 9000 Series System Management Configuration Guide, Release 9.x.

Fabric Performance Impact Notifications (FPIN)

FPIN is not supported on switches that are operating in NPV mode.

FCWA, XRC, DMM, SME

Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.1(1) and later releases do not support FCWA, XRC, DMM and SME features.

SAN Extension Tuner

SAN Extension Tuner (SET) is not supported on Cisco MDS 9220i switches in Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 8.5(1) or later.

Fibre Channel Read Diagnostic Parameters

Fibre Channel RDP querying is not supported on NP, Port Channel, or FCoE links.

Slow Drain Detection and Congestion Isolation

ER_RDY is not supported on FC interfaces running at 10 Gbps.

FCIP Support

●      In Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2) and later releases, simultaneous use of IVR and FCIP Write Acceleration features is not supported on FCIP tunnels configured on Cisco MDS 9700 Director switches.

●      On Cisco MDS 24/10 Port SAN Extension Module, configuring multiple FSPF equal cost paths (ECMP) via port channels or non-port channel interfaces with FCIP members in the same VSAN is not a valid configuration. If this is configured, then the traffic flows through only one of the port channels or non-port channel interfaces.

iSCSI Support

iSCSI is not supported on Cisco MDS 9700 Directors with Cisco MDS 24/10 port SAN Extension Modules and Cisco MDS 9220i multiservice fabric switch.

Resolved Issues

Severity 1 (Catastrophic) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwo03706

An FC interface will not come up / switch to soft zoning

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

9.3(2a), 9.3(1), 9.2(1)

8.5(1)

Severity 2 (Severe) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwn10124

Device unable to log in to fabric due to too many FLOGIs already on the port

9.4(1)

9.3(1)

9.2(1)

8.5(1)

8.4(1)

8.3(1)

8.2(1),

8.1(1)

CSCwn58100

Hosts losing paths due to FSPF instability due to LSRs reaching Max Age after upgrading to 9.4(2a)

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

CSCwn64113

64G ports not coming up after no shut from "shut & ISSU@942a to 943" with SFP power-control feature

9.4(3)

CSCwn94165

Linecard 'acltcam' service crashes with signal 6

9.4(2a)

Severity 3 (Moderate) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwn37613

ISSU error 0x40930015 'BIOS/loader/bootrom of above module may be in corrupted state'

9.4(2a)

CSCwn77083

In few scale setup on 64g switches , shutting ports together leading to i2c rd_wr errors

9.4(3a)

CSCwn85703

Supervisor alternate bios upgrade should fail if it does not complete

9.4(2a)

Severity 4(Minor) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwn46132

Analytics CC script parsing error and incorrect 'notConnected' port handling

9.4(2)

Open Issues

Severity 2 (Severe) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwo41374

Switch hangs after CPU stall, control plane and management interface not responding

9.4(3b), 9.4(3a), 9.4(3), 9.4(2a)

Severity 3 (Moderate) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCwm68404

ISL diagnostics fail to start when interface has 64 Gbps optics

9.4(3a), 9.4(3)

CSCwm97165

FICON - Active link for src/dest FC port channel is wrong on 9148V

9.4(3)

CSCwo00133

"analytics" service crashes

9.4(3a), 9.4(3), 9.4(1a)

9.3(2a)

8.4(2c)

CSCwo09244

IOSlice temperature sensor shows as failed in MDS 9148T/9132T/9396T switch/MDS 9700 32 Gbps linecard

9.4(3)a, 9.4(3)

Severity 4 (Minor) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCvf08416

'show tech details' triggers 'pam_ftp(ftp:auth): conversation failed - ftpd' syslogs

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(1), 8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

8.3(2), 8.3(1)

8.2(2), 8.2(1)

CSCvj93031

IPv6 source address not displayed in log in failure logs

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(1), 8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

8.3(2), 8.3(1)

CSCvs23106

SCSI target discovery service running even after removal of last DS-X9334-K9 module from switch

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(1), 8.4(1a), 8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

8.3(1), 8.3(2)

8.2(1), 8.2(2)

8.1(1), 8.1(1a), 8.1(1b)

CSCvt15761

Nondisruptive reload causes reinitialization of error disabled ports on other linecards

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

CSCvv00538

Remove misleading ficon stat 'merge failed' message in non- FICON VSAN

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

CSCwc61263

Linecard fails to boot up with '%PORT-5- MODULE_BRINGUP_NOT_ALLOWED' error

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.4(2e), 8.4(2c)

8.1(1)

CSCwk33644

Power Supply status of "Powered-dn" causes Amber System Status LED

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

CSCwm79623

'pixmc' service crash when multiple interfaces flap in a port-channel

9.4(3a), 9.4(3), 9.4(2a)

Severity 6 (Enhancement) Issues

Bug ID

Headline

Known Impacted Releases

CSCvo22835

All flows are briefly suspended while moving an IOA flow between 2 clusters

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(1), 8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

8.3(2), 8.3(1)

8.2(2), 8.2(1)

8.1(1b), 8.1(1a), 8.1(1)

CSCvp70681

Streaming to telemetry receiver stops, receiver stays in "idle" state

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(1), 8.4(2), 8.4(2a), 8.4(2b), 8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

CSCvw77444

Need to automatically sync bootflash:/scripts directory between active and standby sups

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

8.1(1a)

CSCvx37657

Need to save nonvolatile logs about BIOS programming errors

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.5(1)

8.4(2c), 8.4(2d), 8.4(2e)

8.3(2)

CSCwb13413

A fabric module with a faulty link to a linecard is not powered down

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.4(1)

CSCwe86920

Add option to 'show tech-support' to exclude and include subcommands

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

8.1(1)

CSCwf48167

Span tx is not working in NPV mode on all platforms, rx is working

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a), 9.4(1)

CSCwf66251

Need a syslog warning when number of zone members exceeds maximum supported

9.4(3), 9.4(2a), 9.4(2), 9.4(1a)

8.4(2d)

Related Documentation

The documentation set for the Cisco MDS 9000 Series includes the documents that are listed in this section. To find a document online, access the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5989/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9369/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Release Notes

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/storage-networking/mds-9000-nx-os-san-os-software/products-release-notes-list.html

Documentation Suite

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/storage/san_switches/mds9000/roadmaps/rel90.html

Statement of Volatility

https://trustportal.cisco.com/c/r/ctp/trust-portal.html?search_keyword=mds%209000&solutioncategory=Data%20Center#/1646059028492371

Documentation Feedback

To provide technical feedback on this document, or to report an error or omission, send your comments to mds-docfeedback@cisco.com. We appreciate your feedback.

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