CHAPTER
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3-1
Cisco MDS 9100 Series Hardware Installation Guide
OL-16187-01
3
Connecting the Cisco MDS 9100 Series
The Cisco MDS 9100 Series provides the following types of ports:
• Console port (Interface Module)—An RS-232 port that you can use to create a local management
connection.
• MGMT 10/100 Ethernet port (Interface Module)—An Ethernet port that you can use to access and
manage the switch by IP address, such as through the CLI or Fabric Manager.
• Fibre Channel ports (Supervisor and Switching Modules)— Fibre Channel ports that you can use to
connect to the SAN, or for in-band management.
This chapter describes how to connect the various components of the Cisco MDS 9100 Series Fixed
Configuration Fabric Switch, and it includes the following information:
• Preparing for Network Connections, page 3-1
• Connecting the Console Port, page 3-1
• Connecting the 10/100 Ethernet Management Port, page 3-3
• Connecting to a Fibre Channel Port, page 3-4
Preparing for Network Connections
When preparing your site for network connections to the Cisco MDS 9100 Series switch, consider the
following for each type of interface:
• Cabling required for each interface type
• Distance limitations for each signal type
• Additional interface equipment needed
Before installing the component, have all additional external equipment and cables available.
Connecting the Console Port
This section describes how to connect the RS-232 console port to a PC. The console port allows you to
perform the following functions:
• Configure the switch from the CLI.
• Monitor network statistics and errors.
• Configure SNMP agent parameters.
