Cisco DS-CAC-2500W
2500W AC Power Supply for MDS 9509
Product Highlights
Keeping your SAN fabric online around the clock demands a power infrastructure that never becomes a single point of failure. The Cisco DS-CAC-2500W is a 2500-watt AC power supply module purpose-built for the Cisco MDS 9509 Multilayer Director (DS-C9509), one of the flagship director-class switches in the MDS 9000 storage networking family.
The DS-CAC-2500W accepts a wide-range 100–240 VAC input, delivering its full 2500W output when connected to a 220–240 VAC circuit and 1300W on a 110 VAC circuit. Designed as a hot-swappable, plug-in module, it can be installed or replaced without disrupting active Fibre Channel traffic — a critical requirement in enterprise data centers running mission-critical storage workloads.
The MDS 9509 chassis supports two power supply slots configured for redundancy by default, meaning each PSU can independently power the entire chassis. Deploying a pair of DS-CAC-2500W units ensures N+1 fault tolerance, protecting your SAN investment against unexpected power supply failures. For environments that have grown beyond the 2500W envelope, Cisco recommends the DS-CAC-3000W as the higher-capacity successor.
Features & Benefits
High-Capacity AC Power Delivery
The DS-CAC-2500W delivers up to 2500 watts of clean, regulated AC power when connected to a 220–240 VAC source. This capacity supports fully populated MDS 9509 configurations with multiple switching modules, ensuring stable operation under peak load.
Hot-Swappable Redundancy
Designed for non-disruptive replacement, the DS-CAC-2500W can be inserted or removed while the MDS 9509 is live. The chassis supports two redundant power supplies by default, so a single PSU failure does not interrupt SAN traffic — a must-have for 24×7 data center operations.
Universal Input Voltage Range
With a 100–240 VAC auto-ranging input, the DS-CAC-2500W operates on power grids worldwide without requiring manual voltage selection. Note that full 2500W output is only available at 220–240 VAC; at 110 VAC the unit delivers 1300W.
Purpose-Built MDS 9509 Integration
This power supply is specifically engineered for the MDS 9509 Director chassis form factor and backplane connector. It ensures electrical and mechanical compatibility with the MDS 9500 Series power bay, eliminating guesswork during procurement.
Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise SAN Director Replacement PSU
Data centers running Cisco MDS 9509 directors can stock the DS-CAC-2500W as a critical spare. Having a replacement unit on hand minimizes mean time to repair and keeps the storage fabric protected by redundancy at all times.
Redundant Power Upgrade for Existing MDS 9509
If an MDS 9509 is currently operating with a single power supply, adding a second DS-CAC-2500W immediately enables N+1 redundancy. This eliminates the PSU as a single point of failure in the SAN infrastructure.
Lab and Test Environment Builds
Organizations building lab or staging environments around the MDS 9509 platform need reliable power supplies at a lower cost than new alternatives. A pre-owned DS-CAC-2500W provides a cost-effective way to power test SAN fabrics.
General
Power
Design
Lifecycle
Compatibility Notes
Supported Chassis:
- Cisco MDS 9509 Multilayer Director (DS-C9509)
Power Supply Slots: The MDS 9509 chassis provides two power supply bays (redundant by default).
Input Power Requirements:
- Full 2500W output requires a 220–240 VAC circuit.
- At 110 VAC, output is derated to 1300W.
Recommended Replacement: Cisco has designated the DS-CAC-3000W (3000W AC Power Supply) as the official successor to the DS-CAC-2500W.
Note: Power cords are typically not included with the power supply module and must be ordered separately.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| DS-CAC-3000W | MDS 9509 3000W AC Power Supply | Cisco-recommended replacement — provides 3000W output for higher-density MDS 9509 configurations |
| DS-CDC-2500W | MDS 9509 2500W DC Power Supply | DC-input variant for telco/colo environments with −48 VDC power distribution |
| DS-CAC-1900W | MDS 9506 1900W AC Power Supply | Lower-wattage PSU designed for the smaller MDS 9506 Director chassis — not compatible with MDS 9509 |
| DS-CAC-6000W | MDS 9513 6000W AC Power Supply | High-capacity PSU for the larger MDS 9513 Director — not compatible with MDS 9509 |