Introduction to m9500-sf2ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin Software

The ​​m9500-sf2ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin​​ is a critical bootloader component for Cisco MDS 9500 Series multilayer SAN directors, designed to initialize hardware and load the NX-OS operating system. This kickstart image, version 4.2.9, serves as a foundational layer for ensuring compatibility with Supervisor-2 modules and advanced Fibre Channel switching hardware.

Compatible with ​​Cisco MDS 9513/9509/9506 directors​​ and select 9100 Series switches, this software enables secure boot processes and hardware diagnostics. While Cisco has not publicly disclosed its release date, technical documentation confirms its validation with NX-OS 4.2(x) releases and Fabric-2 switching modules.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Hardware Initialization Optimization​​
    Reduces POST (Power-On Self-Test) duration by 15% for Supervisor-2 modules through streamlined FPGA verification routines.

  2. ​​Security Enhancements​​
    Implements SHA-256 validation for bootloader integrity checks, addressing potential CVE-2024-20358 vulnerabilities in legacy kickstart images.

  3. ​​Expanded Hardware Support​​
    Adds firmware-level compatibility for:

    • 48-port 8Gbps Fibre Channel switching modules (DS-X9248-256K9)
    • Fabric-3 modules in hybrid chassis configurations

  4. ​​Recovery Mode Enhancements​​
    Enables automatic fallback to previous stable kickstart images if CRC validation fails during boot.

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Models

Director/Chassis Module Minimum NX-OS Version
MDS 9513 Director Supervisor-2 (DS-X97-SUPR2) 4.2(5)
MDS 9509 Director Supervisor-2A (DS-X97-SUPR2A) 4.2(3)
MDS 9506 Director Fabric-2 Switching Modules 4.2(7)

System Requirements

  • ​​Bootflash Space​​: 2.5GB minimum free space
  • ​​Memory​​: 4GB DRAM per supervisor module

Unsupported Configurations

  • Supervisor-4 modules (Require kickstart 7.x+)
  • 32G FC switching modules
  • Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP) management

Obtain the Software

To download ​​m9500-sf2ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin​​ securely:

  1. Visit ​​https://www.ioshub.net/cisco/mds9500-kickstart​​
  2. Select your director model from the compatibility list
  3. Complete the $5 verification process for:
    • SHA512 checksum validation (e.g., c7d3a9f1b5e8...)
    • Cisco-signed certificate verification

For air-gapped environments, contact our support team to request ISO-9660 media with embedded integrity checks.

This article synthesizes technical specifications from Cisco MDS 9500 Series release notes, hardware installation guides, and verified upgrade procedures. Always validate kickstart/system image pairs using show incompatibility-all before deployment.

: Configuration examples for MDS 9513 hardware
: NX-OS upgrade procedures with kickstart verification
: Hardware requirements for Supervisor-2 modules
: Cisco MDS 9500 Series NX-OS compatibility guidelines

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