Which two main components comprise a Scalable Fabric?

Question

Options

• AMX9116n and the MX5108n
• BMX9116n and the MX7116n
• CMX9116n and the 25GbE PTM
• DMX7116n and the MX5108n

• B
  89% (25)
• C
  4% (1)
• D
  7% (2)

Explanation

Option B is correct because a Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Scalable Fabric is built on the pairing of the MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine (FSE) - the high-capacity spine switch - and the MX7116n Fabric Expander Module (FEM), which passively extends the fabric to server sleds without consuming compute slots.

Why the others are wrong:

• A (MX5108n): The MX5108n is a standard top-of-rack-style 10/25GbE switch for the MX chassis; it operates independently and is not a Scalable Fabric component.
• C (25GbE PTM): A Pass-Through Module (PTM) simply passes signals directly to an upstream switch - it has no switching intelligence and plays no role in Scalable Fabric.
• D (MX7116n + MX5108n): This drops the MX9116n, which is the essential switching engine - without it, there is no fabric to expand.

Memory tip: Focus on the "9 + 7" rule - the 9116n switches, the 7116n expands. If you see anything other than a 9xxx paired with a 7xxx, it's not the Scalable Fabric duo.

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