Cisco MDS: Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id)

Summary: Customer installing new linecards in MDS9706 switch received an error: Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id)

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

The following error displays when installing new linecards in an MDS9706 switch:

Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id)

 

Cause

Log outputs show as follows:


`show module`
Mod  Ports  Module-Type                         Model              Status
---  -----  ----------------------------------- ------------------ ----------
1    0      Unknown Module                                         powered-dn
2    0      Unknown Module                                         powered-dn
3    0      Supervisor Module-3                 DS-X97-SF1-K9      active *
4    0      Supervisor Module-3                 DS-X97-SF1-K9      ha-standby

Mod  Power-Status  Reason 
---  ------------  ---------------------------
1    powered-dn     Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id)
2    powered-dn     Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id)

Logging log:
%PLATFORM-2-PFM_MODULE_POWER_ON: Manual power-on of Module 1  from Command Line Interface
%KERN-0-SYSTEM_MSG: [296039.184403]  Cannot power-up module 1 Jumpers Set (most likely P14) val = 0x20 - kernel
 

Resolution

Receiving the Unknown card (Could not get software-card-id) error indicates that the current NX-OS is unable to support the new linecard.
Check NX-OS compatibility. Switches require an NX-OS update to support linecards that display this error.

Additional Information

  1. The minimum software version for module part DS-X9334-K9 is NX-OS 7.3(0)DY(1).
  2. The minimum software version for module part DS-X9648-1536K9 is NX-OS 8.1.1.

Affected Products

Connectrix MDS-9706

Products

Connectrix MDS-9706
Article Properties
Article Number: 000059195
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 18 أبريل 2026
Version:  4
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