How many power supplies minimum are required to power a fully populated Alcatel 9700 for basic switch operations?

• A. Two CMMs
• B. A minimum of 2 power supplies
• C. One power supply
• D. Eight NIs

Answer: (B)

Two power supplies are required. The Alcatel 9700 chassis is designed to run with redundant power delivery, and when it’s fully populated with cards and modules, the total power demand exceeds what a single supply can safely provide. Having two PSUs ensures continuous operation if one fails and provides enough headroom for peak loads, with the ability to swap a failed unit without powering down. A single power supply would not meet redundancy needs, and the other options refer to components that aren’t power supplies, so they don’t fit the requirement.