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E100D-SSD-480G: Core Technical Profile
The E100D-SSD-480G is a Cisco-certified 480GB solid-state drive designed for UCS C-Series servers and HyperFlex HX-Series nodes. Built for enterprise workloads, it uses a 2.5-inch SATA III interface with 6Gbps throughput and supports hot-swapping in redundant storage configurations. Unlike consumer-grade SSDs, it features power-loss protection (PLP) and TLC NAND optimized for mixed read/write operations.
Key Specifications and Endurance Metrics
- Capacity: 480GB (raw), ~440GB usable after RAID overhead
- Sequential Read/Write: 550 MB/s (read), 520 MB/s (write)
- Random IOPS: 98k (read), 35k (write) at 4K block size
- Endurance: 1.3 PBW (Petabytes Written) over 5-year warranty
- Form Factor: 2.5-inch, 7mm height (fits UCS 220/240/480 chassis)
- Operating Temp: 0°C to 70°C (non-condensing)
Compatibility: Supported Cisco Platforms
| System | Minimum Firmware | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| UCS C220 M5 | 4.0(4g) | Boot drive for ESXi hosts |
| HyperFlex HXAF240C | 4.5(2a) | Caching for VDI workloads |
| UCS S3260 Storage | 3.1(3d) | Metadata storage for Ceph |
Note: Not compatible with UCS B-Series blades or Nexus 9000 switches due to backplane voltage differences.
Performance vs. Competing Drives
| Parameter | E100D-SSD-480G | UCS X440C-M6 (960GB) | HDD 1TB 7.2K RPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latency (Avg.) | 0.2 ms | 0.15 ms | 8 ms |
| IOPS (4K Random) | 35k | 75k | 80 |
| Power Draw (Active) | 3.5W | 5W | 6.8W |
Takeaway: The E100D balances cost and performance for mid-tier storage needs but lags behind NVMe-based drives in high-throughput scenarios.
Critical Use Cases
1. Virtualization Host Boot Drives
Replacing HDDs with the E100D-SSD-480G reduces ESXi/vSphere host boot times from ~5 minutes to under 20 seconds.
2. HyperFlex Edge Clusters
In HyperFlex HX220c nodes, two E100D SSDs in RAID 1 provide fail-safe caching for edge sites with limited rack space.
3. Kubernetes Persistent Volumes
For lightweight containerized databases (e.g., Redis, PostgreSQL), the drive’s 1.3 PBW endurance ensures reliable long-term storage.
User Concerns Addressed
Q: Can this SSD be used to upgrade older UCS C240 M4 servers?
A: No. The M4 generation lacks SATA III controller support. Minimum requirement is UCS C220 M5 with firmware 4.0(4g).
Q: Does PLP protect against sudden power failures during writes?
A: Yes. The onboard capacitors provide ~50 ms of sustained power to flush DRAM buffers to NAND.
Q: Is hardware encryption supported?
A: No. The E100D lacks SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) functionality. Use software encryption like LUKS or BitLocker.
Common Deployment Pitfalls
- Overprovisioning Neglect: Allocating 100% capacity reduces write endurance. Reserve 7-10% via Cisco UCS Manager.
- Firmware Mismatches: Drives shipped with 22.3.2 firmware may cause compatibility issues with HyperFlex 4.0 nodes. Upgrade to 23.1.1 before deployment.
- Thermal Throttling: In densely packed UCS S3260 shelves, ambient temps above 35°C trigger throttling, cutting speeds by 40%.
Purchasing and Legacy Support
Cisco has phased out the E100D-SSD-480G in favor of NVMe drives like the X440C-M6, but refurbished units with 90-day warranties are available. For verified stock, visit [“E100D-SSD-480G=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).
Is the E100D Still a Viable Option in 2024?
While NVMe dominates modern data centers, the E100D-SSD-480G remains cost-effective for SMBs or labs running legacy UCS infrastructure. Its 1.3 PBW rating and PLP justify retention in non-critical roles like backup repositories or cold storage. However, for AI/ML workloads or real-time analytics, upgrading to Cisco’s X-Series NVMe drives is non-negotiable.