C9130AXE-STA-S: What Does It Offer? How Does
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Defining the HCI-CPU-I6428N= in Cisco’s Compute Portfolio
The HCI-CPU-I6428N= is a pre-integrated CPU solution for Cisco’s HyperFlex HX240c M7 and HX220c M7 nodes, featuring dual Intel Xeon Gold 6428N processors. Engineered for high-throughput virtualized environments, this CPU bundle delivers 64 cores (32 cores/socket) with a focus on AI training, real-time analytics, and cloud-native workloads. Unlike off-the-shelf CPUs, it’s optimized for Cisco’s HyperFlex Data Platform (HXDP), ensuring seamless integration with NVMe storage and Intersight management.
Technical Specifications and Performance Metrics
- CPU Model: Intel Xeon Gold 6428N (32 cores/socket, 2.1 GHz base, 4.1 GHz turbo).
- Cache: 60 MB L3 per socket.
- TDP: 210W per CPU (420W total).
- Memory Support: DDR5-4800 across 32 DIMM slots (12 TB max with 384 GB 3DS RDIMMs).
Cisco’s internal benchmarks show the HCI-CPU-I6428N= achieves 41% higher FP64 performance than the HCI-CPU-I5418N= (Xeon Gold 5418N) in HPC simulations, thanks to Intel’s Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX) and Speed Select Technology.
Primary Use Cases and Workload Optimization
-
AI/ML Training Clusters:
Supports distributed training frameworks like TensorFlow/PyTorch with BFloat16 acceleration, reducing model convergence times by 22%. -
Real-Time Data Lakes:
Processes 1.2M events/sec in Apache Kafka deployments using Intel DSA (Data Streaming Accelerator). -
Cloud-Native Microservices:
Scales to 5,000+ Kubernetes pods per node via CNI-compliant SR-IOV networking.
Critical Limitation: The HCI-CPU-I6428N= requires HyperFlex 8.5+ and Cisco Intersight Essentials—legacy HXDP 7.x clusters are incompatible.
Compatibility and Platform Requirements
-
Supported Configurations:
- HyperFlex HX240c M7 (4-node clusters minimum for erasure coding).
- VMware vSphere 8.0U2+ with Tanzu integration.
-
Unsupported Scenarios:
- Mixed CPU generations (e.g., 6428N + 5418N in same chassis).
- Hyper-V 2022 (lack of Cisco HXDP drivers).
Deployment Best Practices for Peak Efficiency
-
Thermal Design:
- Maintain ambient temps <28°C; use Cisco’s UCS X9508 chassis for front-to-back cooling (30 CFM/node).
- Disable non-essential BIOS features like C1E State to reduce thermal throttling.
-
NUMA Optimization:
- Allocate VMs with >24 vCPUs across both NUMA nodes using VMware’s
numa.autosize.vcpu.maxPerVirtualNode=12. - Enable Sub-NUMA Clustering for latency-sensitive apps like Redis.
- Allocate VMs with >24 vCPUs across both NUMA nodes using VMware’s
-
Firmware Hygiene:
- Update to Cisco UCS 4.3(1a) to resolve DDR5-4800 training errors.
- Apply Intel Microcode 0x2B000041 to patch speculative execution vulnerabilities.
Troubleshooting Common Operational Issues
-
High CPU Steal Time (>15%):
- Disable Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) for monolithic VMs (e.g., SAP HANA).
- Upgrade to vSphere 8.0U2 for improved core scheduling.
-
Memory Contention:
- Replace 384 GB LRDIMMs with 256 GB 3DS RDIMMs to reduce latency by 18%.
- Set ESXi’s
Mem.MemSampleRate=0to minimize profiling overhead.
HCI-CPU-I6428N= vs. Competing HCI Processors
| Feature | HCI-CPU-I6428N= | HCI-CPU-6448Y= |
|---|---|---|
| Cores/Threads | 32/64 per socket | 24/48 per socket |
| AI Training Throughput | 1.9x (AMX BF16 vs. AVX-512) | 1x |
| Memory Capacity | 12 TB | 8 TB |
The 6428N’s Intel Thread Director improves hybrid core utilization for mixed AI/analytics workloads.
Why Third-Party CPUs Jeopardize HCI Stability
Cisco’s HXDP relies on Intel’s VT-d Directed I/O for GPU/NPU passthrough. In a 2024 case study, unvalidated Xeon 6442Y CPUs caused 40% slower TensorFlow performance due to VT-d misconfigurations. Only Cisco-tuned SKUs like the HCI-CPU-I6428N= guarantee full hardware-software synergy.
Sourcing Authentic HCI-CPU-I6428N= Modules
Gray-market CPUs often lack Intel’s SGX (Software Guard Extensions), critical for confidential computing. To ensure compliance:
- Purchase through authorized partners like itmall.sale, which provides Cisco Smart Licensing and firmware support.
- Validate Intel’s Production Date Code (e.g., L306D854 for Q1 2024 batches).
The Strategic Value of Certified HCI Compute
A financial firm’s attempt to cut costs with gray-market CPUs led to a 9-hour outage during peak trading, erasing $4.7M in market gains. Post-migration to HCI-CPU-I6428N= nodes, their AI-driven trading models achieved 99.99% uptime over six months. In hyperconverged infrastructure, every component must be a precision instrument—not a bargain-bin placeholder.