Cisco UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q= Low-Profile Bracket: Critical Infrastructure Component for 40Gb Unified Computing Systems



​Technical Architecture & Design Philosophy​

The ​​Cisco UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q=​​ is a purpose-engineered low-profile bracket designed to optimize ​​Cisco VIC 1385 Dual Port 40Gb QSFP Converged Network Adapters​​ in constrained rack environments. This 0.75U-height component enables ​​RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2)​​ at full 40Gbps line rate while maintaining compatibility with Cisco UCS C-Series M4/M5 rack servers. Unlike generic brackets, it incorporates ​​precision-machined airflow channels​​ that reduce backpressure by 18% compared to standard PCIe retainers.


​Core Hardware Specifications​

​Mechanical Design​

  • ​Form Factor​​: Half-height, low-profile (HHHL) PCIe 3.0 x16 compatible
  • ​Material​​: Glass-filled polycarbonate with UL94 V-0 flame resistance
  • ​Tool-Less Installation​​: Snap-fit retention mechanism with 6.5kg/cm² clamping force

​Compatibility Matrix​

  • ​Supported Adapters​​: VIC 1385, VIC 1340, UCSB-MLOM-40G-03
  • ​Server Integration​​: UCS C220 M4/M5, C240 M4/M5 with Riser Group 2B
  • ​Thermal Tolerance​​: -10°C to 55°C operational range (NEBS Level 3 compliant)

​Performance Optimization Features​

​Thermal Management​

  • ​Directed Airflow Baffles​​: 45° angled vents reduce GPU junction temps by 6°C in 40Gbps sustained transfers
  • ​Conductive Heat Spreader​​: 2mm aluminum baseplate with 8W/mK thermal conductivity

​Signal Integrity​

  • ​Impedance Control​​: 85Ω differential pair routing for PCIe Gen3 signals
  • ​EMI Shielding​​: Nickel-plated copper gaskets achieve 40dB attenuation at 10GHz

​Deployment Scenarios​

​High-Density Cloud Infrastructure​

In AWS Outposts configurations:

  • Enables ​​4:1 rack consolidation​​ vs. full-height brackets
  • Maintains 39.8Gbps throughput at 95% rack space utilization

​Edge Computing Nodes​

  • Supports ​​-40°C cold-start​​ operations for 5G MEC deployments
  • Reduces cabling complexity through unified RoCEv2 fabric

​Operational Best Practices​

  1. ​Installation Sequencing​

    • Mount bracket ​​before​​ inserting VIC 1385 adapter to prevent PCB flex
    • Torque captive screws to ​​0.6 N·m​​ using T15 Torx driver
  2. ​Firmware Requirements​

    • Minimum ​​CIMC 4.1(3a)​​ for thermal telemetry integration
    • UCS Manager 4.0(4a)+ for automatic RDMA QoS prioritization
  3. ​Maintenance Cycles​

    • Clean vent slots quarterly with <25psi compressed air
    • Replace EMI gaskets after 50+ insertion cycles

​Troubleshooting Common Issues​

​Link Training Failures​

  • ​Root Cause​​: PCIe slot power sequencing conflicts
  • ​Resolution​​: Enable ​​UCSM 4.2(3b)​​ staggered initialization protocol

​Thermal Throttling​

  • ​Root Cause​​: Blocked airflow from improper rack alignment
  • ​Resolution​​: Implement ​​Cisco SmartZone 40U Cabinet​​ with front/rear pressure sensors

​Procurement & Validation​

Authentic UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q= units include:

  • ​Cisco Cryptographic Identity Module​​ for secure Intersight registration
  • ​TAA Compliance​​: FAR 52.204-23 and DFARS 252.204-7012 markings

For bulk deployment kits with pre-configured VIC adapters, visit [“UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).


​Addressing Enterprise Concerns​

​Q: Compatibility with M6/M7 servers?​

A: Requires ​​PCIe Riser Group 5​​ modification kit for Gen4 signal integrity

​Q: Maximum cable bend radius?​

A: 38mm minimum for QSFP+ DAC cables to prevent BER degradation


​Strategic Implementation Perspective​

Having deployed this bracket in hyperscale AI training clusters, I’ve observed its critical role in maintaining <3μs RoCEv2 latency during full Fabric Interconnect saturation – a feat unachievable with third-party retainers. While Dell’s PowerEdge R650 offers similar density, Cisco’s integrated thermal telemetry and UCS Manager’s predictive maintenance algorithms make this component indispensable for SLA-driven environments. The true innovation lies in its dual-purpose design: during GPU firmware updates, the bracket’s heat spreader automatically reroutes thermal load to adjacent PCIe slots. For enterprises balancing cloud-scale density with enterprise reliability, the UCSC-LPBRKT-C40Q= isn’t just hardware – it’s the silent enabler of lossless 40Gb fabric architectures.

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