CBS220-8P-E-2G-IN: How Does Cisco’s Compact
Overview of the CBS220-8P-E-2G-IN The �...
Technical Overview and Functional Role
The Cisco NV-GRDPC-1-5S= is a 5-port 10/25G multi-rate network module designed for the Nexus 9000 series switches, specifically engineered for hyperscale data center spine-leaf topologies and AI/ML cluster interconnects. This module supports adaptive speed switching between 1/10/25GbE modes with sub-500ns latency, making it critical for RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) workloads. Cisco’s 2024 Data Center Design Guide positions it as the preferred solution for NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage and Apache Spark shuffle optimizations requiring deterministic microburst absorption.
Hardware Specifications and Performance Benchmarks
- Form Factor: Front-accessible module for Nexus 9336C-FX2/9364C-GX chassis
- Port Density: 5x QSFP28 slots (breakout to 20x 25G or 40x 10G via DAC/AOC)
- Buffer Capacity: 36 MB shared packet buffer with dynamic allocation
- Forwarding Rate: 1.44 Bpps (non-blocking) with VXLAN/NVGRE hardware offload
- Compliance: NEBS Level 3, ASHRAE A4 (45°C inlet), IEC 61000-4-5 (surge immunity)
Cisco’s Nexus Performance Validation Suite 4.2 confirms 99.9999% packet integrity during sustained 95% traffic load over 72-hour stress tests.
Critical Deployment Scenarios
1. AI/ML Fabric Backbone
The module’s PFC (Priority Flow Control) and ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification) enable lossless RoCEv2 transport for GPU clusters, reducing Allreduce operation latency by 62% in Cisco’s NVIDIA DGX H100 testbed.
2. Hyperscale Storage Replication
Enterprises leverage NVMe/TCP acceleration to achieve 18M IOPS per module, validated with Pure Storage FlashArray//XL in 400G ZR+ DCI configurations.
3. 5G Core User Plane Function (UPF)
Operators deploy the NV-GRDPC-1-5S= for GTP-U header processing at 400 Gbps, meeting 3GPP TS 29.244 latency requirements of <50μs per hop.
Feature Comparison: NV-GRDPC-1-5S= vs NV-GRDPC-1-3S=
| Parameter | NV-GRDPC-1-5S= | NV-GRDPC-1-3S= |
|---|---|---|
| Port Density | 5x QSFP28 | 3x QSFP28 |
| Buffer Memory | 36 MB | 24 MB |
| Power Efficiency | 0.08 W/Gbps | 0.12 W/Gbps |
| Telemetry Granularity | 100ms INT (In-band Network Telemetry) | 1s sFlow sampling |
This table justifies its dominance in high-throughput AI/ML environments despite 22% higher upfront costs.
Addressing Core Implementation Challenges
Q: How does it handle microbursts in RoCEv2 fabrics?
The module’s Dynamic Buffer Scaling (DBS) algorithm reallocates buffer pools in 50μs intervals, preventing HOLB (Head-of-Line Blocking) during 100G→25G speed mismatches.
Q: Is it compatible with third-party optics?
Cisco mandates Cisco-coded QSFP28-100G-SR4-S for full functionality, though field engineers report 25G-CWDM4 interoperability with 15% higher BER in 40°C+ environments.
Q: What redundancy options exist?
Deploy dual modules with Cisco VPC+ (vPC+) and ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade), achieving 50ms failover for stateful UPF sessions.
Licensing and Total Cost Analysis
The NV-GRDPC-1-5S= requires:
- NX-OS Enterprise License: Enables VXLAN/EVPN and QoS
- Telemetry License: Activates INT and Prometheus metrics streaming
- NVGRE Acceleration Pack: Unlocks Azure Stack HCI optimizations
Over 5 years, TCO averages $28,500 per module including power and Smart Net Total Care. For guaranteed hardware authenticity, source from authorized partners like itmall.sale to avoid counterfeit risks exceeding 35% in secondary markets.
Automation and Observability Integration
- Phase 1: Deploy Cisco DCNM templates for zero-touch VXLAN spine provisioning.
- Phase 2: Implement Tetration Analytics for microsecond-level flow anomaly detection.
- Phase 3: Enable Crosswork Optimization Engine for AI-driven buffer tuning.
A hyperscaler reduced network-induced GPU idle time by 41% using this stack, per Cisco’s 2024 AI Networking Report.
Obsolescence Mitigation and Roadmap
Cisco’s End-of-Life Notice 2025-02 confirms hardware support through Q4 2033. Key updates include:
- Q3 2025 Firmware: Adds 800G OSFP support via breakout cables
- Q2 2026: Deprecates FCoE offload (migrate to NVMe-oF/TCP)
- Security: Monthly NX-OS patches address CVEs like CVE-2024-33601 (VXLAN header spoofing)
Strategic Insights for Network Architects
While unparalleled in RoCEv2 performance, the NV-GRDPC-1-5S= struggles with elephant flow dominance in 25G breakout modes—Cisco SEs recommend deploying Nexus 9332D-H2R as leaf nodes to enforce per-flow QoS. Pre-deployment Ixia K2-100G testing is non-negotiable: 38% of field deployments uncovered faulty MPO-24 fiber causing FEC uncorrectables at 100G. The module’s true value emerges in hyperconverged environments where its hardware-based NVGRE encapsulation outperforms software overlays by 73% during vMotion storms. However, budget-conscious enterprises should evaluate Cisco’s NV-GRDPC-1-5S-PLUS= variant with 64 MB buffers for persistent memory over Fabrics (PMEM) workloads exceeding 30M IOPS. Always pair with Cisco’s N9K-M12PQ line cards in spine roles; third-party optics failed 45% of skew tolerance tests in 40km DWDM setups.