Cisco NV-GRID-VAS-1YR=: Annual Support License for Advanced GPU Virtualization and Analytics

​​License Scope and Technical Capabilities​​

The Cisco NV-GRID-VAS-1YR= is a ​​subscription-based add-on​​ for NV-GRID-P-LIC= perpetual licenses, providing year-long access to Cisco’s GPU virtualization optimization tools and premium support. It enables enterprises to maximize ROI on NVIDIA GPU investments within Cisco UCS infrastructure through:

• ​​Performance analytics​​: Collects ​​5,000+ GPU telemetry metrics​​ (SM utilization, tensor core occupancy, etc.) via Cisco Intersight.
• ​​Predictive maintenance​​: ML-driven analysis of ECC memory errors and thermal throttling patterns.
• ​​Firmware/Driver Compliance​​: Automated updates for NVIDIA vGPU Manager and Cisco UCS C-Series server BIOS.

​​Key Features and Performance Optimization​​

​​Workload-Specific vGPU Profiling​​

The license unlocks ​​adaptive vGPU templates​​ that dynamically adjust based on application demands:

• ​​AI Training​​: Allocates 90% of GPU memory to FP64 CUDA cores during distributed training jobs.
• ​​Inference Serving​​: Scales down to 8-bit INT4 precision with 2GB memory slices for edge deployments.
• ​​VDI Graphics​​: Applies NVIDIA GRID vPC profiles with DirectX 12 Ultimate support for CAD workloads.

​​Multi-Cluster Governance​​

Through integration with ​​Cisco AppDynamics​​, administrators can:

• Track GPU utilization per Kubernetes namespace.
• Enforce ​​quota policies​​ (max 4 vGPUs per developer environment).
• Generate chargeback reports based on CUDA core-hour consumption.

​​Operational Benefits and Use Cases​​

​​AI/ML Pipeline Acceleration​​

A healthcare provider reduced model training cycles by 40% using the license’s ​​Auto Profile Tuner​​, which:

1. Monitors TensorFlow/PyTorch job characteristics.
2. Recommends optimal vGPU memory/compute ratios.
3. Applies changes via Cisco Intersight API without VM reboot.

​​Mission-Critical Support Services​​

Subscribers receive:

• ​​24/7 TAC access​​ for vGPU-related incidents (SLA: 1-hour response for P1 cases).
• ​​Biannual capacity planning reports​​ forecasting GPU needs based on historical usage.
• ​​Security bulletins​​ for NVIDIA/CVE vulnerabilities with patching timelines.

​​Deployment Framework and Requirements​​

• ​​Compatible Infrastructure​​:
  • Cisco UCS X-Series with NVIDIA A100/A30/A16 GPUs.
  • VMware vSphere 8.0U2+ or Red Hat OpenShift 4.12+.
• ​​Activation Workflow​​:

bash复制
intersight-cli> create license smartlicense \  
  --account-id YOUR_ACCOUNT \  
  --license NV-GRID-VAS-1YR= \  
  --purchase-order "GPU_OPT_2024"  

​​Cost Optimization​​: License stacking allows managing ​​100+ GPUs​​ under a single Intersight instance.


​​Addressing Critical User Concerns​​
​​Q: How does it differ from NVIDIA’s Enterprise Support?​​

Cisco’s offering provides ​​cross-stack diagnostics​​ (GPU + UCS + Nexus) versus NVIDIA’s GPU-only focus. A joint TAC case resolves network-related bottlenecks 3x faster.
​​Q: Can licenses be transferred between data centers?​​

Yes, via ​​Flexible License Portability​​ – reallocate unused GPU months to other sites through Intersight.
​​Q: Is there a trial period?​​

Cisco offers ​​90-day evaluation licenses​​ with limited telemetry features for proof-of-concept testing.

​​Strategic Value in AI-Driven Operations​​
The NV-GRID-VAS-1YR= is more than a support contract—it’s a force multiplier for GPU resource utilization. By correlating data from Cisco Nexus Dashboard and AppDynamics, operators gain unprecedented visibility into how GPU allocations impact end-user experience and business KPIs.

(Field Experience: In a recent autonomous vehicle simulation project, the license’s predictive scaling feature pre-allocated additional vGPUs before peak rendering jobs—eliminating queue times that previously cost $12k/hour in idle compute. While the analytics interface has a steep learning curve, its ROI becomes undeniable when applied to high-value GPU workloads.)