Cisco UCS-SD-128G Storage Module: Architectur
Core Hardware Architecture & Enterprise Readi...
Hardware Design and Storage Specifications
The Cisco UCSX-SD16TKA3X-EP is a 2.5-inch NVMe Gen4 enterprise SSD designed for Cisco’s UCS X-Series modular systems, delivering 16TB raw capacity with 7.2 GB/s sequential read and 5.4 GB/s write speeds. Utilizing 176-layer 3D TLC NAND with 1.5 DWPD endurance, the drive features Cisco FlexStorage Architecture that enables dynamic allocation of overprovisioning (7-25%) based on workload demands.
Key technical innovations:
- Dual-Port PCIe 4.0 x4 Interface: Supports active-active failover with 45μs path switch latency
- Cisco Quantum Encryption Engine: Post-quantum Kyber-768 algorithm in dedicated security co-processor
- Thermal Velocity Boost: Sustains 7.0 GB/s reads at <65°C through adaptive NAND clock scaling
Compatibility and Firmware Requirements
Validated for deployment in:
- Cisco UCS X210c M7/M8 Nodes: Requires CIMC 7.1(4d)+ for Secure Boot with NVMeoF
- Hypervisors: VMware vSphere 8.0 U3 (vVols 4.0) and Kubernetes 1.29 (CSI driver 3.8+)
- RAID Configurations: RAID 0/1/5/6 via Cisco UCS 9560-24i PCIe Gen4 controller
Critical compatibility considerations:
- Mixing with SAS SSDs in same storage pool reduces IOPS by 28% due to protocol translation overhead
- Requires UCSX 9608 Chassis Manager 6.2+ for coordinated thermal throttling across 24 drives
- Incompatible with legacy UCS C480 M5 ML servers due to PCIe lane bifurcation limitations
Performance Benchmarks
Cisco TAC validation results (24-drive cluster):
- Random 4K Read: 1.8M IOPS at 180μs latency (QD256)
- Mixed OLTP Workload: 680K IOPS (70/30 R/W) with 0.9ms P99 latency
- Sequential Write: Sustained 5.1 GB/s for 48 hours (1MB blocks)
Accelerated life testing demonstrated 98.3% of drives exceeded 8.8 PBW endurance with proper airflow (ΔT <12°C).
Thermal and Power Management
With 22W active power consumption (30W peak):
- Chassis Cooling: Requires 28 CFM front-to-back airflow (40°C max inlet temp)
- Adaptive Throttling: Reduces clock speed by 33% when NAND temps exceed 72°C
- Power Capping: Cisco Intersight’s Storage Power Manager limits drives to 18W during grid events
Field data shows improper drive spacing increases temps by 14°C, causing 19% performance throttling.
Procurement and Supply Chain Security
For guaranteed compatibility, [“UCSX-SD16TKA3X-EP” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) provides:
- Cisco Secure Erase Validation Certificates (NIST 800-88r1 compliant)
- Pre-configured quantum encryption profiles for defense sector deployments
- TAA-compliant configurations with serialized audit trails
Gray-market drives often lack Cisco Kyber-768 Key Vaults, exposing data to quantum computing attacks.
Deployment Scenarios and Constraints
AI Training Clusters:
- 24-drive configurations deliver 384TB raw capacity per chassis
- Requires 22% OP allocation for optimal TensorFlow checkpoint performance
Mission-Critical Databases:
- Supports 512 NVMe namespaces with per-namespace QoS controls
- Oracle Exadata X9M validated for 1.2M IOPS per rack unit
Limitations:
- No hardware compression for VMware vSAN ESA deployments
- 32K ODirect writes incur 22% performance penalty vs 64K blocks
- Hot-swap requires UCSX Drive Tray 2400-SWAP= kits
Technical Evaluation
The UCSX-SD16TKA3X-EP redefines enterprise storage density but exposes operational complexities in multi-vendor environments. While its quantum-safe encryption sets new security benchmarks, the lack of hardware compression limits appeal for hyperscale cloud providers. For financial institutions and defense contractors, it represents the only NVMe solution combining FIPS 140-3 Level 4 validation with post-quantum cryptography—a critical differentiator despite 35% cost premium over generic alternatives. However, the drive’s future relevance depends on Cisco’s ability to integrate CXL 2.0 memory pooling capabilities before 2025, a feature competitors like Dell PowerEdge MX already roadmap.