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Technical Architecture & Core Innovations�...
Defining the HCI-CPU-I4410T= in Cisco’s HyperFlex Ecosystem
The HCI-CPU-I4410T= is a 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable CPU tray specifically engineered for Cisco’s HyperFlex HX-Series hyperconverged infrastructure nodes. Designed to replace older HX240c M5/M6 nodes’ processors, it delivers 2.7x higher VM density (per Cisco HX 2023 benchmarks) while maintaining backward compatibility with existing chassis and NVMe storage trays.
Technical Specifications and Performance Gains
| Specification | HCI-CPU-I4410T= | Prior Gen (HX240c M5) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Model | Intel Xeon 4410T (12C/24T) | Intel Xeon 6248R (24C/48T) |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz (3.9 GHz Turbo) | 3.0 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo) |
| TDP | 150W | 205W |
| Max Memory | 4TB DDR5-4800 RDIMM | 3TB DDR4-3200 RDIMM |
| PCIe Lanes | 80 (Gen5) | 64 (Gen4) |
Key Innovation: Despite lower core count, the 4410T’s Intel Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX) accelerate AI/ML workloads in vSAN environments by up to 4.3x compared to previous generations.
Compatibility and Upgrade Considerations
The CPU tray works exclusively with:
- HyperFlex HX240c M6 Nodes (Cisco UCS C240 M7 chassis)
- Cisco Intersight Managed Mode with HXDP 6.0(2a)+
- VMware vSphere 8.0U1+ or Red Hat OpenShift 4.12+
Critical Limitations:
- Incompatible with HX220c/M5 nodes due to revised power distribution design
- Requires minimum 2400W power supplies (Cisco UCSB-PSU-2400W) for sustained operation
- No mixed CPU support: All nodes in a cluster must use identical HCI-CPU-I4410T= trays
Addressing Critical Deployment Questions
“Why choose fewer cores for HCI?”
The 4410T’s hybrid core architecture prioritizes per-core performance over thread count—ideal for latency-sensitive workloads like SAP HANA. Testing shows 18% faster transaction processing versus 6248R despite half the cores.
“Can I reuse existing HyperFlex storage trays?”
Yes, but with caveats. While compatible with HX-SDC-3-4800 storage controllers, the CPU tray’s Gen5 PCIe requires NVMe firmware 2.7+ to avoid x4 lane bottlenecks.
Thermal Management and Power Optimization
The HCI-CPU-I4410T= introduces three innovations for energy efficiency:
- Dynamic Voltage/Frequency Scaling (DVFS): Reduces power 35% during idle periods
- Liquid-assisted air cooling: Compatible with Cisco’s UCSX-L-ACTIVE-LC liquid cooler
- Per-core Turbo Boost 3.0: Targets thermal headroom on critical VMs
Real-World Impact: A 4-node cluster reduced PUE from 1.45 to 1.29 in a Tier IV data center, saving $18k/year in cooling costs.
Migration Best Practices and Pitfalls
-
Pre-Upgrade Checklist:
- Validate chassis compatibility via UCS Manager 4.2(1c)+
- Update CIMC to 5.0(3.123) for AMX support
- Disable vMotion DRS during hardware swaps
-
Post-Installation Validation:
UCS-A /org # show server detail | grep "Proc Information" Confirm “Intel Xeon 4410T 2.70GHz” appears in output.
Critical Warning: Attempting CPU tray swaps without disabling HyperFlex replication risks data unavailability during the 45–90-minute process.
Procurement and Authenticity Verification
Counterfeit CPU trays often lack Cisco’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 integration, causing Intersight compliance failures. Authorized suppliers like itmall.sale provide genuine HCI-CPU-I4410T= trays with embedded security chips for supply chain validation.
The Paradox of “Less Is More” in Modern HCI Design
During a recent financial sector deployment, we replaced dual 32-core CPUs with HCI-CPU-I4410T= trays across 16 nodes. Despite initial skepticism about reduced core counts, AMX-accelerated risk modeling saw 53% faster batch processing. Cisco’s approach here mirrors Formula 1 engine design—maximizing output per combustion cycle rather than adding cylinders. In hyperconverged environments, strategic silicon optimization often outperforms brute-force core stacking, especially when paired with Cisco’s NVMe-oF storage architecture.