HCI-CPU-I8461V=: What Is This Cisco Component? How Does It Power Hyperconverged Infrastructure?

Overview of HCI-CPU-I8461V=

The ​​HCI-CPU-I8461V=​​ is a critical processing unit designed for Cisco’s HyperFlex hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) systems. Unlike generic server CPUs, this component is optimized for distributed workloads, combining computational power with energy efficiency. Based on documentation from Cisco.com and availability data from itmall.sale, this module is engineered specifically for Cisco UCS C-Series servers integrated into HyperFlex clusters.

Technical Specifications and Architecture

The HCI-CPU-I8461V= leverages ​​Intel Xeon Scalable processors​​ (3rd Gen Ice Lake-SP architecture) to deliver:

• ​​28 physical cores​​ (56 threads) at a base clock of 2.6 GHz (up to 3.9 GHz turbo)
• ​​250W TDP​​ for high-density workloads
• ​​48 PCIe 4.0 lanes​​ to minimize I/O bottlenecks in HCI environments
• Support for ​​6 TB DDR4-3200 memory​​ per CPU

This configuration ensures seamless handling of virtualized workloads, including VMware vSAN, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Kubernetes clusters.

Compatibility and Use Cases

Supported Platforms

• ​​Cisco HyperFlex HX220c M6 Nodes​​: Validated for hybrid cloud deployments
• ​​Cisco UCS C4800 M5 Rack Servers​​: Backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0 backplanes

Ideal Workloads

• ​​Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)​​: Supports 800+ simultaneous sessions per node
• ​​Real-Time Analytics​​: Reduces query latency by 40% compared to prior-generation CPUs (Cisco HX benchmarks, 2023)
• ​​AI/ML Inference​​: Integrates with Cisco Intersight for GPU resource pooling

Deployment Scenarios and Performance Optimization

Scenario 1: Hybrid Cloud Workload Migration

A European logistics firm used HCI-CPU-I8461V= nodes to migrate SAP HANA workloads between on-prem HyperFlex clusters and AWS Outposts. The ​​48 PCIe lanes​​ enabled consistent 25 Gbps throughput during cross-cloud data sync.

Scenario 2: Edge Computing for IoT

A manufacturing plant deployed HyperFlex Edge nodes with this CPU to process sensor data from 12,000+ devices. ​​Intel Speed Select Technology​​ reduced latency spikes by 60% during peak shifts.

Cost and Licensing Considerations

• ​​Power Efficiency​​: At 250W TDP, the CPU consumes 18% less energy per core than AMD EPYC 7763 in comparable HCI setups (internal Cisco tests).
• ​​Cisco Smart Licensing​​: Mandatory for firmware updates and Intersight integration.
• ​​Availability​​: Sold exclusively through Cisco partners like itmall.sale, with lead times of 2–4 weeks as of Q3 2024.

Addressing Common Concerns

Q: Can HCI-CPU-I8461V= be upgraded in existing HyperFlex M5 nodes?

A: Yes, but it requires a ​​Cisco UCS VIC 15410 mLOM adapter​​ to fully utilize PCIe 4.0 bandwidth.

Q: How does it compare to HCI-GPU-I8462V= for AI workloads?

A: While the GPU variant excels at model training, the CPU-I8461V= is better suited for inference and data preprocessing due to its larger L3 cache (42 MB vs. 32 MB).

Final Insights

The HCI-CPU-I8461V= exemplifies Cisco’s focus on workload-specific hardware engineering. Its balance of core density, memory bandwidth, and PCIe 4.0 scalability makes it a pragmatic choice for enterprises modernizing hybrid cloud infrastructure. However, organizations must evaluate their hypervisor licensing costs (e.g., VMware vSphere core-based pricing) against the CPU’s 28-core design. For teams prioritizing future-proofing over upfront costs, this component delivers measurable ROI in large-scale HCI deployments—particularly where low-latency data processing is non-negotiable.

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