C9K-ADPT-DC=: What Is This Cisco Adapter, How
Key Features of the C9K-ADPT-DC= The Cisco ...
Technical Profile of the HCI-RIS1A-22XM7=
The HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= is a PCIe Gen4 x16 riser module designed for Cisco’s Compute Hyperconverged X-Series M7 systems, optimized for high-density NVMe storage and GPU acceleration workloads. Based on Cisco’s 2025 HCI-X ordering guides, this component enables dual-slot GPU/FPGA configurations or 8x U.2 NVMe drive expansions in HCIX210C-M7 nodes. Key specifications include:
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x16 bifurcation support (x8x8 or x4x4x4x4 modes)
- Power Delivery: 300W peak via 12VHPWR connector (supports NVIDIA H100/A100 GPUs)
- Thermal Design: Active cooling with 40mm PWM fans (35dBA at 1m)
- Compatibility: Cisco UCS Manager 5.3+ and Intersight Managed Mode (IMM)
Performance Advantages in Hyperconverged Workloads
GPU Virtualization Optimization
The HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= enhances AI/ML training and VDI deployments through:
- SR-IOV Partitioning: Splits single GPU into 8 virtual instances for VMware vSphere/Anthos
- NVIDIA AI Enterprise Integration: Reduces GPU memory contention by 40% via hardware-accelerated context switching
- Thermal Throttling Threshold: Maintains GPU boost clocks up to 85°C ambient (vs. 75°C in M6 risers)
NVMe Storage Expansion
When configured for storage expansion, the module supports:
- 24GB/s Sequential Throughput: Through 8x PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drives (Samsung PM9A3 or Kioxia CM7)
- RAID 0/1/10 Hardware Acceleration: Offloads parity calculations to Cisco VIC 1527 adapters
- TCO Reduction: Enables 50% higher VM density compared to SATA/SAS HCI nodes
Addressing Critical User Concerns
“Is it backward-compatible with M6 chassis like HCIX-9508?”
No. The HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= requires:
- M7-specific backplane with PCIe 4.0 retimer circuits
- UCS Manager 5.3+ for dynamic lane bifurcation control
Legacy M6 systems using PCIe 3.0 risers (e.g., HCI-RIS1A-21XM6=) lack signal integrity for Gen4 speeds.
“How does it compare to HCI-RIS2B-24XM7= dual-width riser?”
| Metric | HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= | HCI-RIS2B-24XM7= |
|---|---|---|
| Slot Width | Single | Dual |
| Max GPU TDP | 300W | 600W |
| NVMe Drive Support | 8x U.2 | 4x E1.S |
| Ideal Workload | Edge AI/VDI | Core Datacenter HPC |
“What are the redundancy requirements?”
- N+1 Power: Mandatory with Cisco HCI-PSU-6536-AC= power supplies
- Dual Management Controllers: Prevents single-point failures in Intersight-managed clusters
Procurement and Validation Notes
For guaranteed compatibility with Cisco’s Hyperconverged X-Series M7 architecture, HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= is available through certified channels like itmall.sale. Validate configurations using:
- Cisco HCI Sizing Tool 5.2+: Ensures thermal/power headroom for mixed GPU/NVMe workloads
- Intersight Workload Optimizer: Automates PCIe lane allocation based on application SLAs
Final Observations
The HCI-RIS1A-22XM7= exemplifies Cisco’s strategy to decouple compute/storage scaling in hyperconverged systems. While its 8x NVMe configuration excels in MySQL/Oracle OLTP workloads, the real value emerges in hybrid AI deployments – pairing 4x GPUs with 4x NVMe caching tiers reduces TensorFlow/PyTorch training times by 30% compared to traditional SAN architectures. However, enterprises must balance its $/GB premium against actual workload profiles: overprovisioning PCIe lanes for legacy VDI clusters often yields diminishing returns. Always validate thermal simulations using Cisco’s HCI-X Thermal Design Guide before deployment, as improper airflow in 1U nodes can negate its performance advantages.