NC55-CFP2-DCAP=: High-Density Coherent Optics
Hardware Architecture & Core Capabilities The �...
Technical Specifications and Design Philosophy
The HCIX-NVMEG4-M3840= is a 3.84TB Gen4 NVMe SSD engineered for Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series nodes, targeting latency-sensitive enterprise workloads. Built on PCIe 4.0 x4 interfaces, it delivers:
- 7.8GB/s sequential read and 6.4GB/s write throughput
- 1.5M random read IOPS (4K block size) at <75μs latency
- 3 DWPD endurance rating over 5 years with TLC 3D NAND
Unlike previous-generation HyperFlex NVMe drives, it supports NVMe-oF TCP for disaggregated storage architectures.
Compatibility and HyperFlex Node Requirements
Supported Platforms
- HX220c M6/M7 and HXAF6C-M7 All-Flash nodes (HX Data Platform 6.0+)
- Unsupported Configurations:
- M5/M4 nodes (lack PCIe 4.0 root complex)
- HyperFlex Edge (incompatible with NVMe-oF TCP)
Cluster Deployment Rules
- Maximum 16 drives per 2U chassis (8 front + 8 rear bays)
- Mixed drive prohibition: Cannot combine Gen4 and Gen3 NVMe in same storage policy
Why NVMe Gen4 Matters for AI/ML Workloads
Reduced CPU Overhead
Gen4’s 64K command queues (vs. Gen3’s 32K) cut CPU utilization by 40% in TensorFlow/PyTorch data pipelines.
GPU DirectStorage Integration
Enables NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage bypassing host memory for:
- 2.1x faster model checkpointing in ML training
- 350μs end-to-end latency for inference payloads
Performance Benchmarks vs. Legacy Drives
| Metric | HCIX-NVMEG4-M3840= | HCI-NVMEG4-M1536= (Gen4) | SATA SSD (7.68TB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Random Read IOPS | 1.5M | 1.2M | 90K |
| Latency (4K write) | 85μs | 95μs | 450μs |
| $/GB (Usable) | $0.62 | $0.85 | $0.38 |
| Watts/TB | 8.5 | 9.2 | 5.1 |
The 3.84TB drive reduces rack space by 60% compared to 1.5TB models for petabyte-scale deployments.
Deployment Best Practices
RAID Configuration
- RAID 5 for capacity efficiency in VDI/backup workloads
- RAID 1 for AI training datasets requiring sub-100μs latency
Cooling Requirements
- Maintain 35°C (95°F) airflow at drive inlets
- 2U nodes: 40 CFM per drive bay minimum
Security and Encryption Features
- FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification with AES-256 XTS
- Secure Erase: Sanitizes 3.84TB in <15 minutes via Cisco UCS Manager
- TCG Opal 2.01 support for SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) management
Procurement and Lifecycle Management
- Not hot-swappable in rear bays: Requires node shutdown for replacement
- Firmware dependencies: HXDP 6.1.2+ for NVMe-oF TCP stability patches
For validated configurations and bulk pricing, visit the [“HCIX-NVMEG4-M3840=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).
Critical User Questions Addressed
Q: Can it replace existing Gen3 NVMe drives in M6 nodes?
Yes, but requires full storage policy rebuild and HXDP 6.0+ upgrade—expect 30% downtime during migration.
Q: Does it support hardware compression?
No. Offload compression to HyperFlex’s Data Platform layer instead.
Q: What’s the write endurance for 24/7 logging workloads?
At 3 DWPD, it sustains 21PB writes over 5 years—sufficient for Splunk Enterprise deployments.
Strategic Implementation Perspective
The HCIX-NVMEG4-M3840= bridges the gap between Hyperscale AI and enterprise HCI, but its value hinges on workload specificity. While it dominates in IOPS/$/GB metrics versus smaller Gen4 drives, the 3.84TB capacity introduces risk—single drive failures impact larger storage pools. For enterprises standardizing on TensorFlow or SAP HANA, it’s a game-changer; for general virtualization, SATA SSDs remain cost-effective. Always pair with Cisco Intersight’s predictive analytics to preempt endurance exhaustion in write-heavy environments.