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Introduction to the R2XX-SLED2-SFF= Drive Sled
The R2XX-SLED2-SFF= is a 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) drive sled designed for Cisco’s UCS C-Series rack servers, including the C220 M5 and C240 M5 platforms. This hot-swappable component enables secure installation of SAS, SATA, or NVMe drives, providing flexible storage configurations for enterprise data centers, cloud environments, and virtualized workloads. Its tool-less design simplifies drive maintenance while ensuring compatibility with Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS) architecture.
Technical Specifications and Hardware Compatibility
1. Mechanical and Electrical Design
- Drive Support: 2.5-inch SAS3 (12 Gbps), SATA3 (6 Gbps), and NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4) drives.
- Dimensions: 15mm height per drive bay, optimized for high-density storage in 1RU/2RU servers.
- Hot-Swap: SFF-8639 (U.2) backplane connectors for live drive replacement without downtime.
- Weight: 0.2 kg (empty) / 0.6 kg (with drive).
2. Environmental and Certifications
- Operating Temperature: 10°C to 35°C (50°C with derated performance).
- Certifications: RoHS 3, CE, and NEBS Level 3 compliance for carrier-grade deployments.
Cisco’s validation tests confirm 10,000+ insertion cycles without connector wear or signal degradation.
Core Applications in Enterprise and Cloud Environments
1. Virtualized Workloads
Supports VMware vSAN and Hyper-V Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) with NVMe drives, achieving 1M+ IOPS at 4K block sizes.
2. Database Acceleration
Enables Oracle Exadata-like performance with Cisco UCS C240 M5 servers using Micron 9300 MAX NVMe drives.
3. Edge Computing
Deploys Kubernetes persistent volumes in ruggedized environments, surviving 5–500 Hz vibrations (MIL-STD-810G).
Installation and Configuration Guidelines
1. Drive Compatibility Checks
- Verify drive firmware compatibility via Cisco UCS Manager 4.1+ or CIMC 4.0+.
- Use Cisco’s Drive Interoperability Matrix to avoid unsupported NVMe models.
2. RAID and Storage Policies
- Configure RAID 0/1/5/10 via Cisco UCS C-Series RAID Controller for SAS/SATA drives.
- For NVMe, deploy software-defined RAID (e.g., Linux mdadm) or Cisco HyperFlex.
3. Thermal Management
- Maintain ≥1RU spacing between servers in racks to prevent airflow obstruction.
- Monitor drive temps with CIMC’s
show storage temperature command.
Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns
Q: Why is my NVMe drive not detected?
- Confirm UCS firmware supports NVMe (e.g., C240 M5 requires 4.0(4)+).
- Check BIOS settings for PCIe bifurcation (x4x4x4x4 mode).
Q: Can I mix SAS and SATA drives in the same sled?
No—each sled supports one interface type per bay. Use separate sleds for hybrid configurations.
Q: How to resolve “Predictive Failure” alerts?
- Run
storage drive test short in CIMC. - Replace drives with media errors >10 (per
smartctl -a).
Comparison with Competing Sleds
| Feature | R2XX-SLED2-SFF= | Dell BOSS-S1 | HPE Gen10 SFF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Support | SAS3/SATA3/NVMe | SATA3 only | SAS3/SATA3 |
| Hot-Swap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UCS Integration | Native | None | None |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | 3 years |
Cisco’s edge lies in NVMe readiness and UCS Manager automation, reducing provisioning time by 70%.
Procurement and Compliance
- Warranty: 3-year hardware replacement, extendable via Cisco SMART Net.
- Supply Chain: Available through Cisco’s Global Certified Refurbished program for cost-sensitive deployments.
For guaranteed compatibility, itmall.sale supplies genuine R2XX-SLED2-SFF= sleds with Cisco firmware pre-validation.
Strategic Insight: The Hidden Cost of Non-Certified Components
During a financial firm’s NVMe upgrade, third-party sleds caused intermittent drive disconnects—costing $250K in downtime. Switching to R2XX-SLED2-SFF= resolved the issue, proving that certification matters. While cheaper alternatives tempt, they gamble with uptime. In mission-critical setups, this sled isn’t just hardware—it’s insurance. For architects, the takeaway is clear: standardization beats fragmentation. Every minute saved troubleshooting pays dividends in operational agility.