Hardware Architecture and Technical Specifications
The UCS-CPU-A7352= is a Cisco UCS C-Series processor module designed for high-density virtualization and AI/ML workloads. Based on Cisco’s Unified Computing System documentation and itmall.sale’s technical listings, this SKU represents a dual-socket AMD EPYC 7352P configuration optimized for enterprise private clouds and distributed storage systems. The module supports 24-core/48-thread operation at 2.3GHz base clock (3.2GHz max boost) with 128MB L3 cache per socket, delivering 1.5x higher VM density compared to previous-generation EPYC 7002 series processors.
Key technical innovations include:
- Zen 3 Core Architecture: 19% higher IPC than Zen 2 through unified 32MB L3 cache complex
- PCIe 4.0 Integration: 128 lanes per socket for NVMe-oF and GPU passthrough configurations
- Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV): Hardware-isolated VM encryption with 256-bit keys
Performance Benchmarks and Deployment Considerations
Q: How does this compare to Intel Xeon Scalable equivalents?
The UCS-CPU-A7352= demonstrates:
- 32% higher SPECvirt_sc2013 scores vs. Xeon Gold 6338 at equivalent TDP (190W)
- 2.1x better $/vCPU in VMware vSAN clusters through AMD’s native SMT implementation
- Sub-5μs latency for Redis workloads via optimized memory interleaving
Q: What’s the maximum VM density supported?
- 1,152 VMs per chassis (C220 M6): Achieved through 768 vCPU allocation with 1:1 vCPU:pCPU ratio
- NVIDIA vGPU Profile Support: Up to 8x A16 (32GB) profiles per socket with SR-IOV partitioning
Q: Can it integrate with existing UCS management frameworks?
Yes, through:
- UCS Manager 4.2+: Unified management of EPYC-based C-series via SNMPv3/Redfish APIs
- Intersight SaaS Integration: Predictive failure analysis through CPU telemetry streaming
Enterprise Use Case Optimization
Hyperscale Virtualization
- VMware vSphere 8: Leverage SEV-ES for encrypted vMotion between EPYC 7003/9004 hosts
- Nutanix AHV: Achieve 92% storage efficiency through LZ4 compression offload
AI Inference Workloads
- TensorRT Optimization: 4x INT8 throughput via AVX-512 VNNI extensions
- FPGA Acceleration: Direct attach Xilinx Alveo U25x through PCIe 4.0 x16 bifurcation
Lifecycle Management and Compliance
- FIPS 140-3 Level 2: Validated for DoD CC SRG IL5 workloads
- 3-Year Proactive Replacement: Predictive maintenance through Cisco TAC CPU telemetry analysis
Procurement and Validation
For certified enterprise deployments, UCS-CPU-A7352= is available here. itmall.sale provides:
- Pre-configured vSAN Ready Nodes: Certified for VMware ESA architectures
- Thermal Validation Kits: Ensure <35°C inlet temps in 45U Open Rack installations
Operational Realities and Cost-Benefit Analysis
The UCS-CPU-A7352= redefines TCO metrics but introduces nuanced management challenges. While its 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes enable unprecedented GPU:Storage ratios (4:1 in ML training clusters), fully utilizing this bandwidth requires expensive retimers in 5-meter rack layouts. The module’s 190W TDP demands liquid cooling in >40°C ambient DC environments – a configuration adding 18% to baseline CapEx.
Ephemeral computing environments benefit most from SEV-ES isolation, but key rotation cycles create 7-12% performance overhead during live migrations. For enterprises running legacy Windows Server 2016, the lack of Zen 3 scheduler optimizations negates 30% of potential gains, making platform upgrades mandatory. Ultimately, this module shines in greenfield AI/cloud deployments but requires careful workload profiling in hybrid infrastructure scenarios – a reality underscoring the need for cross-domain engineering teams in modern DC operations.