UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB=: Technical Breakdown of Cisco’s High-Capacity Storage Solution for Enterprise Workloads

​​Understanding the UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB= in Cisco’s Ecosystem​​

The ​​UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB=​​ is a specialized storage expansion module designed for Cisco’s UCS C-Series rack servers. Tailored for data-intensive workloads like AI/ML training, video analytics, and large-scale virtualization, this solution integrates ​​6TB nearline SAS hard drives​​ into Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS) architecture. Unlike generic storage add-ons, it adheres to Cisco’s rigorous validation standards for reliability, scalability, and performance optimization.

​​Core Hardware Specifications & Design Philosophy​​

Cisco’s engineering documentation reveals three critical design pillars:

​​1. Storage Density & Scalability​​

• Supports ​​60 drives​​ in a ​​4U chassis​​, delivering ​​360TB raw capacity​​ (6TB x 60).
• ​​Hot-swappable drive trays​​ enable maintenance without downtime, critical for 24/7 enterprise operations.
• Compatible with ​​Cisco UCS C4800 M5​​ and ​​C220/C240 M6​​ servers via ​​Cisco 12G SAS expanders​​.

​​2. Performance Architecture​​

• ​​Dual 12Gbps SAS controllers​​ provide redundant data paths, eliminating single points of failure.
• Sustained throughput of ​​1.8GB/s per chassis​​ under RAID-6 configurations, validated for Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) workloads.
• ​​Advanced Data Integrity (ADI)​​ features detect and correct bit errors during data transmission.

​​3. Thermal & Power Efficiency​​

• ​​N+1 redundant cooling​​ with variable-speed fans reduces power consumption by 30% compared to previous-gen models.
• ​​Cisco UCS Manager integration​​ dynamically adjusts power profiles based on workload demands.

​​Key Differentiators Against Competing Solutions​​

The UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB= excels in three areas:

​​A. Unified Management​​

• ​​Cisco Intersight integration​​ allows centralized monitoring of storage health, predictive failure analysis, and firmware updates across hybrid clouds.
• ​​Preconfigured storage policies​​ for RAID-50/60 simplify deployment for Hadoop or VMware vSAN clusters.

​​B. Enterprise-Grade Resilience​​

• ​​RAID controller battery backup (72-hour retention)​​ ensures cached data persistence during power outages.
• ​​End-to-end CRC checks​​ prevent silent data corruption, a common risk in archival environments.

​​C. Investment Protection​​

• Backward compatibility with ​​Cisco UCS C4600 M4​​ servers protects legacy infrastructure investments.
• Modular design supports incremental capacity expansion via pre-validated drive bundles from ITmall.sale.

​​Deployment Scenarios & Workload Optimization​​

​​1. AI/ML Training Data Repositories​​
The module’s high throughput and low latency (≤4ms) accelerate read/write operations for TensorFlow or PyTorch datasets. Cisco benchmarks show a ​​22% reduction in model training times​​ versus JBOD configurations.

​​2. Surveillance & Media Asset Management​​

• ​​RAID-60 support​​ ensures fault tolerance for video archives exceeding 10PB.
• ​​256-bit AES encryption​​ at rest complies with GDPR and HIPAA for sensitive footage.

​​3. Virtualized Database Backends​​

• ​​VMware VAAI integration​​ offloads storage tasks (e.g., cloning, snapshots) to the hardware layer.
• ​​SCSI-3 Persistent Reservations​​ prevent split-brain scenarios in Oracle RAC clusters.

​​Addressing Common Buyer Questions​​

​​Q: Can existing UCS C-Series servers support this module without upgrades?​​
A: Yes, provided they have ​​Cisco UCS VIC 1457 SAS adapters​​ and run ​​UCS Manager 4.0(4a)+​​. Older M4 servers require a firmware patch for drive recognition.

​​Q: How does RAID configuration impact usable capacity?​​
A: RAID-6 (dual parity) yields ​​327TB usable storage​​ (360TB raw), while RAID-10 offers ​​180TB​​ but doubles I/O performance for OLTP workloads.

​​Q: What maintenance practices extend drive lifespan?​​
A: Cisco recommends:

• ​​Annual drive health audits​​ using UCS Manager’s SMART analytics.
• ​​Staggered drive replacement​​ to avoid multiple rebuilds straining the array.

​​Cost vs. Benefit Analysis for Procurement Teams​​

While the upfront cost of the UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB= is higher than DIY NAS solutions, TCO advantages emerge over 5 years:

• ​​40% lower failure rate​​ compared to consumer-grade HDDs, reducing replacement costs.
• ​​Unified support contracts​​ covering servers, storage, and networking under Cisco TAC.
• ​​Energy savings​​ of 3,200/yearperchassis(basedon3,200/year per chassis (based on 3,200/yearperchassis(basedon0.12/kWh).

​​Strategic Value in Modern Data Centers​​

Having evaluated this solution against hyperscaler storage architectures, its strength lies in bridging enterprise reliability with cloud-scale density. While all-flash arrays dominate latency-sensitive apps, the UCSC-C3X60-HD6TB= remains indispensable for cost-sensitive bulk storage—particularly in sectors like genomics or seismic analysis, where data growth outpaces budget increases. The module’s compatibility with Cisco’s AIOps tools (e.g., ThousandEyes for predictive analytics) further positions it as a transitional asset for hybrid cloud maturity. Organizations prioritizing vendor accountability and seamless scalability will find it a pragmatic choice, even as newer 20TB HDDs enter the market.

Note: Technical assertions align with Cisco’s UCS C-Series documentation (Cisco UCS C4800 M5 Server Spec Sheet, Doc ID: UCS-C4800-M5-SPEC) and real-world benchmarks from Cisco Live 2023 sessions. All pricing and performance metrics assume enterprise-grade deployment conditions.