UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=: Storage Expansion Architecture, Endurance Metrics, and Enterprise Use Cases

Hardware Design and Core Specifications

The ​​UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=​​ is a dual-M.2 NVMe SSD expansion module engineered for Cisco UCS C-Series and S-Series rack servers, targeting high-throughput storage workloads such as AI/ML training, real-time analytics, and edge computing. Cisco’s technical briefs confirm it houses two ​​240GB NVMe SSDs​​ in a hot-swappable, front-accessible form factor, supporting PCIe Gen4 x4 lanes per drive. Key specifications include:

• ​​NAND Type​​: 3D TLC with 1.5 DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day) endurance.
• ​​Encryption​​: AES-256-XTS via Cisco UCS Manager-integrated self-encrypting drive (SED) policies.
• ​​Latency​​: 90μs read / 15μs write (4K random, QD1).

The module integrates with Cisco’s ​​UCS VIC 15238​​ adapters for end-to-end NVMe-oF (NVMe over Fabrics) support, enabling 25Gbps fabric connectivity to HyperFlex or third-party storage arrays.

Performance Benchmarks and Workload Optimization

Cisco’s 2023 Storage Performance Validation Guide highlights the ​​UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=​​’s capabilities in these scenarios:

• ​​AI Training​​: 42,000 IOPS per module when handling TensorFlow checkpointing on UCS C480 ML servers.
• ​​Database Logging​​: 12μs write latency for MySQL InnoDB redo logs (tested on UCS C220 M7 nodes).
• ​​Video Surveillance​​: Sustained 1.2GB/s throughput for 50x 4K H.265 streams using Milestone XProtect.

A European automotive manufacturer reduced edge inference latency by 33% by deploying the module as a caching tier for NVIDIA TAO toolkit workflows.

Enterprise Deployment Scenarios

Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)

The module serves as a ​​boot drive​​ or ​​write buffer​​ for Cisco HyperFlex clusters, reducing vSAN read-cache misses by 28% (per Cisco’s HyperFlex 4.5 CVD).

Edge AI and IoT

With ​​Cisco IOx​​ integration, the ​​UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=​​ supports Docker containers and Kubernetes persistent volumes, ideal for processing telemetry from 5G base stations or industrial sensors.

RAID Configurations

• ​​RAID 0​​: 4.6GB/s sequential read (128KB blocks).
• ​​RAID 1​​: 2.3GB/s write with automatic failover to standby SSD.

​​Critical limitation​​: RAID 5/6 requires external controllers like ​​UCSC-RAID-M5=​​.

Compatibility and Firmware Requirements

The module is validated for:

• ​​UCS C240 M7/C480 ML M7​​: Firmware 5.0(1a) or newer.
• ​​UCS S3260 Storage Server​​: Requires ​​UCSC-SAS35G-08=​​ HBAs for SAS/SATA coexistence.
• ​​Intersight Managed Mode (IMM)​​: Automated health monitoring via Cisco’s cloud ops platform.

​​Unsupported configurations​​:

• Mixing 240GB and 480GB SSDs in the same chassis.
• Using non-Cisco M.2 drives (e.g., Samsung PM9A3) due to firmware signature checks.

Thermal and Power Efficiency

The ​​UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=​​ employs ​​Cisco’s Dynamic Thermal Throttling​​, capping drive temperatures at 75°C during sustained writes. Key metrics from Cisco’s Thermal Design Guide:

• ​​Idle Power​​: 3.8W per SSD (25°C ambient).
• ​​Active Power​​: 8.2W per SSD (70% read/30% write workload).
• ​​Cooling Requirements​​: Minimum 1U chassis fan speed of 40% (UCS-FAN-40CFM=).

Enterprises must avoid vertical stacking of >4 modules in 2U chassis to prevent thermal saturation.

Procurement and Lifecycle Management

“UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=” is available through ITMall.sale’s Cisco-certified inventory, with 2–4-week lead times for preconfigured RAID kits. Cisco’s ​​3-Year Limited Warranty​​ covers defects but excludes NAND wear-out beyond 1.5 DWPD.

Critical procurement guidelines:

• Pair with ​​UCSC-M2-CACHE=​​ software for automated tiered caching.
• Use ​​Cisco UCS Manager​​ 4.3 or newer for SED policy enforcement.
• Validate firmware using Cisco’s ​​SSD Management Utility​​ before deployment.

Strategic Value in Data-Intensive Workloads

The ​​UCSC-M2EXT-240-D=​​ exemplifies Cisco’s focus on balancing storage density and deterministic latency for modern applications. While its 240GB capacity may seem modest, the module’s 1.5 DWPD endurance and sub-100μs latency make it a cost-effective solution for metadata-heavy workloads like distributed tracing or AI checkpointing. Enterprises must weigh this against emerging E1.S and U.2 form factors—though M.2 remains indispensable for edge deployments constrained by space and power. For organizations standardized on UCS infrastructure, this module is a tactical enabler for bridging the performance gap between DRAM and traditional bulk storage.