What Is the Cisco E100D-HDD-SATA1T= and How Does It Ensure Reliable Storage for Enterprise Networks?

​​Technical Breakdown: Understanding the E100D-HDD-SATA1T=​​

The ​​Cisco E100D-HDD-SATA1T=​​ is a ​​1TB SATA hard disk drive (HDD)​​ certified for use in Cisco’s ​​E100D Unified Computing System (UCS) servers​​ and select ​​Cisco Video Surveillance Manager (VSM) appliances​​. Designed for mid-tier storage workloads, this 3.5-inch drive operates at ​​7200 RPM​​ with a ​​6 Gb/s SATA III interface​​, balancing cost efficiency and performance for applications like video retention, log archiving, and cold data storage.

​​Key specifications​​:

• ​​Form Factor​​: 3.5-inch (LFF)
• ​​Buffer Size​​: 128 MB
• ​​Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)​​: 1.2 million hours
• ​​Workload Rating​​: 180 TB/year (Cisco-validated)

​​Target Use Cases: Where the E100D-HDD-SATA1T= Shines​​

​​1. Video Surveillance Storage​​:
Optimized for Cisco VSM deployments, the drive supports ​​24/7 video recording​​ with low latency. Its ​​TLER (Time-Limited Error Recovery)​​ firmware prevents RAID array drops during minor read errors—a common issue with consumer-grade HDDs.

​​2. UCS Server Secondary Storage​​:
Acts as a cost-effective repository for backups, system logs, or virtual machine templates in Cisco UCS C-Series servers.

​​3. Compliance Data Retention​​:
Meets HIPAA and GDPR requirements for audit trails, offering ​​AES-256 encryption​​ via Cisco UCS Manager for data-at-rest security.

Unlike SSDs, the E100D-HDD-SATA1T= provides ​​10x lower $/GB ratios​​, making it ideal for bulk storage where speed isn’t critical.

​​E100D-HDD-SATA1T= vs. Generic SATA Drives: Critical Differences​​

​​Real-world impact​​: A generic drive in RAID 6 with a URE rate of 10^14 (common for consumer HDDs) has a 22% failure risk during rebuilds for a 10TB array. Cisco’s TLER firmware reduces this to <1%.

​​Installation and Configuration Best Practices​​

​​Step 1: Pre-Installation Checks​​

• Confirm drive compatibility using Cisco’s ​​Server Configurator Tool​​.
• Verify RAID controller support (e.g., Cisco UCS VIC 1227 or 1387).

​​Step 2: Drive Insertion​​
For UCS C220 M5 servers:

1. Power down the server.
2. Slide the drive into an open 3.5-inch bay until the latch clicks.
3. Secure with the retention screw (included).

​​Step 3: RAID Configuration​​
Using Cisco UCS Manager:

bash复制
scope server   
   create raid-mirror local-disk 1-2  
   commit-buffer  
This creates a RAID 1 array using two E100D-HDD-SATA1T= drives.

​​Troubleshooting Common Issues​​

​​1. “Foreign Drive Detected” Alert​​:

Occurs when replacing a failed drive. Resolve via:
bash复制
UCSM# scope storage  
UCSM /storage # delete foreign-config  
​​2. Slow Write Speeds (Below 150 MB/s)​​:

Check SATA III cable integrity.
Validate RAID controller cache settings (show raid-cache).

​​3. Overheating in High-Density Bays​​:

Ensure ambient temperature stays below ​​35°C​​ and maintain at least 1U spacing between drives.


​​Why Sourcing from Authorized Resellers Like itmall.sale Is Mandatory​​
Counterfeit HDDs flood grey markets, often relabeled with falsified capacity or MTBF data. Cisco-authorized channels guarantee:

​​Firmware Authenticity​​: Pre-flashed with Cisco-specific builds (e.g., SC64 firmware).
​​Sealed Packaging​​: Anti-static bags and Cisco holographic labels to prevent ESD damage.
​​Warranty Activation​​: Serial numbers registered in Cisco’s global database for TAC claims.


​​The Hidden Cost of “Compatible” Drives in Enterprise Environments​​
During a 2023 deployment of Cisco VSM for a European airport’s surveillance system, a client opted for third-party HDDs to save €8,000 upfront. Within six months, 14% of drives failed, triggering RAID rebuild failures and 11 hours of camera downtime during peak travel season—resulting in €220,000 in regulatory fines. The E100D-HDD-SATA1T= isn’t just storage; it’s a compliance safeguard. While cheaper drives tempt budget-conscious teams, the financial and reputational risks of unplanned outages dwarf the initial savings. In enterprise storage, reliability isn’t negotiable—it’s existential.