UCSC-PCIE-E16002 Cisco 2 Ports 16GBPS Network Adapter

Overview of Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 2-Port 16Gbps Adapter

The Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 2 Ports 16Gbps Network Adapter is a high-speed internal server interface card engineered to deliver reliable Fibre Channel connectivity in modern data center environments. Designed for enterprise-class workloads, this adapter enhances storage networking performance by providing dual-port 16 Gbps throughput, ensuring low latency and high availability for mission-critical applications.

Built with Cisco’s advanced networking architecture, this adapter supports efficient SAN (Storage Area Network) integration, enabling seamless communication between servers and storage arrays. It is optimized for virtualization, cloud computing, and high-density data environments where fast and stable data transfer is essential.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: UCSC-PCIE-E16002
• Product Type: Network Adapter
• Form Factor: Internal PCI Express
• Data Link Protocol: Fibre Channel
• Maximum Data Rate: 16 Gbps per port
• Number of Ports: 2
• Connector Type: LC (Lucent Connector)

Performance Advantages

• Simultaneous dual-channel data transmission
• Reduced bottlenecks in SAN traffic
• Improved failover support for mission-critical systems
• Optimized throughput for virtualization clusters

Benefits of Fibre Channel Integration

• Dedicated storage networking without IP overhead
• Consistent low-latency performance
• High reliability for enterprise SAN deployments
• Scalable architecture for expanding storage environments

Common Deployment Applications

• Enterprise Storage Area Networks (SAN)
• Virtual machine hosting environments
• Database servers requiring high I/O throughput
• Cloud infrastructure and hybrid cloud systems
• High-availability backup and disaster recovery systems

Advantages of LC Connectivity

• Compact design suitable for high-density racks
• Secure and stable fiber optic connections
• Reduced signal loss over long distances
• Compatible with modern SAN fiber infrastructure

Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 2 Ports 16Gbps Network Adapter

The Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 2 Ports 16Gbps Network Adapter is a high-performance enterprise-class connectivity solution engineered for modern data center environments requiring ultra-low latency, high throughput, and resilient dual-port networking capabilities. Designed for integration into Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) platforms, this adapter delivers reliable 16Gbps-class data transmission optimized for storage-intensive workloads, virtualization environments, and mission-critical applications where uninterrupted data flow is essential.

As part of the broader enterprise networking portfolio developed by Cisco, this adapter is built to meet the demands of next-generation infrastructures that depend on scalable, high-speed interconnects between compute and storage layers. Its dual-port architecture ensures redundancy and load balancing, enabling organizations to maintain continuous service availability even under heavy traffic conditions.

Architectural Engineering and Hardware Design

High-Density Dual-Port Configuration

The dual-port design of the Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 provides two independent 16Gbps channels that operate simultaneously to maximize bandwidth utilization. This architecture is particularly beneficial in environments where multiple storage paths or network redundancies are required. Each port functions independently, ensuring that workloads can be distributed evenly or rerouted seamlessly in the event of a failure.

Advanced PCI Express Integration

Built for PCI Express host bus compatibility, the adapter integrates directly into enterprise server motherboards using a high-speed PCIe interface. This ensures minimal latency between the server CPU and the network layer, enabling faster packet processing and reduced bottlenecks. The PCIe architecture also enhances scalability, allowing deployment across a wide range of UCS rack and blade servers.

Optimized Signal Processing

The internal signal processing engine is optimized for high-throughput environments, reducing jitter and maintaining signal integrity even under sustained workloads. This ensures consistent 16Gbps performance per port, which is essential for storage area networks (SANs), virtualization clusters, and database replication systems.

Performance Capabilities and Throughput Efficiency

High-Speed Data Transfer

With a transmission speed of up to 16Gbps per port, the Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 is engineered to handle data-intensive operations such as large-scale virtualization migrations, real-time analytics, and high-volume transaction processing. The combined throughput of both ports enables aggregated bandwidth that significantly enhances overall system performance.

Low Latency Communication

Latency reduction is a core design principle of this adapter. By minimizing data traversal time between storage and compute nodes, the adapter ensures faster response times for mission-critical applications. This is particularly important in environments where milliseconds can impact transactional outcomes or system responsiveness.

Parallel Processing Efficiency

The dual-port structure allows simultaneous data streams, enabling parallel processing of network traffic. This reduces congestion and enhances the ability of enterprise systems to manage multiple workloads concurrently without performance degradation.

Enterprise Storage Connectivity and SAN Optimization

Fibre Channel Integration in Storage Networks

The Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 is frequently deployed in Storage Area Network (SAN) environments where high-speed Fibre Channel connectivity is essential. It provides a stable and efficient pathway between servers and storage arrays, ensuring that data replication, backup, and retrieval operations occur without interruption.

Data Center Storage Acceleration

In modern data centers, storage performance is a critical factor in overall system efficiency. This adapter enhances storage access speeds by reducing bottlenecks between compute nodes and storage arrays. As a result, applications that rely heavily on disk I/O operations benefit from improved responsiveness and reduced latency.

Multi-Path Redundancy

Multi-path architecture ensures that if one network path becomes unavailable, the system can automatically reroute traffic through the secondary port. This redundancy improves system resilience and reduces downtime risks, which is essential for enterprise-grade infrastructure.

Virtualization and Cloud Infrastructure Support

Support for Virtual Machine Environments

The Cisco UCSC-PCIE-E16002 is optimized for virtualization platforms that require high-speed interconnectivity between virtual machines and shared storage systems. Hypervisors benefit from the adapter’s ability to handle multiple virtualized network interfaces without performance loss.

Cloud-Ready Network Architecture

Cloud computing environments demand scalable and flexible network adapters capable of handling fluctuating workloads. This adapter supports cloud-native applications by providing consistent bandwidth allocation and efficient traffic management across distributed systems.

Compatibility with Cisco UCS Server Ecosystems

Integration with UCS Blade and Rack Servers

Designed specifically for Cisco UCS environments, the adapter integrates seamlessly with both blade and rack-mounted servers. This ensures consistent performance across heterogeneous deployments and simplifies infrastructure management.

Unified Computing Management

When deployed within UCS environments, the adapter can be managed through centralized UCS management tools, enabling administrators to configure, monitor, and optimize network performance from a single interface.

Firmware and Driver Synchronization

The adapter benefits from synchronized firmware and driver support within UCS ecosystems, ensuring compatibility with system updates and enhancing long-term operational stability.

Security and Data Integrity Enhancements

Secure Data Transmission

The adapter supports secure data transmission protocols designed to protect sensitive enterprise data during transfer. This is particularly important in regulated industries where data security is a top priority.

Isolation of Network Traffic

Traffic isolation capabilities ensure that different workloads remain separated, reducing the risk of data leakage and improving overall network security posture.

Data Center Optimization and Efficiency Improvements

Reduced Network Congestion

By distributing traffic across dual 16Gbps ports, the adapter significantly reduces congestion in high-demand environments. This improves overall data center efficiency and enhances application responsiveness.

Energy-Efficient Performance

The hardware is designed to deliver high throughput while maintaining energy efficiency, making it suitable for large-scale deployments where power consumption is a critical factor.

Infrastructure Consolidation Benefits

Organizations can consolidate networking infrastructure by leveraging high-performance adapters such as the UCSC-PCIE-E16002, reducing the need for multiple lower-speed interfaces and simplifying overall architecture.