Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 expansion Module Fabric Extender 8 External 25Gigabit

Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module

The Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module is an advanced component designed to enhance the performance and connectivity of the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS). This high-performance expansion module is primarily used to support up to 32 10Gb Ethernet ports, along with 8 additional 25 Gigabit SFP28 ports, allowing for scalable and flexible networking solutions in enterprise environments. Whether you're looking to upgrade your existing UCS infrastructure or build a new one, this expansion module provides a reliable, high-bandwidth solution for demanding workloads.

Key Features of the Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender

• High-Port Density: Equipped with 8 x 25 Gigabit SFP28 and 32 x 10Gb Ethernet ports, the UCS-IOM-2408 provides a massive increase in port density, making it ideal for data centers and enterprises that require high throughput and low latency.
• Advanced Fabric Connectivity: The module enables seamless communication between UCS servers and network infrastructure, offering low-latency and high-bandwidth data transmission.
• Enhanced Scalability: With support for up to 32 network ports, the expansion module ensures your UCS system can grow as your business needs evolve, making it an excellent choice for scalability in large IT environments.
• Energy Efficiency: Cisco's design focuses on energy efficiency, which is crucial for keeping operational costs low while maintaining high-performance standards.
• Compatibility: The UCS-IOM-2408 is fully compatible with various Cisco UCS chassis, allowing for simple integration into your existing setup without the need for major hardware changes.

Understanding the UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender's Role

The Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 plays a critical role in the overall UCS architecture. It serves as the fabric extender for connecting the compute nodes in a UCS chassis to the Cisco Unified Fabric. This allows the chassis to communicate with other parts of the UCS system, such as UCS managers, fabric interconnects, and storage devices, ensuring seamless and fast data movement within the entire system.

Fabric Extender vs. Fabric Interconnect

In UCS architecture, the fabric extender is often confused with the fabric interconnect. However, they have distinct functions:

• Fabric Extender: The UCS-IOM-2408 acts as an extension of the fabric interconnects, forwarding data from the servers to the fabric interconnects and then to other network devices.
• Fabric Interconnect: This component serves as the central hub that connects the UCS system to the network, managing traffic to and from the UCS components like servers, storage, and external network systems.

Technical Specifications

Connectivity and Port Configuration

The Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module comes with a balanced configuration of 25Gb SFP28 and 10Gb Ethernet ports. These ports offer flexibility for both high-speed networking and traditional Ethernet-based connectivity:

• 25Gb SFP28 Ports (8 Ports): These ports are ideal for applications requiring extremely high bandwidth, such as database management, video streaming, and big data processing.
• 10Gb Ethernet Ports (32 Ports): The module offers 10Gb Ethernet connectivity, which is widely used for most general networking tasks, including server-to-server communication, storage area networks (SANs), and client access.

Form Factor and Compatibility

The UCS-IOM-2408 is designed to be installed in a Cisco UCS chassis. It is fully compatible with the Cisco UCS 5100 Series Blade Servers, offering a modular approach to scaling your data center's networking infrastructure.

Speed and Bandwidth

The combination of 25Gb SFP28 and 10Gb Ethernet ports ensures that you have sufficient bandwidth for even the most demanding workloads. Whether you are handling large data transfers, running virtualized environments, or supporting high-performance computing (HPC), the UCS-IOM-2408 delivers the necessary throughput.

Redundancy and Reliability

Designed for mission-critical environments, the UCS-IOM-2408 comes with built-in redundancy features. It ensures that even in the event of a failure, your UCS system can continue operating without significant disruptions. This is achieved through dual-redundant power supplies and fabric connections.

Performance and Use Cases

Enterprise Data Centers

In large data centers, the Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module is used to connect UCS servers to high-performance networks. By incorporating high-speed 25Gb SFP28 ports, the expansion module supports intensive workloads, including virtualization, cloud applications, and data analytics.

Cloud Infrastructure

As cloud infrastructure continues to grow, so does the demand for high-speed and scalable networking solutions. The UCS-IOM-2408 is well-suited for cloud service providers who require flexibility, low latency, and high bandwidth to handle large-scale virtualization environments and service delivery to customers.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

The UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module provides the connectivity necessary for high-performance computing environments. This includes applications in scientific research, AI, machine learning, and simulation workloads, which demand the highest levels of bandwidth and low latency.

Network Redundancy and Failover

Built-in Network Failover Mechanism

In a highly available IT environment, network downtime can lead to substantial operational disruptions. The UCS-IOM-2408 fabric extender module includes a failover mechanism that allows seamless network failover between fabric connections. This redundancy ensures that traffic continues to flow uninterrupted in the event of a failure, keeping services available.

Link Aggregation and Load Balancing

In addition to failover, the UCS-IOM-2408 supports link aggregation and load balancing. These features enable the distribution of network traffic across multiple paths, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing bottlenecks in the network.

Management and Configuration

Integration with Cisco UCS Manager

The UCS-IOM-2408 integrates seamlessly with Cisco UCS Manager, the software that allows you to manage and monitor your UCS system. Cisco UCS Manager provides a unified view of your entire UCS infrastructure, including the fabric extender modules, servers, and storage devices, making it easier to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot your system.

Automated Provisioning and Configuration

Cisco UCS Manager offers automated provisioning, which simplifies the deployment of new systems. This is particularly useful for large-scale deployments where you need to configure hundreds or even thousands of devices in a short time. The UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender can be quickly integrated into the UCS system, enabling IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks.

Monitoring and Diagnostics

With the integrated management tools, Cisco UCS Manager provides in-depth monitoring and diagnostic capabilities for the UCS-IOM-2408. Real-time statistics and health checks enable network administrators to identify potential issues before they escalate, ensuring optimal performance and uptime.

Benefits of the Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 Fabric Extender Expansion Module

Scalable Performance

The Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 is a scalable solution designed to meet the growing needs of modern enterprises. Whether you are scaling up to meet increased demand or integrating new technologies, this expansion module offers a future-proof solution that can support additional servers, storage, and networking requirements as your infrastructure evolves.

Flexibility for a Range of Environments

With a wide range of connectivity options, including 25Gb SFP28 and 10Gb Ethernet ports, the UCS-IOM-2408 is versatile enough to support a variety of environments, from high-performance computing to cloud infrastructure and data centers. This flexibility makes it an ideal choice for organizations with diverse networking needs.

Optimized for Cisco UCS Architecture

When integrated into the Cisco UCS architecture, the UCS-IOM-2408 delivers optimized performance that ensures your network and server environments run smoothly. The module leverages the advanced features of Cisco UCS, including intelligent management, automation, and a unified fabric for reduced complexity and improved efficiency.

Cost Efficiency

By incorporating the Cisco UCS-IOM-2408 into your system, you can maximize your existing infrastructure investments. The module provides high-speed connectivity without the need for extensive hardware upgrades or replacement, delivering significant cost savings while enhancing performance.