UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 Cisco VIC 1440 Modular LOM 40GbE Adapter for M5 M6 Blade server

Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 VIC 1440 Modular LOM Adapter 

The Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 VIC 1440 serves as a high-efficiency modular LOM interface designed specifically for Cisco UCS M5 and M6 blade servers operating in contemporary enterprise computing ecosystems. This adapter enhances connectivity performance by delivering dual-port 40 Gigabit Ethernet functionality while also supporting advanced fabric features that optimize throughput across data-intensive workloads. Within the Cisco Unified Computing System architecture, the VIC 1440 acts as an integrated channel for low-latency network communication, ensuring that compute nodes sustain reliable, high-bandwidth links to fabric interconnects during peak demand periods. Its ability to handle dynamic traffic patterns and accommodate virtualization-oriented data flows positions it as a critical component for modern blade server configurations that require scalable I/O and consistent operational readiness.

Architectural Design Philosophy of the Cisco VIC 1440 in Blade Server Environments

The foundational architecture of the Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 centers on flexible I/O infrastructure capable of adapting to changing performance requirements across virtualized data centers. Built as a modular LOM, the adapter fits directly into the blade chassis without occupying a traditional PCIe slot, allowing streamlined server expansion and improved system density. Its design integrates seamlessly with Cisco UCS Manager, granting administrators full control over I/O configurations, QoS prioritization, and network profile assignments. This architectural model ensures network resources remain aligned with application workloads regardless of shifting operational circumstances. By supplying hardware-based acceleration for networking tasks, the VIC 1440 reduces compute overhead and enhances the throughput potential of cloud-scale deployments.

40GbE Throughput Advantages for High-Density Virtualization Clusters

High-density virtualization clusters depend on robust connectivity infrastructure to support large numbers of virtual machines, container-oriented platforms, and hypervisor-related services. The 40GbE capability offered by the Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 provides substantially greater bandwidth compared to earlier 10GbE interfaces, allowing enterprises to consolidate network traffic while decreasing bottleneck risks. Virtual machine migrations, storage replication operations, and distributed application traffic benefit from the adapter’s ability to maintain reliable throughput even during peak operational loads. Cisco’s hardware virtualization technology within the VIC 1440 supports dynamic vNIC allocation, enabling administrators to assign multiple logical interfaces per physical port. This approach ensures precise traffic segmentation and greater flexibility for multi-tenant cloud infrastructures.

Latency Reduction and Predictable Interconnect Behavior

The predictable latency characteristics of the Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 derive from its tightly integrated design within the UCS chassis architecture. Traditional adapters rely on layered interconnect paths that can create delay under heavy load, but the modular LOM implementation reduces the physical distance between the network fabric and the server processor complex. This contributes to a more deterministic networking experience, enhancing overall application performance for sensitive operations such as real-time analytics, video processing, and transaction-oriented enterprise platforms. The deterministic behavior becomes increasingly important in hyperscale environments where thousands of interconnected nodes must maintain synchronous communication standards.

Consistent Performance for Mission-Critical Compute Nodes

When blade servers are assigned to mission-critical roles, reliability and consistent network performance become central to operational strategy. The VIC 1440 supports these needs by providing resilient connectivity built on Cisco’s fault-tolerant fabric technology. Combined with UCS Manager’s policy-driven approach, the adapter ensures that any change in workload type or demand level does not compromise network quality. This level of consistency is valuable for multi-tier enterprise applications, hybrid cloud deployments, and high-performance computing frameworks where downtime or performance dips can create cascading disruptions.

Integration with Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects and Unified Management Frameworks

The UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 integrates directly with Cisco UCS fabric interconnects, forming a seamless data path between servers and the unified fabric. This integration enables centralized control through UCS Manager, where administrators can define service profiles, manage firmware, and enforce connectivity rules from a single management dashboard. The unified architecture reduces complexity by eliminating the need for separate networking and compute configuration workflows. This benefit becomes noticeable in large-scale environments where operations teams must manage hundreds of servers with minimal human intervention. By automating I/O assignment and network identity provisioning, the VIC 1440 supports rapid deployment cycles and improves the consistency of server provisioning tasks.

Policy-Based Network Configuration Optimized for Large Environments

Policy-based automation allows organizations to deploy and manage servers without manual network configuration. Within UCS Manager, administrators can define templates for network settings, bandwidth allocation, VLAN assignments, and performance thresholds. These policies are then automatically applied to the VIC 1440 adapter whenever a server is deployed or reconfigured, removing the potential for configuration drift and human error. This model supports standardized network behavior across entire clusters, maintaining predictable performance during scaling events or workload migrations.

Enhanced Security and Isolation via Virtual Interface Profiles

The VIC 1440 supports virtual interface profiles that assign identity, QoS policies, and segmentation rules to virtual network interfaces. This mechanism enhances security by ensuring strict isolation between workloads hosted on the same physical hardware. Sensitive workloads such as financial computing processes or confidential enterprise analytics benefit from this isolation model. In addition, administrators can perform real-time modifications to network profiles without requiring server downtime, increasing operational flexibility and supporting continuous service availability.

Improved Compliance Alignment Across Enterprise Deployments

Enterprises often operate under strict regulatory requirements that demand consistent, auditable network policies. The VIC 1440’s integration with UCS Manager helps organizations maintain compliance by enforcing standardized configurations. Because policies propagate automatically across all managed servers, IT teams can ensure that every deployed node adheres to the same security and network governance rules, simplifying audits and reducing risk exposure.

Hardware Efficiency and Resource Optimization Provided by the VIC 1440

The Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 is engineered for hardware efficiency, providing exceptional network performance with minimal server resource consumption. Its design leverages Cisco’s ASIC-based acceleration to handle high-speed packet processing directly on the adapter card. This reduces the load on the server CPU, allowing more processing capacity to be dedicated to applications rather than network overhead. The adapter’s low-power design also contributes to energy optimization within blade chassis, supporting sustainable data center operations without compromising performance.

Advanced Packet Handling and Intelligent Traffic Management

Efficient packet handling is essential for maintaining throughput during complex networking scenarios. The VIC 1440 incorporates hardware-level offloading functions that support intelligent packet steering, receive-side scaling, and flow classification. These capabilities enable the adapter to distribute network processing tasks more effectively across available resources. With intelligent traffic management, latency-sensitive workloads maintain superior performance even when operating alongside data-heavy processes.

Scalability Advantages for Expanding Compute Clusters

As compute clusters expand to address new demands, networking infrastructure must scale accordingly. The 40GbE capability of the VIC 1440 delivers headroom that accommodates growing workloads without requiring immediate hardware upgrades. This scalability advantage becomes particularly important in environments supporting artificial intelligence pipelines, large-scale container orchestration, or multi-layered virtualization systems. The modular LOM form factor also ensures that servers maintain high I/O density even as node counts increase.

Sustained Performance Under High Workload Diversity

The modern data center hosts a wide range of workloads, each with unique network characteristics. The VIC 1440 is engineered to handle these diverse requirements without performance degradation. Whether dealing with small-packet transactional workloads, large-volume file transfers, distributed storage communication, or east-west application traffic, the adapter maintains stability and throughput across varying usage conditions.

Compatibility and Deployment Flexibility for Cisco M5 and M6 Blade Servers

Compatibility plays a vital role in determining network adapter value, and the Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 is purpose-built for M5 and M6 UCS blade servers. Its modular LOM design ensures that it integrates naturally with these systems, enabling consistent behavior across generations of hardware. Administrators benefit from standardized configuration procedures and simplified deployment workflows. Because the adapter is native to the UCS architecture, it also supports fast firmware updates and coordinated system maintenance through UCS Manager.

Deployment Efficiency in Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Architectures

Hybrid and multi-cloud architectures require network components capable of bridging on-premises environments with cloud-based platforms. The VIC 1440 supports this requirement by offering robust connectivity performance, predictable behavior, and flexible virtualization capabilities. These attributes allow enterprises to extend compute workloads into cloud ecosystems while maintaining consistent operational characteristics across all deployment locations. The resulting flexibility helps organizations pursue digital transformation initiatives more confidently.

Optimized Support for Evolving Enterprise Application Stacks

As enterprise application stacks continue to evolve toward distributed microservices, container technologies, and data-intensive processing frameworks, network infrastructure must meet increasingly stringent demands. The VIC 1440 supports these evolving requirements through its robust bandwidth, virtualization-oriented architecture, and low-latency design. Whether supporting container orchestration platforms, enterprise ERP systems, real-time analytics, or large-scale machine learning inference nodes, the adapter delivers performance consistency aligned with modern workload expectations.

Role of the Cisco VIC 1440 in High-Performance Computing and Advanced Analytics

High-performance computing and advanced analytics require stable, high-bandwidth interconnects to keep pace with rapid data movement. The Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 delivers essential connectivity performance that accelerates data processing pipelines in scientific computing, research labs, and enterprise analytics clusters. By providing sustained 40GbE throughput and efficient packet-handling capabilities, the adapter supports parallel computing tasks that depend on rapid data distribution across nodes. Its role in HPC environments extends beyond raw bandwidth, contributing to predictable communication patterns required for tightly coupled computing operations.

Enhancing Distributed Storage and Data Replication Workflows

Distributed storage platforms rely heavily on high-throughput networking to maintain data consistency across nodes. Whether operating within software-defined storage frameworks or traditional SAN-connected environmental models, the VIC 1440 allows data replication operations to function efficiently and reliably. Its ability to sustain performance during heavy read and write activity helps organizations maintain data integrity as storage volumes scale upward.

Performance Benefits for Containerized Computational Frameworks

Computational frameworks built on container technologies, such as Kubernetes, generate significant east-west traffic within cluster networks. The VIC 1440 provides the throughput and low latency required to keep containerized microservices responsive. The adapter’s virtualization support helps administrators define logical network paths that align with workload topology, ensuring that critical services receive the bandwidth necessary for optimal performance.

Thermal Efficiency and Physical Design Characteristics

Thermal efficiency plays an important role in maintaining server reliability, and the Cisco UCSB-MLOM-40G-04 is engineered with heat-optimized circuitry that performs reliably in dense blade environments. Its compact modular LOM form factor ensures that airflow patterns within the blade chassis remain unobstructed, promoting efficient cooling and reducing the likelihood of thermal bottlenecks. The physical durability of the adapter supports long-term deployment in demanding environments where consistent hardware reliability is essential.

Mechanical Stability in High-Density Blade Deployments

High-density blade deployments require hardware components that can withstand continuous operation without degradation. The VIC 1440 features reinforced connectors and stable component architecture designed for long-term durability. This reliability is especially valuable in colocated data centers and enterprise server rooms where environmental variables such as temperature fluctuations or increasing node counts could otherwise affect performance.