Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L UCS C220 M3 High-Density Rack Server.

Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L UCS C220 M3 High-Density Rack Server LFF Overview

The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L UCS C220 M3 High-Density Rack Server LFF is designed to deliver exceptional performance and versatility for data centers and IT infrastructure. It offers an efficient solution for businesses that require a reliable and scalable server capable of handling demanding workloads. This server is part of the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) lineup, which integrates computing, networking, and storage resources into a unified system. The UCSC-C220-M3L features a high-density design, optimized for performance, energy efficiency, and ease of management.

Key Features of the Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L Server

The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L offers several important features that make it suitable for a wide variety of applications, from cloud computing to virtualization and enterprise resource planning (ERP). Some key attributes of this server include:

• High-Density Design: The UCSC-C220-M3L is engineered to maximize space efficiency in data centers by offering high-performance computing in a compact, rack-mountable form factor.
• Support for Large-Scale Workloads: Designed for high-demand applications, this server can handle large-scale workloads with ease, providing optimal performance across multiple tasks.
• Flexible Configuration Options: The server supports various configurations, including different processor, memory, storage, and I/O options, making it adaptable to various business needs.
• Energy Efficiency: Cisco UCS servers are optimized for energy efficiency, reducing overall power consumption and minimizing environmental impact while ensuring the highest levels of performance.
• Advanced Management Features: Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L includes advanced management features, including automated system management, monitoring, and firmware updates, simplifying IT operations and reducing administrative overhead.

System Specifications

Processor Compatibility

The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L server supports a range of Intel Xeon processors, offering flexibility to meet the requirements of different applications. The server is compatible with Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 processors, which feature up to 12 cores per processor, delivering high performance and scalability for resource-intensive tasks.

These processors enable businesses to run complex workloads such as data analytics, virtualization, and business applications while optimizing energy usage and minimizing costs. The UCSC-C220-M3L can accommodate up to two processors, making it ideal for workloads that require multi-threading and parallel processing.

Memory Capacity

The UCSC-C220-M3L is equipped with 12 DIMM slots, supporting up to 768GB of DDR3 memory. The memory configuration is flexible, enabling businesses to scale memory capacity to meet the needs of growing workloads. Whether running virtual machines, databases, or memory-intensive applications, this server ensures efficient memory access, improving overall system performance.

With support for advanced memory technologies such as ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, the UCSC-C220-M3L ensures data integrity and reliability, making it a trusted choice for mission-critical applications.

Storage and Expansion Options

One of the standout features of the Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L is its ability to support both large and small form-factor drives. The server supports up to eight 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs), providing businesses with flexible storage options to meet varying needs for capacity and performance.

Additionally, the UCSC-C220-M3L offers advanced storage features such as RAID support, enabling businesses to configure drives in a RAID array for data redundancy and performance optimization. With the flexibility to scale storage as needed, businesses can accommodate growing data storage requirements while ensuring high levels of uptime and data protection.

Storage Controller Options

The UCSC-C220-M3L server provides multiple options for storage controllers, including SAS and SATA controllers. These controllers offer different levels of performance, with SAS providing higher data transfer speeds for high-demand applications and SATA offering cost-effective solutions for less intensive workloads.

Power Supply and Efficiency

Efficient power management is a key consideration in modern data center environments. The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L is equipped with high-efficiency power supplies, ensuring optimal energy usage without sacrificing performance. The server features redundant power supplies, providing greater reliability and uptime. This redundancy ensures that if one power supply fails, the other continues to supply power to the system, minimizing downtime.

Power efficiency is further enhanced through intelligent power management features, which adjust power consumption based on workload demands, helping reduce operational costs and supporting green IT initiatives.

UCSC-C220-M3L for Virtualization

Enhanced Virtualization Support

Virtualization has become a core technology in modern data centers, and the Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L server is optimized for virtualization environments. With its powerful processors, ample memory capacity, and flexible storage options, this server is ideal for hosting virtual machines (VMs) and running multiple virtualized applications simultaneously.

The server is compatible with popular virtualization platforms, including VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix XenServer. Additionally, Cisco’s UCS Manager provides a centralized management interface, simplifying the deployment, monitoring, and management of virtualized workloads. This integrated approach to virtualization reduces complexity and improves operational efficiency.

High Availability in Virtualized Environments

In virtualization environments, high availability is essential to ensure that virtualized applications and services are always accessible. The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L provides several features to support high availability, including redundant power supplies, network connectivity, and storage options. These features minimize the risk of downtime and ensure continuous operation of virtualized services.

For organizations that rely on virtualization for mission-critical applications, the UCSC-C220-M3L offers the reliability and scalability required to maintain a high level of service uptime and performance.

Networking and Connectivity

Network Interface Options

Connectivity is crucial for ensuring smooth communication between the server and other devices within the network. The UCSC-C220-M3L provides multiple network interface options, including built-in 1Gb Ethernet ports and the ability to install additional 10Gb Ethernet or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) cards for higher throughput and low-latency communication.

For businesses that require high-speed networking for applications such as data replication, storage area networks (SANs), or high-frequency trading, the UCSC-C220-M3L provides scalable network interfaces that can be tailored to the specific needs of the business.

Integrated Fabric and Networking Features

One of the key advantages of Cisco UCS servers is the integration of networking and compute resources, which reduces the need for separate network infrastructure. The UCSC-C220-M3L integrates with the Cisco UCS 6100 or 5100 Series Fabric Interconnects, enabling unified management of compute, network, and storage resources. This integration streamlines operations and reduces the complexity of managing separate networking components.

By utilizing Cisco’s advanced fabric technology, businesses can achieve simplified network configuration, automated provisioning, and high-performance connectivity, resulting in improved data center efficiency and cost savings.

Management and Automation

UCS Manager and Automated Management

One of the standout features of Cisco UCS servers is the UCS Manager, which provides centralized management of all UCS components. With UCS Manager, IT administrators can easily configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the UCSC-C220-M3L server from a single interface. This unified management system simplifies operations, reduces administrative overhead, and ensures consistency across the data center.

Additionally, Cisco UCS supports automation of many tasks, such as firmware updates, configuration changes, and monitoring, helping reduce the risk of human error and ensuring the server remains optimized for peak performance.

Support for Cisco Intelligent Automation

Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L servers support Cisco’s Intelligent Automation solutions, which enable businesses to automate the provisioning of hardware resources, including computing, storage, and networking, based on predefined policies and workloads. This automation enhances efficiency, reduces manual intervention, and ensures that resources are allocated dynamically based on real-time demand.

Monitoring and Performance Analytics

Through integration with Cisco UCS Manager and other monitoring tools, administrators can track server health, performance, and utilization metrics. Real-time analytics enable businesses to identify performance bottlenecks, plan capacity expansions, and optimize resource allocation. Proactive monitoring helps prevent issues before they impact operations and ensures that the server remains at peak performance levels.

Use Cases for the UCSC-C220-M3L

Ideal for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses

The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L is well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking to deploy a high-performance server without the complexity of larger systems. Its compact design and scalability make it an ideal choice for businesses that require a reliable server for running applications such as file storage, web hosting, and database management.

Suitable for Enterprise Environments

For enterprises with larger IT infrastructures, the UCSC-C220-M3L provides the scalability and performance needed to run demanding applications such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, virtualization platforms, and data analytics tools. With its flexible configurations, businesses can scale up as their requirements grow.

Cloud Deployments

The Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L is also an excellent choice for cloud-based deployments. Its ability to support virtualization and high-performance computing makes it ideal for hosting private cloud services or providing the computing resources necessary for hybrid cloud environments.

Final Thoughts

With its high-density design, advanced management features, and flexibility, the Cisco UCSC-C220-M3L UCS C220 M3 High-Density Rack Server LFF is a powerful and versatile server that can be tailored to meet the demands of businesses across various industries. Whether for cloud deployments, virtualization, or enterprise applications, this server offers exceptional performance and scalability, providing a reliable foundation for modern IT environments.