UCSX-V4-Q25GML Cisco UCS VIC 14425 4x25G mLOM.

Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML Overview

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is a high-performance network adapter designed to enhance connectivity for X Compute Nodes. Engineered by Cisco, this adapter ensures reliable and efficient data transfer for enterprise-level networking.

Key Specifications

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number / SKU: UCSX-V4-Q25GML
• Product Category: Network Adapters
• Form Factor: Plug-in Module
• Interface Type: PCI Express 3.0 x16
• Data Transfer Speed: Up to 25 Gbps
• Supported Protocol: Gigabit Ethernet
• Connectivity Features: Not Included

Performance and Efficiency

The Cisco UCS VIC 14425 card delivers outstanding bandwidth performance with 4x25G ports, supporting high-speed data operations. Ideal for virtualized environments, this adapter ensures low latency and stable network communication.

Compatibility and Integration

Specifically built for Cisco X Compute Nodes, the UCSX-V4-Q25GML integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructures. Its plug-in module design allows for straightforward installation and instant readiness for demanding workloads.

Advanced Networking Benefits

• High-throughput 25 Gbps connections for rapid data transfer
• Enhanced reliability with Cisco’s proven network technology
• Supports virtualized workloads for cloud and data center deployments
• PCIe 3.0 x16 interface for broad compatibility with server hardware

Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML UCS VIC 14425

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML UCS VIC 14425 4x25G mLOM for X Compute Node is an advanced network interface card designed to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability for modern data center environments. Specifically engineered for the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) X-Series Compute Nodes, this virtual interface card integrates seamlessly with UCS infrastructure, enhancing overall system efficiency and simplifying network management.

This VIC 14425 module supports four 25 Gigabit Ethernet ports in a modular LAN-on-motherboard (mLOM) form factor. Its compact design ensures optimal use of server chassis space while providing high-speed connectivity for mission-critical applications. The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is ideal for organizations that demand robust performance in virtualized environments, high-throughput workloads, and cloud-native deployments.

High-Performance Networking Capabilities

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML excels in delivering high-performance networking through its four 25G Ethernet interfaces. These interfaces provide low-latency communication and high-bandwidth connectivity, which are critical for compute-intensive workloads, including virtualization, AI/ML applications, and real-time analytics. By leveraging UCS Virtual Interface Card technology, the VIC 14425 allows administrators to allocate virtual network adapters dynamically, enhancing flexibility and improving network utilization across multiple workloads.

Advanced Virtualization Features

One of the defining features of the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is its ability to support advanced virtualization capabilities. Through Cisco's VIC technology, the card allows the creation of multiple virtual network interfaces, enabling efficient resource partitioning and optimized traffic flow. This is particularly beneficial for virtualized environments where compute nodes host numerous virtual machines, containers, or microservices.

The VIC 14425 supports dynamic allocation of network resources, ensuring that virtual machines can access the required bandwidth without bottlenecks. Its compatibility with Cisco UCS Manager simplifies network provisioning, allowing administrators to configure, monitor, and manage virtual network adapters with minimal effort. This integration reduces operational complexity while maintaining high performance and reliability.

Scalable Data Center Integration

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is designed to scale effortlessly within Cisco UCS X-Series deployments. Its mLOM form factor allows installation directly on X-Series Compute Nodes, minimizing cabling requirements and reducing network congestion. The four 25G ports enable high-speed uplinks to aggregation switches or spine-leaf topologies, supporting data center architectures that demand low-latency and high-throughput connections.

Scalability is further enhanced by the card’s ability to handle multiple virtual network interfaces concurrently. Enterprises can scale their workloads without the need to upgrade the underlying physical network infrastructure, making the VIC 14425 a future-proof solution for evolving data center demands.

Enhanced Security and Reliability

Security and reliability are critical factors in modern data center deployments, and the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML addresses both comprehensively. The card supports advanced security protocols, including VLAN segmentation, MAC address filtering, and network isolation, which protect workloads from unauthorized access and potential cyber threats. Additionally, the VIC 14425 supports hardware offload for encryption and integrity checking, reducing CPU overhead and ensuring secure and efficient network communication.

Redundant Connectivity and Failover

Reliability is further enhanced through redundant connectivity options. With four independent 25G Ethernet ports, administrators can configure link aggregation or failover mechanisms to ensure continuous network availability. In mission-critical environments, this redundancy is vital to maintaining uninterrupted operations, minimizing downtime, and supporting high-availability computing infrastructures.

Proven Cisco UCS Ecosystem Integration

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is tightly integrated into the broader Cisco UCS ecosystem, including UCS Manager, UCS Central, and UCS Director. This integration allows administrators to leverage unified management tools for network configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. By combining the VIC 14425 with Cisco UCS fabric interconnects, organizations can implement end-to-end data center automation, reducing manual configuration errors and streamlining network operations.

Technical Specifications and Performance Metrics

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML boasts an impressive set of technical specifications designed for high-demand workloads. It features four 25 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, supporting up to 100 Gbps aggregate bandwidth per card. The card utilizes PCIe Gen4 technology for high-speed data transfer between the compute node and network, ensuring minimal latency and optimal throughput.

Form Factor and Compatibility

The VIC 14425 adopts a modular LAN-on-motherboard (mLOM) form factor, enabling direct integration with Cisco UCS X-Series Compute Nodes. This design reduces cabling complexity, improves airflow within the chassis, and supports hot-plug replacement, enhancing maintainability and operational efficiency. The card is compatible with a wide range of X-Series servers, ensuring flexibility in deployment and upgrade paths for existing data center environments.

Support for Multiple Network Protocols

In addition to Ethernet, the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML supports multiple network protocols, including VXLAN, NVGRE, and FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet), making it suitable for both traditional and converged network deployments. This versatility allows organizations to consolidate network infrastructures, reduce equipment costs, and streamline operational workflows.

Optimized for Cloud and Virtualized Environments

Modern enterprises increasingly rely on cloud-native applications and virtualized environments, and the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is specifically designed to meet these needs. Its virtual interface capabilities allow compute nodes to host multiple virtual machines or containerized workloads without network bottlenecks. Dynamic resource allocation ensures that each workload receives the appropriate bandwidth and low-latency connectivity required for optimal performance.

Container and Microservices Support

The VIC 14425 is particularly effective in containerized and microservices-based architectures. By providing multiple virtual network interfaces per physical card, the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML ensures that containerized applications can communicate efficiently with each other and with external networks. This capability enhances application performance, improves resource utilization, and simplifies network management within highly dynamic environments.

High-Throughput Storage Integration

The card’s support for converged networking protocols such as FCoE allows seamless integration with high-throughput storage solutions. Storage traffic can share the same physical infrastructure as data traffic without sacrificing performance or reliability. This convergence reduces network complexity, lowers latency for storage-intensive applications, and enables efficient data center resource utilization.

Use Cases and Applications

The Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML is suitable for a broad range of use cases across enterprise and cloud data centers. Its high-performance 4x25G connectivity, virtualization support, and integration with Cisco UCS infrastructure make it ideal for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), high-performance computing (HPC), AI and machine learning workloads, and cloud-native application deployments.

Enterprise Data Centers

In enterprise data centers, the VIC 14425 enables high-speed, low-latency connections between compute nodes and aggregation switches. This facilitates the deployment of mission-critical applications, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and database workloads that require consistent performance and reliability. The card’s redundancy and failover capabilities ensure uninterrupted network connectivity for critical business processes.

Cloud and Hyperscale Environments

For cloud service providers and hyperscale data centers, the Cisco UCSX-V4-Q25GML supports multi-tenant deployments, dynamic provisioning of virtual machines, and efficient bandwidth allocation. Its high port density and virtualization features allow service providers to scale rapidly, supporting thousands of concurrent workloads while maintaining low latency and high throughput. Integration with UCS Manager and UCS Central streamlines network operations and automates provisioning at scale.

High-Performance Computing and AI Workloads

The VIC 14425 is particularly suitable for high-performance computing and AI/ML workloads. Its 25G Ethernet interfaces ensure rapid data transfer between nodes, reducing bottlenecks in compute clusters. Low-latency communication and high throughput are essential for training large machine learning models, running complex simulations, and processing massive datasets efficiently.