UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 Cisco 8TB Intel P4510 U.2 PCIE 2.5 Inch Solid State Drive

High-Performance NVMe Storage for Enterprise Servers

The Cisco UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 8TB Intel P4510 U.2 PCIe 2.5 Inch Solid State Drive with Tray is designed for high-end enterprise environments that require both rapid data access and stable long-term performance. Positioned within the family of Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) server storage accessories, this NVMe drive empowers workloads that depend on high IOPS, low latency, and predictable endurance levels. As modern data centers transition from SATA and SAS interfaces to PCIe-based NVMe storage, solutions such as the UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 stand out due to their robust efficiency and cloud-optimized architecture. The category of enterprise NVMe drives within the Cisco UCS ecosystem focuses on improving computing efficiency, supporting virtualization, handling transactional workloads, and enabling rapid read/write operations across a vast range of applications. These drives play a pivotal role in enhancing server performance within Cisco C-Series and B-Series platforms. The Cisco UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 belongs to a specialized subcategory of U.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs crafted to deliver reliable, high-bandwidth connections directly to the CPU, removing bottlenecks associated with legacy storage interfaces. This makes it an ideal component for dense hyperconverged infrastructures, multi-tenant cloud solutions, and large-scale data pipelines.

NVMe Technology Defines Modern Data Center Standards

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) marks a significant evolution from traditional storage protocols, offering faster data retrieval and lower latency. By utilizing PCI Express (PCIe) lanes instead of the older SATA/SAS technology, NVMe drives like the Intel P4510 used in the UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 support parallel data paths and a massive queue depth, drastically reducing read/write delays. This improvement translates into superior application responsiveness, whether supporting virtual machines, database engines, or advanced analytics platforms. Within enterprise environments, NVMe technology has become the benchmark for mission-critical operations that cannot tolerate performance bottlenecks.

The NVMe U.2 Drives in the Cisco UCS Ecosystem

The 2.5-inch U.2 form factor provided in the UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 allows seamless integration into compatible Cisco UCS rack servers and modular systems. The included tray optimizes installation, hot-swap capabilities, and overall serviceability. Positioned within the UCS storage expansion options, this NVMe SSD supports flexible storage designs—ranging from dedicated boot volumes to massive data pools for application clusters. Many Cisco UCS servers support a hybrid mix of NVMe, SAS, and SATA drives, enabling administrators to tailor storage tiers based on performance and endurance needs. The UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 typically occupies the premium tier of these architectures.

The Cisco UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 SSD

This drive is based on the Intel P4510 NVMe SSD architecture, which emphasizes consistent QoS (Quality of Service), enhanced latency control, and scalable performance. Being part of Cisco’s validated hardware catalog ensures that the drive meets rigorous testing standards for durability, compatibility, and enterprise reliability. With an 8TB storage capacity, it supports large-scale data sets and can serve in both read-centric and mixed-use workloads. Its value endurance rating, combined with its NVMe interface, makes it a dependable solution for environments where predictable performance is crucial.

Workload Endurance

One of the cornerstones of the Intel P4510 NVMe architecture is balanced endurance for mixed-usage workloads. This includes read-intensive tasks such as data indexing, log processing, real-time analytics, and application caching. It also supports write-intensive tasks at a predictable endurance cycle, avoiding excessive wear and data degradation. The drive’s endurance class is well-suited for enterprise applications that demand continuous uptime and stable throughput, such as CRM applications, ERP systems, e-commerce platforms, and containerized microservices.

Performance Benefits of PCIe NVMe

The PCIe interface used in the Cisco UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 delivers a notable uplift in performance when compared to SATA or SAS SSDs. The increased number of PCIe lanes offers higher bandwidth potential, enabling simultaneous processing of numerous data requests. In multi-threaded environments and clustered deployments, this translates to faster service delivery, reduced latency spikes, and improved overall system responsiveness. The drive is capable of handling high queue depths and parallel requests efficiently, ensuring optimal performance in demanding enterprise workloads.

The U.2 2.5-Inch Form Factor

The U.2 form factor brings together the physical convenience of standard 2.5-inch drives with the high bandwidth capabilities of PCIe connections. This allows organizations to leverage existing drive bay designs without needing to replace entire storage housings. The U.2 interface also supports hot-swap operations, which means administrators can service or upgrade the drive while keeping the server online. This reduces maintenance time and avoids costly downtime during storage replacement cycles.

Hot-Swap Tray

The included hot-swap tray ensures tool-less serviceability and guarantees that the NVMe drive can be installed within Cisco UCS servers without requiring additional accessories. It provides physical stability, cooling optimization, and standardized installation. For large data centers running hundreds or thousands of storage nodes, this simplifies the replacement process and reduces maintenance time.

Use Cases

The Cisco UCSC-NVMEHW-I8000 serves a wide variety of enterprise use cases that depend on fast data throughput, low latency, and predictable performance. The versatility of its Intel P4510 NVMe architecture makes it suitable for both general-purpose and specialized tasks. As businesses generate increasing amounts of data, high-capacity NVMe storage becomes crucial in addressing operational bottlenecks while supporting the rapid scalability needed in modern IT environments.