Description
Cisco B200 M5 Blade Server - 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6148 2.40 GHz - 192 GB RAM - Serial ATA, 12Gb/s SAS Controller
Delivering exceptional performance, density, and versatility, the Cisco B200 M5 Blade Server is engineered to address the broadest range of workloads in modern data centers. From IT infrastructure and web services to distributed databases and virtualized environments, this enterprise-class blade server combines multi-core processing, abundant memory, and flexible I/O to deliver consistent, predictable performance in a compact form factor. Designed to work within Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS), the B200 M5 maximizes rack density while simplifying operations through policy-based management, service profiles, and integrated fabric connectivity. Whether you’re deploying private clouds, accelerating analytics, or supporting mission-critical applications, this blade server is built to scale with your business needs.
At the core, the Cisco B200 M5 pairs two Intel Xeon Gold 6148 processors with generous memory and robust storage I/O options, enabling fast timelines from bare-metal provisioning to virtualization and containerized workloads. The architecture is optimized for virtualization platforms such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, where rapid provisioning and consistent performance matter most. With Cisco UCS Manager and Service Profiles, administrators can define, deploy, and enforce policies that govern BIOS settings, firmware levels, NICs, and storage connections across blades, dramatically reducing manual configuration and reducing the risk of drift in large-scale environments. The result is a data center that is easier to manage, more responsive to changing workload demands, and capable of delivering higher utilization of compute, memory, and I/O resources.
In addition to raw performance, the B200 M5 emphasizes reliability and efficiency. Cisco’s UCS platform is designed for data-center-grade availability, with hot-swappable blades, redundant power options in many chassis configurations, and unified fabric interconnects that streamline network and storage access. The blade’s memory footprint—192 GB of RAM—supports memory-intensive workloads, large in-memory databases, real-time analytics, and multi-VM environments without excessive paging. The Serial ATA, 12Gb/s SAS controller provides flexible storage connectivity that can accommodate high-performance SSDs for acceleration or traditional HDD backplanes for large-scale capacity, enabling customers to tailor storage layouts to their workloads and budgets. All of these characteristics combine to produce a server blade that can scale with growing workloads while maintaining manageable power consumption and compact data-center footprint.
- High-performance compute for demanding workloads: The B200 M5 is equipped with two Intel Xeon Gold 6148 processors, delivering robust multi-core performance and strong single-thread throughput to accelerate virtualization, databases, and web services. This configuration is well-suited for consolidating workloads on a single blade while leaving room for additional blades in the same chassis to scale capacity as needs evolve.
- Ample memory for virtualization and data-intensive tasks: With 192 GB of RAM, this blade enables large-scale virtual machines, memory-intensive databases, in-memory analytics, and efficient caching strategies. The generous memory headroom minimizes swapping, improves application responsiveness, and supports dense virtualized environments without compromising performance.
- Flexible storage I/O with fast backplanes: The Serial ATA, 12Gb/s SAS controller provides fast, flexible storage connectivity that can support solid-state drives for high IOPS or traditional drives for capacity. This enables a balanced approach to performance and cost, with options to tier storage based on workload needs and accelerator requirements.
- Unified management and policy-based automation: Integrates seamlessly with Cisco UCS Manager, enabling service-profile-based deployment, consistent configurations, and lifecycle automation across multiple blades. This reduces manual provisioning time, eliminates configuration drift, and improves operational efficiency in large-scale deployments.
- Dense, reliable blade architecture within Cisco UCS ecosystems: Designed for UCS B-Series chassis, the B200 M5 supports reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient operation. It leverages Cisco’s networking fabric, enabling streamlined integration with fabric interconnects, centralized monitoring, and simplified firmware and driver management across the server fleet.
Technical Details of Cisco B200 M5 Blade Server
- Processors: 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6148 2.40 GHz (dual-socket blade configuration for UCS B-Series).
- Memory: 192 GB RAM (expandability dependent on chassis and processor/memory configuration).
- Storage Controller: Serial ATA, 12Gb/s SAS Controller enabling high-speed backplane connectivity and support for SAS/SATA drives.
- Form Factor: Blade server designed for Cisco UCS B-Series chassis, enabling dense, modular deployment in the data center.
- Networking and I/O: Integrated with Cisco UCS fabric, supports service-profile-based networking with Cisco UCS Manager and PCIe expansion options via the chassis and blade slot.
how to install Cisco B200 M5 Blade Server
Prepare your Cisco UCS environment by verifying you have a compatible UCS B-Series chassis and Fabric Interconnects. Ensure adequate cooling and airflow within the enclosure, and gather the necessary firmware and driver packs to support the blade and its components. Power down the chassis if required by your maintenance policy and remove the blanking panel from the blade slot you intend to populate.
Carefully insert the B200 M5 blade into the designated slot, aligning the connectors with the backplane and seating the blade firmly. Connect any required management and data cables per Cisco’s guidelines, and reseat redundant components if your configuration supports hot-swapping. Once the blade is physically installed, power on the chassis and access Cisco UCS Manager.
In UCS Manager, create or attach a service profile for the new blade. Service profiles encapsulate BIOS, firmware, NICs, storage adapters, and boot policies, enabling consistent deployment across your blade fleet. Associate the blade with the service profile, verify hardware identity (MAC addresses, WWPNs, storage connectivity), and ensure the blade appears under the correct chassis and blade slot. You can then boot the blade from a network-based image or local storage, proceed with operating system installation, and apply your standard provisioning templates or VM templates for rapid workload deployment.
After operating system installation, validate hardware health, firmware versions, and driver compatibility to ensure parity with the rest of your UCS environment. Use UCS Manager to monitor performance and temperature sensors, set up resource pools if needed, and schedule firmware updates to maintain security and reliability across your blade fleet. Regular health checks and policy-driven updates will help maintain uptime and predictable performance as workloads evolve.
Frequently asked questions
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Q: What workloads is the Cisco B200 M5 Blade Server best suited for?
A: It is designed for virtualization, database, IT infrastructure, and web-scale workloads requiring dense compute, substantial memory, and reliable I/O within Cisco UCS environments. This makes it ideal for private clouds, consolidation projects, and high-availability deployments.
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Q: How many processors and how much memory does this blade offer?
A: The model features 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6148 processors and 192 GB of RAM, with expansion and exact capacity depending on the UCS chassis configuration and supported memory offerings.
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Q: Is Cisco UCS Manager required for operation?
A: While basic server operation is possible, UCS Manager provides policy-based, service-profile-driven provisioning that simplifies deployment, guarantees consistency, and scales efficiently across large blade fleets.
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Q: What storage options are supported?
A: The blade provides Serial ATA storage connectivity via a 12Gb/s SAS controller, enabling use of SAS/SATA drives and SSDs compatible with the chassis backplane and storage interfaces available in your UCS environment.
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Q: How do I optimize cooling and efficiency for the B200 M5?
A: Ensure adequate airflow within the UCS chassis, monitor temperature and power metrics via UCS Manager, and select energy-efficient drives and components as appropriate for the workload. Regular firmware updates and proper provisioning help maintain performance while managing power consumption.
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