Cisco Barebone System - 2U Rack-mountable - 2 x Processor Support

Experience enterprise-grade computing with Cisco’s 2U barebone chassis designed to host dual 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors (Ice Lake). Optimized for data center efficiency, this platform combines dense compute, expansive memory, and flexible storage in a compact 2U footprint. Built to integrate seamlessly with Cisco UCS Manager and the broader Unified Computing System, it delivers scalable performance, resilient operation, and streamlined lifecycle management for virtualization, databases, and cloud workloads.

• Performance at scale: This system supports up to 2 x Intel Xeon Scalable 3rd Gen (Ice Lake) processors, delivering multi-core performance for demanding workloads. With advanced turbo modes, expansive cache, and large NUMA-aware memory access, it shines in virtualization environments, single- and multi-node databases, and high-concurrency applications. IT teams can consolidate workloads, increase VM density, and respond rapidly to changing business demands with predictable performance and low latency.
• Massive memory capacity: A generous 32 DIMM slots (16 per CPU) accept 3200-MHz DDR4 ECC memory up to 128 GB per DIMM, equating to up to 4 TB of total memory in a fully populated configuration. This enables in-memory analytics, real-time data processing, large-scale virtualization, and memory-intensive workloads with headroom for future growth. The memory topology is designed to optimize NUMA locality, ensuring high bandwidth and low latency for every virtual machine and container.
• Flexible storage: With up to 24 x 3.5" LFF (Large Form Factor) hot-swappable drive bays, this chassis delivers dense storage capacity suitable for large datasets, backups, or expanding data lakes. Support for SAS/SATA drives and NVMe options accelerates I/O for databases and analytics, while Cisco UCS Manager integration enables policy-based storage provisioning and consistent firmware across drives and controllers.
• IO and expansion: The platform features PCIe 4.0-ready expansion, enabling accelerators, GPUs, and network adapters to accelerate AI workloads, data analytics, and high-throughput networking. The chassis supports flexible NIC configurations, allowing selection of 10/25/40 GbE networking and scalable I/O to match evolving workloads, while maintaining a compact 2U footprint for dense data centers.
• Reliability and management: Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and cooling fans work together to maximize uptime in demanding data center environments. Centralized management is provided by Cisco UCS Manager and CIMC, delivering streamlined provisioning, firmware lifecycle management, health monitoring, and policy-based automation across compute, storage, and networking resources.

Technical Details of Cisco Barebone System - 2U Rack-mountable - 2 x Processor Support

• Form Factor: 2U rack-mountable chassis designed for data center deployment.
• Processors: Up to 2 x Intel Xeon Scalable 3rd Gen (Ice Lake) processors with support for multi-core, high-bandwidth performance.
• Memory: 32 DIMM slots total (16 per CPU); 3200-MHz DDR4 DIMMs; up to 128 GB per DIMM; maximum theoretical memory up to 4 TB.
• Memory type and protection: ECC memory support; RDIMM/LRDIMM options depending on platform configuration.
• Drive Bays: Up to 24 x 3.5" hot-swappable LFF drive bays in the standard configuration; backplane supports SAS/SATA; NVMe-capable options with appropriate adapters.
• Storage Controller and I/O: PCIe 4.0-ready expansion; integrated storage controllers with RAID support; optional NVMe adapters for high-speed storage.
• Networking: Flexible I/O options including onboard and mezzanine NICs; supports high-speed Ethernet configurations (10/25/40 GbE) as required.
• Power: Redundant hot-swappable power supplies for reliability and uptime.
• Management: Cisco UCS Manager integrated management; CIMC for remote management; robust lifecycle and firmware update mechanisms.
• Operational characteristics: Support for virtualization-ready features, live migration, and scalable deployment in modern data centers.

how to install Cisco Barebone System - 2U Rack-mountable - 2 x Processor Support

• Prepare the rack: verify floor space, mounting rails, and adequate cooling; ensure proper cable management and grounding for safe and reliable operation.
• Install memory: insert memory modules into the 32 DIMM slots following Cisco population guidelines to maximize memory bandwidth while preserving NUMA locality for optimal performance.
• Install storage: insert 3.5" drives into the drive bays; connect SAS/SATA backplane cables; configure NVMe drives with appropriate adapters if chosen.
• Mount the chassis: secure rails and the chassis in the rack, connect power cables to the redundant power supplies, and attach management and network cables as needed for initial access.
• Power on and configure: boot to the BIOS, update firmware for CPUs, memory, storage controllers, and CIMC/UCS Manager. Configure storage (RAID, pass-through, or JBOD as applicable), NICs, and boot order; enroll the server into Cisco UCS Manager for policy-based deployment.
• Deploy and validate: install your operating system or hypervisor image, apply security patches, and run post-deployment validation tests to ensure performance, reliability, and security compliance.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What workloads is this server best suited for?
• A: Virtualization, databases, analytics, VDI, cloud workloads, and other enterprise applications that require dense compute, large memory capacity, and flexible storage in a compact 2U form factor.
• Q: How much memory can the system support?
• A: Up to 4 TB of total memory using 32 DIMM slots (16 per CPU) with 128 GB DIMMs at 3200 MHz, enabling large-scale in-memory processing and heavy virtualization.
• Q: What storage options are available?
• A: Up to 24 x 3.5" hot-swappable LFF drives with SAS/SATA support; NVMe options are available via appropriate adapters for ultra-fast data access.
• Q: Is it compatible with Cisco UCS Manager?
• A: Yes. The system is designed for seamless integration with Cisco UCS Manager, providing centralized provisioning, policy-based automation, and firmware lifecycle management across compute, storage, and networking components.
• Q: What about redundancy and serviceability?
• A: Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and cooling fans, combined with CIMC remote management and hot-swappable drives, maximize uptime and simplify maintenance in mission-critical data centers.