Cisco C220 M5 1U Rack Server — Dual Intel Xeon Bronze 3106, 16 GB RAM, 12Gb/s SAS Controller

The Cisco C220 M5 1U Rack Server is purpose-built to extend Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS) portfolio into compact, dense data centers without compromising performance or reliability. This 1U server is engineered for virtualization, medium-scale databases, file services, and edge deployments, delivering a balance of compute power, memory capacity, and flexible I/O. Built around the Intel® Xeon® Scalable Family, it combines scalable processing with a streamlined chassis design, making it a dependable workhorse for organizations seeking efficient, enterprise-grade performance in a compact footprint. The model described here ships with two Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 processors at 1.70 GHz, paired with 16 GB of RAM, and a 12 Gb/s SAS controller to support fast data access and reliable storage connectivity. The UCS C220 M5 SFF variant is purposefully designed to fit in tight spaces while still offering ample expansion opportunities, including 24 DIMM slots for 2666MHz memory and up to 128GB of RAM when fully expanded, two PCIe 3.0 slots for accelerator cards or additional I/O, and support for up to 10 SAS/SATA drives for flexible storage configurations. This combination helps meet the demands of virtualization hosts, small to mid-sized databases, and high-throughput file servers in a compact 1U form factor.

• High-density, reliable compute – With dual Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 processors clocked at 1.70 GHz, this 1U server delivers solid multi-core performance and steady throughput for virtualization, consolidation, and workload isolation. The Bronze family is designed for dependable, cost-efficient processing, making it ideal for non-latency-critical enterprise tasks while maintaining energy efficiency in a dense data-center footprint.
• Expansive memory capacity and density – The C220 M5 supports 24 DIMM slots for 2666MHz memory, enabling configurations up to 128GB or more with appropriate DIMMs. In this SKU, you’ll find 16GB of RAM installed, providing immediate workload readiness while offering substantial room to grow as your virtualization or database demands increase. The scalable memory architecture ensures improved virtualization density and better overall system responsiveness when running multiple virtual machines or containers.
• Flexible I/O and expansion – Two PCIe 3.0 slots offer headroom for acceleration cards, network adapters, or additional I/O options. This flexible expansion capability lets you tailor the server to your specific workloads, whether you need faster networking, enhanced storage controllers, or GPU/DPI add-ins for specialized tasks. The 1U chassis is designed to maximize internal airflow and serviceability while maintaining a clean, organized rack presence.
• Storage options designed for speed and reliability – The system integrates a 12 Gb/s SAS controller and supports up to 10 SAS/SATA drives, enabling high-throughput data access and flexible storage configurations. Whether you’re building a small database, a virtualization host, or a centralized file server, the combination of fast SAS connectivity and ample drive options helps sustain peak performance under load while offering straightforward expandability as capacity needs grow.
• Management, security, and Cisco UCS integration – As part of the Cisco UCS ecosystem, this C220 M5 model is designed for streamlined management and integration with Cisco’s centralized management tools. The 1U platform emphasizes reliability, serviceability, and consistent remote administration, helping IT teams reduce downtime and simplify firmware updates, monitoring, and maintenance in a multi-server environment. This design philosophy makes it a practical choice for data centers prioritizing standardized hardware, predictable performance, and scalable growth.

Technical Details of Cisco C220 M5

• Form Factor: 1U Rack Server
• Processors: 2 x Intel Xeon Bronze 3106, 1.70 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB RAM installed; supports up to 128 GB using 2666MHz DIMMs across 24 DIMM slots
• Storage Controller: 12 Gb/s SAS Controller
• Drive Support: Up to 10 SAS/SATA drives (configurations vary by model)
• PCIe Expansion: 2 x PCI Express 3.0 slots
• Form Factor and Cooling: 1U form factor designed for dense data centers with standard air-cooled design

How to install Cisco C220 M5

Installing the Cisco C220 M5 in a data center rack is a straightforward process designed for quick deployment and reliable operation. Begin by preparing a clean, properly grounded rack with sufficient airflow and cables routed to avoid blocking rear fans. Confirm that the power supply and electrical circuit meet the server’s power requirements, and verify that you have access to a compatible management interface or console for initial configuration. Mount the 1U chassis into the rack using the supplied rails or mounting hardware, ensuring alignment with the front and rear cage screws. Connect the system’s redundant power supplies, if included, to stable power sources. Attach the appropriate network cables to the server’s onboard NICs or expanders via the available PCIe slot adapters. Power on the server and access the management controller (such as CIMC) through the dedicated management port or KVM console. Run through the initial BIOS/UEFI setup, verifying CPU, memory, and storage controller recognition. Configure RAID or storage pooling as required by your workload, install the desired operating system, and enroll the server into your centralized management environment for ongoing monitoring and updates. Finally, perform a basic performance test and validation to ensure memory, I/O, and storage subsystems are functioning as expected before placing the server into production. This workflow emphasizes reliability, ease of maintenance, and consistency with Cisco UCS deployment practices.

Frequently asked questions

• Is this server dual-processor capable? Yes. This model is described with two Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 processors, providing dual-CPU compute capability in a compact 1U form factor.
• What is the installed memory, and how much can it support? The listed SKU includes 16 GB of RAM. The platform supports memory across 24 DIMM slots with 2666MHz DIMMs, up to a total of 128GB or more depending on the DIMM configuration and capacity choices chosen for expansion.
• What storage options are available? The server includes a 12 Gb/s SAS controller and supports up to 10 SAS/SATA drives, enabling flexible storage configurations suitable for virtualization, databases, and file services.
• How many PCIe expansion slots does it include? The C220 M5 offers 2 PCIe 3.0 expansion slots, allowing you to add accelerators, NICs, or other I/O cards to meet your workload requirements.
• Is Cisco UCS management supported for this server? Yes. As part of the Cisco UCS ecosystem, this server is designed to integrate with Cisco’s management tooling for centralized monitoring, firmware updates, and streamlined operations across multiple servers.