Cisco C3160 4U Rack Server — Dual Xeon E5-2660 v2, 256GB RAM, 12Gb/s SAS Controller

The Cisco C3160 4U Rack Server is engineered for enterprises that demand uncompromising performance, scalable storage, and rock-solid reliability in a dense data-center footprint. Designed to handle virtualization, private cloud storage, and data-intensive workloads, this 4U rack powerhouse combines dual Intel Xeon processing with abundant memory and a high-speed SAS storage backbone. Whether you’re building a virtualization cluster, hosting virtual desktop infrastructure, or consolidating storage services, the C3160 delivers the multi-threaded power, expansive expansion capacity, and enterprise-grade resilience that modern IT environments require. From mission-critical databases to large-scale backups and analytics pipelines, this server is built to keep latency low, throughput high, and downtime minimal while you scale up to meet growing demand.

• Dual processors for extreme multitasking: Equipped with 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2660 v2 processors at 2.20 GHz, the C3160 delivers robust multi-core performance and strong Turbo Boost potential for virtualization, cloud services, and data-intensive applications. This configuration excels at parallel workloads, parallel I/O, and sustained throughput across virtual machines and containers, helping you consolidate workloads without sacrificing responsiveness.
• Massive memory footprint for virtualization and in-memory workloads: 256 GB of DDR3 RAM provides headroom for dense virtualization, large in-memory caches, and data analytics. With ECC protection, this memory capacity helps maintain data integrity under heavy load, reducing the risk of memory-related issues during long-running workloads and peak operations.
• High-speed storage backbone with 12Gb/s SAS: A 12 Gb/s SAS controller ensures fast, reliable access to storage resources, enabling rapid boot, high IOPS, and efficient data movement across multiple drives. This storage backbone is ideal for I/O-bound applications, large database files, and fast recovery tasks, delivering the throughput required by enterprise-grade workloads.
• 4U rack form factor with enterprise expansion: The 4U chassis is designed to fit into standard data-center racks, offering ample space for drive bays, PCIe cards, and hot-swappable components. The architecture supports scalable storage configurations and expansion options, making it suitable for growing workloads and evolving infrastructure needs without a complete system rewrite.
• Reliability, manageability, and long-term value: Built for mission-critical operations, the C3160 emphasizes reliability and serviceability in data centers. With enterprise-grade management capabilities and flexible I/O options, it’s designed to minimize downtime, simplify maintenance, and deliver consistent performance across firmware updates and hardware refresh cycles.

Technical Details of Cisco C3160 4U Rack Server

• Form Factor: 4U rack-mountable chassis designed for deployment in standard data-center racks, enabling efficient space management and centralized cabling.
• Processors: 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2660 v2 CPUs, 2.20 GHz base frequency, optimized for multi-threaded enterprise workloads and virtualization environments.
• Memory: 256 GB DDR3 RAM with ECC protection to improve data integrity and reliability under heavy workloads.
• Storage Controller: 12 Gb/s SAS controller providing high-speed I/O for SAS/SATA storage, enabling fast data access and scalable storage configurations.
• Storage & Expansion: Supports scalable storage configurations and PCIe expansion slots for additional NICs, adapters, and acceleration cards to tailor the system to specific workloads.
• Storage Capacity & RAID: Configurable storage options with enterprise-grade RAID configurations supported to balance performance, capacity, and fault tolerance in a data center environment.
• Networking & Management: Flexible networking options through PCIe NICs and management interfaces suitable for centralized monitoring, remote administration, and integration with existing data-center operations.

How to Install Cisco C3160 4U Rack Server

Installing the Cisco C3160 is a straightforward process when you follow disciplined data-center best practices. This guide provides a high-level overview to help you get the system up and running quickly while ensuring proper airflow, cabling, and initial configuration. Always refer to your internal change-management policies and Cisco documentation for model-specific steps and firmware recommendations.

• Prepare the rack and environment: Ensure the rack is rated for 4U height, has adequate weight capacity, and is located in a clean, climate-controlled space. Gather rails, screws, grounding hardware, and cable-management accessories before beginning the installation.
• Rackmount the chassis: Install the rack rails according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Carefully slide the C3160 into the rack, align it with the rails, and secure it with the appropriate screws or latches to prevent movement during operation.
• Connect power and basic cabling: Attach redundant power supplies if available and connect primary power sources. Organize power and data cables to promote airflow and minimize obstructions to fans and vents. Ensure that cables are labeled and routed to reduce confusion during maintenance.
• Initial hardware configuration: Power on and access the system BIOS/UEFI to configure basic settings such as date/time, boot order, and memory timings. Verify that the system recognizes both CPUs and the installed memory, and review any hardware warnings.
• RAID and storage setup: If you’re deploying storage arrays, configure your SAS drives and RAID controllers according to your performance and redundancy requirements. Create logical drives/RAID groups as needed to support your operating system, databases, and virtual machines.
• Install the operating system or virtualization layer: Insert the OS or virtualization platform installation media via USB or network boot. Follow the standard installation steps, including network configuration, disk selection, and driver integration for the storage controller and NICs.
• Firmware and driver updates: After the base OS is installed, update server firmware, BIOS/UEFI, storage controller, and NIC drivers to the latest stable versions. Applying updates helps improve stability, security, and performance compatibility with new software releases.
• Performance tuning and validation: Configure virtualization resources, memory allocation, and NUMA settings to optimize performance. Run baseline benchmarks and health checks to confirm system stability, thermal performance, and expected throughput before moving to production workloads.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the form factor of the Cisco C3160? A: It is a 4U rack-mountable server designed to fit standard data-center racks for efficient space utilization.
• Q: What processors are included? A: The system ships with two Intel Xeon E5-2660 v2 processors at 2.20 GHz, suitable for multi-threaded workloads and virtualization.
• Q: How much memory does it support? A: The configuration shown includes 256 GB of DDR3 ECC RAM, with capabilities for larger memory configurations depending on the SKU and motherboard options.
• Q: What storage controller does it use? A: It features a 12 Gb/s SAS storage controller to enable fast, scalable SAS/SATA storage I/O for enterprise workloads.
• Q: Is this server suitable for virtualization and cloud storage? A: Yes. With dual CPUs, ample RAM, and fast SAS storage, the Cisco C3160 is well-suited for virtualization clusters, private cloud storage, and large-scale data-center workloads, provided you configure the storage and network components to meet your specific performance and reliability requirements.