Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server - 1 x Intel Xeon, 8 GB RAM, SAS Controller

The Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server represents a purpose-built, data center-class blade solution that brings robust compute, virtualization readiness, and enterprise-grade management to branch offices and small to midsize data centers. Designed as a high-density, single-socket blade within the Cisco UCS E-Series family, this server balances simplicity, performance, and application density in a compact form factor. It is optimized for environments that demand efficient space utilization without compromising on reliability or the ability to scale as workloads grow. The E160D M2 blends Cisco’s proven UCS management capabilities with a powerful, streamlined hardware platform to support diverse workloads—from virtualization and edge computing to database caching and file services—while reducing footprint, power consumption, and operational complexity. As organizations migrate toward hybrid cloud architectures, this blade offers a practical path to consolidate workloads, accelerate service delivery, and maintain predictable performance at the network edge or in a branch office. The result is a flexible, easy-to-manage server that integrates smoothly into Cisco UCS Manager, policy-driven provisioning, and lifecycle management workflows that IT teams rely on for consistent, repeatable deployments across multiple sites.

• Compact blade density with a single-socket design enables high application density in branch offices and remote data centers without sacrificing enterprise-grade reliability.
• 1 x Intel Xeon processor delivers solid compute power for virtualization-ready workloads and line-of-business applications in a compact blade footprint.
• 8 GB RAM provides ample memory for foundational virtualization, caching, and multi-VM environments while leaving room for growth through supported upgrade paths.
• Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Controller delivers fast, reliable storage I/O essential for data-intensive tasks, databases, and caching workloads, with scalable options through the UCS ecosystem.
• Cisco UCS integration and policy-based management simplify deployment, lifecycle management, and ongoing administration across UCS environments, helping IT teams scale with confidence.

Technical Details of Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server

• Processor: Intel Xeon, 1 x socket
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Storage Controller: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Controller
• Form Factor: Blade Server (Cisco UCS E-Series)
• Management: Integrated with Cisco UCS Manager for policy-based provisioning and centralized administration

how to install Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server

Installing the Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server starts with proper planning in your Cisco UCS chassis and enclosure. Verify compatibility with your chassis model, blade slot availability, and the power and cooling capacity of the data center or network edge site. Before installation, gather and update any required firmware and driver packages compatible with your UCS Manager version to ensure smooth discovery and policy-driven provisioning. The physical installation is straightforward: power down the chassis, remove the blanking plate for the selected blade slot, and slide the E160D M2 blade into place with even pressure until it seats firmly. Secure the blade as required by the chassis design, connect any required SAS storage backplane or boot drives, and attach data and management cables as specified by your server and chassis documentation. Once the blade is physically installed, re-seat the enclosure modules, power up, and connect to the UCS Manager interface. In UCS Manager, you’ll add or update the service profile for the blade, map its network interfaces, assign boot policies, and attach the appropriate storage policy to enable your operating system deployment. After initial provisioning, verify hardware health, ensure the SAS storage is recognized and configured, and install the operating system. Finalize the process with firmware updates and a performance baseline to confirm the server is ready for production workloads. The Cisco UCS environment supports a wide range of virtualization platforms, so you can align the blade’s resources with VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, or other supported hypervisors, while standardizing on policies that drive consistent performance, security, and availability across your deployment.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the primary use case for the Cisco E160D M2 Blade Server? A: It is designed for branch offices and small to mid-sized data centers requiring data-center-class performance in a high-density, single-socket blade. It supports virtualization-ready workloads, edge computing, and lightweight enterprise applications while integrating with Cisco UCS Manager for centralized management.
• Q: How much memory does the E160D M2 blade include, and can it be upgraded? A: The blade ships with 8 GB RAM. Memory upgrades may be available through Cisco-documented upgrade paths compatible with the UCS E-Series and chassis, enabling better support for virtualization or cache-heavy workloads when needed.
• Q: What storage connectivity does the blade provide? A: The blade includes a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Controller to support fast, reliable SAS storage connections. Storage expansion and backplane options can be managed within the UCS environment to meet workload demands.
• Q: Can I manage the E160D M2 blade with Cisco UCS Manager? A: Yes. The blade is designed to integrate with Cisco UCS Manager, enabling policy-based provisioning, centralized lifecycle management, and scalable deployments across multiple blades and chassis.
• Q: Is this blade suitable for virtualization platforms like VMware or Hyper-V? A: The E160D M2 blade is virtualization-ready and intended to support common hypervisors within a Cisco UCS-managed infrastructure, offering predictable performance and efficient resource utilization in a compact blade server.