Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System – 1U Rack-Mountable, 2-Processor Support

The Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System provides a modern, scalable foundation for next‑gen data centers. Encased in a compact 1U rack‑mountable chassis, this barebone solution is designed to host two processors and the Cisco HyperFlex software stack, delivering a true hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) experience. It blends compute, storage, and networking into a single, highly efficient platform, enabling faster deployment, simpler management, and improved operational efficiency across virtualization, cloud, and data-intensive workloads. Built for enterprise reliability and optimized for tight data center footprints, the HyperFlex Barebone System helps IT teams reduce complexity, lower capital and operational expenditures, and accelerate time-to-value for new services.

• HyperConverged architecture: Integrates compute, storage, and networking into one cohesive platform, delivering streamlined operations, simplified provisioning, and centralized management for virtualized environments.
• Dual‑processor support in a 1U chassis: Designed to support two processors, delivering robust performance for virtualization, databases, containers, and high‑demand workloads while keeping rack footprint to a minimum.
• Compact, scalable form factor: 1U rack‑mountable design that fits standard data center racks, with flexible upgrade paths to add memory, storage, and network capacity as your workloads grow.
• Efficient management and security: Seamless integration with Cisco UCS management and HyperFlex tooling, enabling automated provisioning, policy‑driven operations, and built‑in security features to protect data and workloads.
• Flexible storage and networking options: Supports a range of storage and networking configurations to adapt to diverse workloads, from virtual desktops to modern cloud workloads, with attention to performance and energy efficiency.

Technical Details of Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System

• Form factor: 1U rack‑mountable barebone chassis designed for standard data center racks.
• Processor support: Dual‑processor capable configuration to maximize compute power for virtual machines, containers, and data‑intensive applications.
• Hyper‑convergence: Built‑in Cisco HyperFlex software stack delivering software‑defined storage, virtualization, and unified management.
• Management integration: Compatible with Cisco UCS Manager and HyperFlex management tools for streamlined provisioning and policy‑driven operations.
• Networking and expansion: Flexible networking options with multiple NICs and uplink paths to support diverse data center topologies.
• Power and cooling: Engineered for data center efficiency with thermal design suited to dense deployments and reliable uptime.

How to install Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System

Installing the Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System is a structured process designed to minimize downtime and maximize performance. Begin with a clear plan for your rack layout, cabling, and network segmentation. Ensure you have compatible Cisco UCS components and licenses in place, and prepare a baseline configuration that aligns with your virtualization or cloud strategy. Follow these high‑level steps to deploy a productive HyperFlex environment:

Step 1 — Plan and prep: Define the target workloads, select memory and storage capacity, and map out networking redundancy. Confirm data center power, cooling, and rack space meet the system’s requirements. Prepare the Cisco HyperFlex licenses and any required management tooling.

Step 2 — Install the barebone chassis: Rack the barebone system in a secure location with proper airflow. Connect the power supplies and verify that the chassis is receiving stable power. Attach essential management interfaces and ensure console access for initial configuration.

Step 3 — Install and configure processors, memory, and storage: Install the supported dual processors and required memory modules according to the vendor’s guidelines. Add the supported storage configuration as dictated by your intended HyperFlex deployment (drives or SSDs per your workload profile). Carefully follow thermal and seating instructions to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

Step 4 — Network topology and uplinks: Connect the system to your management network and future data plane networks. Configure NICs, VLANs, and uplink links to support virtual machines, storage traffic, and management traffic with redundancy where possible.

Step 5 — Install HyperFlex software: Deploy the HyperFlex software stack through the appropriate installer or management portal. Apply baseline policies for compute, storage, and networking, and ensure integration with existing vCenter, UCS Manager, or other management tools as required by your environment.

Step 6 — Validate and optimize: Boot the system, verify CPU, memory, and storage health, and run initial health checks. Validate performance with representative workloads, adjust storage policies, and monitor power and cooling to maintain peak efficiency. Document the configuration for ongoing management and future expansion.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Cisco HyperFlex Barebone System?
  A: It is a lightweight, scalable 1U chassis designed to host a dual‑processor configuration with Cisco HyperFlex software, delivering a hyperconverged infrastructure that combines compute, storage, and networking into a single, manageable platform.
• Q: How many processors does it support?
  A: The system is designed to support two processors, enabling strong performance for virtualization and data‑intensive workloads while keeping a compact footprint.
• Q: What workloads is HyperFlex suitable for?
  A: It is well suited for virtualization, private cloud, containerized workloads, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and other data‑centric applications that benefit from software‑defined storage and simplified management.
• Q: How do I manage the HyperFlex Barebone System?
  A: Management is integrated with Cisco UCS Manager and HyperFlex tooling, providing centralized provisioning, policy‑driven operations, and secure lifecycle management for compute and storage resources.
• Q: Can I scale after initial deployment?
  A: Yes. The HyperFlex platform supports scalable expansion by adding capacity and networking resources as your workloads grow, helping to protect your initial investment while accelerating growth.