Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case

The Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case is a high-density, future-ready chassis designed to transform data center operations by uniting compute, networking, and storage access within Cisco’s Unified Computing System. Built to seamlessly integrate with UCS, this chassis delivers scalable performance, simplified lifecycle management, and energy-efficient operation to meet today’s demanding workloads. With modular design, hot-swappable components, and robust redundancy, the 5108 provides a stable foundation for virtualization, database, analytics, and private cloud deployments. Designed for enterprise-grade reliability, it helps IT teams modernize server infrastructure, reduce cabling complexity, and accelerate provisioning through policy-driven automation and centralized management. The 5108 is engineered to handle evolving workloads—from virtualized environments to large-scale application deployments—while maintaining predictable service levels and efficient power usage. Whether you’re consolidating servers, expanding a private cloud, or refreshing a data center, the Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case delivers density, resilience, and intelligent management in a proven Cisco platform.

• Dense, scalable blade architecture: The 5108 supports multiple Cisco UCS blade servers within a compact chassis, delivering maximum compute density without sacrificing manageability. Its design is optimized for policy-driven automation via UCS Manager, enabling rapid provisioning, standardized configurations, and consistent performance across diverse workloads. This density-enabled chassis is ideal for virtualization projects, consolidation initiatives, and private cloud deployments where space and efficiency matter most. The result is faster time-to-value as you deploy more workloads per rack while maintaining service levels and simplified administration.
• Redundant power and cooling for nonstop operation: Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and fans provide continuous operation, fast serviceability, and minimized downtime. The chassis is engineered to maintain airflow and thermals under heavy load, ensuring stable performance for demanding workloads. With hot-swappable components, administrators can replace failed elements without powering down the system, helping to preserve uptime in virtualized environments, databases, and enterprise applications.
• Integrated management with UCS Manager: Seamless integration with Cisco UCS Manager enables policy-based lifecycle management, firmware orchestration, and proactive health monitoring from a single pane of glass. Automate blade provisioning, firmware updates, and firmware policy enforcement across the chassis and connected blades. This centralized approach reduces manual intervention, accelerates deployment, and ensures consistent configurations—critical for large-scale data centers and private cloud environments where governance and reproducibility are paramount.
• Flexible I/O and fabric connectivity: The chassis offers adaptable backplane and I/O options that align with Cisco fabric interconnects, providing scalable networking and storage access for blade servers. Whether you’re designing traditional networks, converged infrastructures, or software-defined data centers, the 5108 supports the connectivity patterns required for modern workloads while keeping cabling organized and manageable.
• Energy efficiency and lower total cost of ownership: The 5108 emphasizes efficient cooling, power management, and streamlined maintenance, helping to reduce operating costs in high-density deployments. By increasing compute per rack with a proven Cisco platform and enabling centralized management, organizations can achieve lower TCO through improved utilization, reduced downtime, and simplified lifecycle management across multiple blades and workloads.

Technical Details of Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case

• Product type: Blade server chassis designed for Cisco UCS integration
• Blade capacity: Supports multiple Cisco UCS blade servers within a single chassis (up to eight blades in typical configurations)
• Power and cooling: Redundant hot-swappable power supplies and fans for fault-tolerant operation
• Management: Compatible with Cisco UCS Manager for centralized, policy-based management and lifecycle automation
• Backplane and I/O: Flexible I/O backplane options integrated with Cisco fabric interconnects for scalable networking and storage access
• Form factor: Rack-mountable chassis designed for standard data center racks to maximize space efficiency
• Compatibility: Works with Cisco UCS blade servers and related UCS components to create a cohesive compute fabric

How to install Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case

• Prepare your data center rack by ensuring proper space, grounding, and sufficient power and cooling. Verify that the rack and wall outlets meet the required electrical and environmental specifications for Cisco UCS components. Plan cable routing to minimize interference and maximize airflow around the chassis.
• Install the 5108 chassis into the rack, secure it with rails or mounting hardware, and connect redundant power sources. Ensure both power supplies are connected and powered on before proceeding to blade installation. Verify the chassis is level and stable to prevent vibrations that could affect component longevity.
• Insert Cisco UCS blade servers into the chassis slots. Follow the blade installation guidelines for secure seating and proper latch engagement. If applicable, install any required mezzanine cards or mezzanine adapters per Cisco’s recommendations to support your intended networking or storage topology.
• Connect the chassis to Cisco fabric interconnects and network topology according to your design. Ensure cabling is organized, label connections, and confirm that network policies, VLANs, and storage paths align with your UCS Manager configuration. Power up the blades in sequence and verify initial post-power-on checks.
• Configure and provision blades through Cisco UCS Manager. Create and apply policy-based profiles for each blade, including compute resources, firmware baselines, BIOS settings, network adapters, and storage bindings. Monitor health and firmware compliance, perform initial health checks, and validate performance targets before moving into production workloads.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Cisco UCS 5108 Blade Server Case used for? A: It is a high-density chassis designed to house Cisco UCS blades, delivering scalable compute, networking, and storage access within a single, manageable platform ideal for virtualization, private cloud, and data center consolidation.
• Q: How many blades can the 5108 chassis hold? A: The chassis supports multiple blades, typically up to eight blades depending on blade size and configuration, enabling dense computing per rack unit while maintaining manageable power and cooling requirements.
• Q: Does the 5108 support hot-swappable components? A: Yes. It features hot-swappable power supplies and fans to enable maintenance without downtime, contributing to higher availability in production environments.
• Q: Is UCS Manager required for operation? A: While basic management can be performed through other interfaces, UCS Manager is strongly recommended for policy-based automation, centralized firmware control, and streamlined lifecycle management across the chassis and blades.
• Q: What workloads is the 5108 chassis best suited for? A: It is well-suited for virtualization, database workloads, analytics, private cloud deployments, and other compute-intensive applications that benefit from high density, rapid provisioning, and integrated management within the Cisco UCS ecosystem.