Cisco UCS X-Series: a modular system for scalable IT infrastructure

Today's businesses need to ensure that their IT infrastructure can easily expand and adapt to new challenges. The need to leverage the latest computing resources, migrate to server virtualisation, embrace hybrid clouds, and automate processes requires solutions that are reliable, flexible, and powerful.

The Cisco UCS X-Series is the next generation of modular server platforms designed to deliver high performance, unified management, and flexible load scalability. More and more organisations are turning to modular systems to optimise their data centre infrastructure, reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), and ensure high availability of services.

Cisco UCS X-Series overview

The Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) is a server platform that integrates computing, fabric interconnect, storage, and management from a single console into a single ecosystem. It was designed to optimise infrastructure management, increase computing performance and resource efficiency.

The Cisco UCS X-Series is a next-generation modular server system that builds on the Cisco UCS 5108 Server Chassis concept by offering an open, standardised architecture for today's hybrid environments.

Benefits of Cisco UCS X-Series:

• Cloud management. The platform supports centralised management through Cisco Intersight, which provides flexible load scaling, rapid adaptation to business needs, and global visibility of all resources. Integration with solutions such as Pure Storage and VMware vCenter simplifies infrastructure monitoring, optimisation, and automation.
• Flexible Architecture for Modern Workloads. The Cisco UCS X-Series combines the density, manageability, and energy efficiency of blade servers with the scalability of rack servers, allowing you to consolidate multiple workloads on a single platform. This is especially important for cloud-based and hybrid applications that can frequently change their resource requirements.
• Prepare for future technologies. The modular design of the UCS X-Series supports the latest generations of processors, storage, accelerators (e.g. GPUs) and interconnects, minimising the risk of infrastructure obsolescence.
• Support for a Broad Range of Workloads. The Cisco UCS X-Series supports a wide range of use cases, from traditional data centres to cloud environments. This reduces the need for separate products for different types of workloads, simplifying management, lowering support costs, and increasing IT infrastructure flexibility.

The Cisco UCS X-Series is a modern solution for organisations looking to automate and optimise their IT resources, providing flexibility, scalability and efficiency in both hybrid and traditional environments.

Modular approach and benefits

Modern data centres need to be flexible and efficient to manage resources quickly. With modular architecture, organisations can easily reconfigure servers to meet changing business needs and ensure stable and productive operations.

Modular architecture is a concept that allows you to dynamically combine different computing and networking resources (processors, memory, drives, accelerators, network adapters) within a single system. The software-defined approach allows IT teams to create servers with the optimal configuration for specific workloads and applications.

For example, the Cisco UCS X-Series modular system can be configured with CPUs, GPUs, and NVMe drives, all connected by a high-speed, low-latency network. This gives administrators the flexibility to allocate resources between virtual and physical servers to quickly respond to changing business needs.

Benefits of a modular approach

• Resource efficiency. The modular architecture allows the most efficient redistribution of computing and networking resources between servers. This helps to avoid over- or under-allocation of resources, increasing productivity and optimising asset utilisation.

• Flexibility and scalability. Organisations can easily reconfigure their infrastructure to meet changing workloads. For example, GPU modules can be added to meet the growing demand for graphical computing without the need to purchase a new server.

• Investment protection and cost reduction. The modular approach allows you to upgrade individual components (processors, memory, drives) without replacing the entire hardware. This extends the lifecycle of the infrastructure, reducing upgrade costs and technical debt.

• Automate operations and centralise management. Integration with Cisco Intersight provides centralised infrastructure management, which simplifies administration, reduces the risk of human error, and makes resource management more predictable.

• Minimise downtime and reliability. Modular design allows components to be upgraded and replaced without significant disruption to the system. This is particularly important for mission-critical applications that must be available at all times. 

• Preparing for future technologies. The Cisco UCS X-Series supports the latest technologies, such as Compute Express Link (CXL) and silicon photonics, to deliver higher throughput, lower latency, and better energy efficiency.

The modular architecture of the Cisco UCS X-Series enables organisations to flexibly manage their IT infrastructure, balancing performance, reliability, and resource efficiency. With automation, scalability, and cloud integration, organisations can adapt their IT resources to change without significant future investment.

Specifications and key features of the Cisco UCS X-Series

• Modular architecture. The Cisco UCS X-Series combines the density and efficiency of blade servers with the scalability of rackmount solutions, providing adaptability for any workload.
• Prepared for the future. The system supports the latest technologies and reduces the risk of obsolescence with SaaS management.
• Hybrid and multi-cloud management. Cisco Intersight provides centralised cloud management, automation, and resource optimisation across hybrid environments.
• Computing power. Support for up to two fifth-generation AMD EPYC or Intel Xeon Scalable processors in Cisco UCS X210c and X215c Compute Nodes, up to 16 TB of memory in X410c Compute Nodes.
• Graphics and compute accelerators. Support for up to 4 GPUs via PCIe Gen 4.0 in the Cisco UCS X440p PCIe Node, expanding high-performance computing capabilities.
• Single network fabric. The Cisco UCS X9508 chassis features two Cisco UCS 9108 Intelligent Fabric Modules for a unified Ethernet network and X-Fabric support for advanced connectivity.
• Energy efficiency. Titanium-class power supplies and a 54V system reduce internal power conversion, minimise cooling costs, and reduce overall power consumption.
• Ruggedness and durability. No-centreboard design and modularity allow components to be upgraded independently, extending system life.  
• Hyperconverged infrastructure support. The Cisco Compute Hyperconverged X-Series solution, in partnership with Nutanix, makes it easy to deploy and scale HCI clusters.
• Security. Built-in security mechanisms, including secure boot, encryption, and access control, keep enterprise data safe.

The Cisco UCS X-Series is a modern, scalable, and environmentally friendly platform for efficiently managing digital services in data centres and hybrid cloud environments.

Manage and monitor with Cisco Intersight

Cisco Intersight is a powerful IT infrastructure lifecycle management platform available as a cloud service (SaaS) or as an on-premises virtual appliance. It provides centralised management and automation for Cisco UCS, converged and hyperconverged systems, and integrates with third-party services.

Cisco Intersight Managed Mode (IMM) provides organisations with unified policy and operational management for Cisco UCS X-Series. Compute nodes are configured using server profiles that define all hardware characteristics based on policies and templates.

Cisco Intersight features for Cisco UCS X-Series:

1. Centralised management and flexible configuration

Cisco Intersight provides a single point of management that enables you to:

• Monitor and manage data centres, remote sites and edge infrastructure.
• Leverage server profiles that define hardware configuration through policies and templates.
• Flexibly change fabric interconnect (FI) settings between Cisco UCS Manager and Cisco Intersight at any time.

2. Deployment automation and policy management

Cisco Intersight automates infrastructure deployment processes by:

• Using Cisco UCS domain profiles to centrally configure fabric interconnects, VLANs, VSANs, and network connections.
• Server profile templates that simplify the configuration of resource management policies and provide a standard server configuration.
• Automated deployment of operating systems to UCS X-Series servers after successful profile application.

3. Intelligent analysis and proactive monitoring

The platform uses machine learning to predict loads and analyse performance, enabling you to:

• Identify anomalies in server performance and optimise resource allocation.
• Use automated proactive monitoring to ensure settings are in line with expectations.
• Integrate with ServiceNow to simplify operations and enable rapid troubleshooting.

4. Support for multi-cloud environments and integration with external services

Cisco Intersight enables you to manage hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures by providing:

• Unified control across on-premises, private, and public cloud resources.
• Accelerate IT service delivery and efficiently manage computing resources.
• Easily integrate with third-party solutions to streamline cloud operations.

Cisco Intersight helps simplify IT infrastructure management, reducing administration time and improving system stability. With Intersight Managed Mode, organisations can quickly configure UCS X-Series servers, centrally manage resources, and predict performance with intelligent analytics. This provides organisations with a more flexible, scalable, and reliable IT ecosystem.

Business benefits of Cisco UCS X-Series

Cisco UCS X-Series is a modular platform that delivers high performance, flexibility, and cost optimisation. By taking a modern approach to building IT infrastructure, it enables organisations to effectively scale resources to meet current and future needs and reduce modernisation costs. The benefits to organisations are:

1. Versatility

The Cisco UCS X-Series combines the compactness of blade servers with the flexibility of rackmount solutions, allowing you to adapt the system to any business application. Its modular architecture allows organisations to:

• Use different types of compute and graphics accelerators (CPU, GPU) in a single chassis.

• Dynamically reallocate resources for optimal performance in databases, AI/ML computing, analytics and enterprise applications.

• Connect NVMe drives for fast data processing speeds for mission-critical applications.

2. Future-proof

The Cisco UCS X-Series is designed to keep pace with future technology developments. With management support from the Cisco Intersight SaaS platform, organisations can:

• Seamless technology upgrades without replacing the entire infrastructure.
• Integration with cloud platforms and AI/ML optimisation.
• Support for the latest technologies, including Compute Express Link (CXL) and silicon photonics.

3. Cost optimisation

The Cisco UCS X-Series helps to significantly reduce the financial burden on your business through

• 49% reduction in energy consumption, reducing power and cooling costs.
• 72% reduction in hardware maintenance costs due to fewer physical servers and simplified technical support.
• 90% reduction in operating costs through centralised management and process automation.

4. Increased efficiency

The optimised architecture of the Cisco UCS X-Series can reduce recurring software support costs by up to 75%. This opens up new business opportunities:

• Reduce software licensing and upgrade costs.
• Reallocate financial resources to business development and new technology adoption.
• Automate IT infrastructure management and increase staff productivity.

The Cisco UCS X-Series is an innovative solution that delivers high performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for today's businesses. By reducing energy, maintenance, and support costs, organisations can significantly optimise their IT infrastructure, reduce operational risks, and focus on strategic development.

Real-world use cases for Cisco UCS X-Series and Cisco Intersight

Cisco UCS X-Series and Cisco Intersight are used in a variety of industries for their flexibility, performance, and automated management.

Financial services

Banks and financial institutions deal with large volumes of data, complex analytical calculations, and high-security requirements. Cisco UCS X-Series delivers high performance for financial transaction processing and risk analysis, while Cisco Intersight enables centralised infrastructure management, simplifying monitoring and optimising resources.

Healthcare

Healthcare data processing requires high speed, availability, and security. Cisco UCS X-Series efficiently supports electronic medical records (EMR) and data analytics systems used for diagnosis and prognosis. With Cisco Intersight, administrators can remotely manage resources, minimising downtime for critical systems.

E-commerce

Retailers and online stores face peak loads, especially during sales and holidays. Cisco UCS X-Series ensures platform stability, fast order processing, and efficient CRM systems, while Cisco Intersight helps allocate resources promptly to prevent outages.

Medium-sized businesses

For fast-growing businesses, it's important to have an infrastructure that scales without sacrificing performance. With Cisco UCS X-Series, you can increase computing power incrementally without significant capital investment, and Cisco Intersight streamlines server management, simplifying support and upgrades.

With Cisco UCS X-Series and Cisco Intersight, organisations get not only powerful hardware, but also an intelligent platform for effective IT infrastructure management.

Getting started with your Cisco UCS X-Series implementation

To successfully implement Cisco UCS X-Series, you need to follow a step-by-step approach:

• Evaluate your current IT infrastructure. You need to review your available resources and network architecture, and assess your scaling needs.
• Plan the implementation. Identify performance, compatibility, and security requirements, and prepare for migration and integration with existing systems.
• Work with Cisco experts. Certified partners can help you configure, deploy, and support UCS X-Series, as well as provide official technical support.
• Leverage specialised tools. Cisco's online resources, such as DevNet and the Troubleshooting Tool, can help you effectively deploy and manage your infrastructure. By following these steps, you can ensure that Cisco UCS X-Series integrates seamlessly into your IT ecosystem, improving productivity and resource management.

Conclusion

The Cisco UCS X-Series is a modern, scalable IT infrastructure solution that delivers high performance, security, and automation. With its flexible architecture and integration with cloud services, this platform helps organisations quickly adapt their IT resources to changes in the business environment.

It supports server virtualisation, provides centralised management through Cisco Intersight, and helps reduce operating costs by optimising computing power use. 

This solution is suitable for large enterprises dealing with large amounts of data, as well as for mid-sized companies looking for reliable IT tools without a large investment.

By implementing the Cisco UCS X-Series, your organisation can increase your IT infrastructure's stability, performance, and security, simplify management, and prepare for future challenges.

Learn more about Cisco UCS X-Series and take your IT infrastructure to the next level of efficiency and innovation!