Cisco UCS C220 M3 Network Storage Server

The Cisco UCS C220 M3 Network Storage Server delivers enterprise-grade performance, density, and reliability in a compact 1U chassis. Engineered for virtualization, databases, and data-intensive workloads, this server combines dual Intel Xeon E5-2643 processors, ample DDR3 RAM, and an expansive 8-bay drive cage to provide scalable storage and compute in a single, rack-ready package. With 2.4 TB of installed storage across eight 300 GB drives, this system offers immediate capacity out of the box while maintaining the flexibility to grow with growing data and evolving workloads. Designed for data centers, remote offices, and high-demand environments, the C220 M3 blends Cisco reliability with versatile I/O options to simplify deployment, management, and expansion. Whether you’re consolidating virtual machines, hosting databases, or delivering network storage services, this server is built to deliver dependable performance in a dense, space-efficient form factor.

• Powerful dual-processor performance: This model features two Intel Xeon E5-2643 quad-core processors clocked at 3.30 GHz, delivering strong multi-threaded performance for virtualization, database operations, and high-throughput storage tasks. The dual-processor configuration enables better parallelism, smoother multitasking, and robust handling of concurrent workloads. When paired with plenty of RAM and fast storage, you gain responsive application performance, reduced latency, and the capacity to run multiple virtual machines or containerized services side by side without compromising uptime or efficiency.
• Generous memory for virtualization and caching: Equipped with 64 GB of DDR3 SDRAM, the C220 M3 provides ample headroom for virtualized environments, large database caches, and active working datasets. The substantial memory footprint helps minimize I/O bottlenecks by keeping frequently accessed data in fast memory, accelerating virtual machines, storage services, and applications. This memory capacity also supports demanding analytics, backups, and multi-tenant workloads, reducing the need for frequent disk accesses and improving overall system responsiveness under load.
• Dense, scalable storage with eight 2.5" bays: The chassis includes eight 2.5-inch drive bays populated with eight 300 GB HDDs for a total installed storage of 2.4 TB. This compact, hot-swappable drive layout supports flexible RAID configurations and rapid maintenance without taking the entire server offline. The 2.5" format offers improved density and performance for storage-intensive workloads, enabling you to implement fault-tolerant configurations (like RAID 5 or RAID 10) to balance protection and capacity while maintaining solid throughput for virtualization hosts and file services.
• Flexible I/O, management, and expansion: Core front-panel I/O includes a VGA console port and two USB 2.0 ports for local diagnostics and maintenance, with an RJ-45 network port for management and data traffic. The 1U rack-mountable design fits neatly into dense data centers and IT closets, delivering enterprise capabilities in a compact footprint. The system also offers two total slots for expansion, allowing you to tailor networking, storage controllers, or acceleration cards to your environment as needs evolve, all while keeping a streamlined, standards-based interface for administrators.
• Cisco UCS reliability and ecosystem for streamlined IT: As part of the Cisco UCS family, this server leverages Cisco’s integrated management approach, offering policy-based provisioning, centralized firmware updates, and consistent administration across your infrastructure. The C220 M3 is designed for reliability in 24/7 operations and is well-suited for virtualization clusters, backup targets, storage consolidation, and office-branch deployments where predictable performance, ease of management, and scalable storage are essential. When deployed within a Cisco UCS ecosystem, administrators benefit from unified management and tighter integration with other Cisco data-center solutions, enabling greater efficiency and improved uptime across the IT stack.

Technical Details of Cisco UCS C220 M3 Network Storage Server

• Processor: 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2643 Quad-core (4 Core) 3.30 GHz
• Memory: 64 GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Storage: 8 x 300 GB HDD installed; 2.4 TB total installed HDD capacity
• Drive Bays: 8 x 2.5" bays
• Form Factor: 1U rack-mount
• Slots: 2 x total slots
• Network: 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet
• USB: 2 x USB 2.0 ports
• Video: VGA video output
• Rack Compatibility: Rack-mountable 1U chassis

how to install Cisco UCS C220 M3 Network Storage Server

• Prepare your rack space and mount the C220 M3 in a compatible 19-inch rack using standard rails. Ensure proper clearance for ventilation and cable routing, and connect the power and grounding as required by your data-center standards.
• Verify the memory and drives. The server ships with 64 GB of DDR3 SDRAM and eight 300 GB hard drives installed. If you plan to upgrade memory or reconfigure storage, power down the system, follow static-safe handling procedures, and insert modules or drives into the appropriate slots or bays per Cisco’s guidelines.
• Connect essential peripherals and network access. Attach a video display via the VGA port for initial setup, connect USB peripherals if needed, and plug in the RJ-45 network cable to your switch or router to enable management and data connectivity.
• Power on and access the management interface. Use the server’s onboard management tools to configure network settings, RAID levels, storage pools, and any virtualization features. Establish IP addressing (static or DHCP) and verify connectivity to your management network.
• Install or configure your operating system or storage software. Depending on the role of the C220 M3 in your environment, install a supported OS or virtualization platform, then set up critical services (virtual machines, databases, file shares, backups, etc.). Validate performance, run basic diagnostics, and implement monitoring to ensure ongoing reliability and health across the hardware and storage components.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Cisco UCS C220 M3 best used for? It is designed for virtualization, database hosting, storage consolidation, and high-demand file services in data centers or remote offices. The dual Xeon processors, ample RAM, and eight-drive storage cage make it suitable for multi-VM environments, enterprise storage targets, and scalable compute/storage workloads.
• How much memory does this server include? It ships with 64 GB of DDR3 SDRAM, providing a solid foundation for virtualization and data-intensive applications while allowing room for future expansion.
• What storage configuration does it come with? The system includes eight 300 GB hard drives installed in eight 2.5-inch bays for a total of 2.4 TB of storage. RAID configurations can be applied to balance performance, capacity, and redundancy according to your needs.
• What network and I/O options are available? The server offers a standard RJ-45 network port for data management, two USB 2.0 ports, and a VGA console port for local administration. It is a 1U, rack-mountable chassis with two total expansion slots for additional controllers or NICs as required.
• Can this server support virtualization workloads? Yes. With dual Xeon processors, 64 GB of memory, and a dense 8-bay storage configuration, the C220 M3 is well-suited to run multiple virtual machines, host databases, and serve as a robust storage target for virtualized environments, while delivering reliable performance and manageability.