Cisco Unified Computing System
Encyclopedia
The Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) is a computer data center
marketing program composed of computing
hardware
, virtualization
software, switching fabric, and management software. The idea behind the system is to reduce total cost of ownership and improve scalability
by integrating the different components into a cohesive platform that can be managed as a single unit. Just-In-Time deployment of resources and 1:N redundancy are also possible with a system of this type.
s), and the C-series rackmount servers (that can be used with or without UCS, or mixed with blade UCS systems). Both form factors utilize the same standard components seen throughout the industry, including Intel Nehalem processors and DIMM
memory. The servers are distinctive for supporting Converged Network Adapters (CNAs), Port Virtualization, and in some models the Catalina chipset (ASIC
s that expand the number of memory sockets than can be connected to a single memory bus.
, ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V
, and others. VMware Virtualization is provided through a partnership with VMWare
and uses a version of that company's ESXi. Unlike other VMWare software, ESX and ESXi run directly on the system hardware without the need for any other software (called Bare Metal), and provide the necessary hypervisor
functions to host several guest operating system
s (such as Windows
or Linux
) on the physical server. Guest operating systems are limited to 255 gigabytes of vRAM and 8 virtual processors for vSphere 4.x and has been upgraded to 1TB of vRAM and 32 vCPUs in vSphere 5.0.
as well as the UCS Manager software. The FCoE component is necessary for connection to SAN storage
, since the UCS system itself has very little storage capacity. Cisco currently produces two models: the 20-port Cisco UCS 6120XP and the 40-port Cisco UCS 6140XP.
The Fabric Interconnect can further connect to multiple Fabric Extenders, Port Extenders using VNTag to the Fabric Interconnects, allowing a large number of servers to be managed by one Fabric Interconnect (or two in Active-Active failover).
or Firefox. Virtual machine
s can be moved from one physical chassis to another, applications may be moved between virtual machines, and management may even be conducted remotely from an iPhone
using SiMU - Simple iPhone Management of UCS. In addition to the embedded software, administrators may also manage the system from VMWare's vSphere.
The Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) is also used to configure and manage C-Series stand-alone servers. The CIMC can also be used to manage B-Series blades in addition to the UCS Manager application if configured.
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
marketing program composed of computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
, virtualization
Hardware virtualization
Computer hardware virtualization is the virtualization of computers or operating systems. It hides the physical characteristics of a computing platform from users, instead showing another abstract computing platform...
software, switching fabric, and management software. The idea behind the system is to reduce total cost of ownership and improve scalability
Scalability
In electronics scalability is the ability of a system, network, or process, to handle growing amount of work in a graceful manner or its ability to be enlarged to accommodate that growth...
by integrating the different components into a cohesive platform that can be managed as a single unit. Just-In-Time deployment of resources and 1:N redundancy are also possible with a system of this type.
Computing
The computing component of the UCS is available in two versions; the B-Series (a modular package consisting of a powered chassis and full or half slot blade serverBlade server
A blade server is a stripped down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Whereas a standard rack-mount server can function with a power cord and network cable, blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power...
s), and the C-series rackmount servers (that can be used with or without UCS, or mixed with blade UCS systems). Both form factors utilize the same standard components seen throughout the industry, including Intel Nehalem processors and DIMM
DIMM
A DIMM or dual in-line memory module, comprises a series of dynamic random-access memory integrated circuits. These modules are mounted on a printed circuit board and designed for use in personal computers, workstations and servers...
memory. The servers are distinctive for supporting Converged Network Adapters (CNAs), Port Virtualization, and in some models the Catalina chipset (ASIC
ASIC
ASIC may refer to:* Application-specific integrated circuit, an integrated circuit developed for a particular use, as opposed to a customised general-purpose device.* ASIC programming language, a dialect of BASIC...
s that expand the number of memory sockets than can be connected to a single memory bus.
Virtualization
Cisco UCS supports several hypervisors including VMware ESXVMware ESX
VMware ESX is an enterprise-level computer virtualization product offered by VMware, Inc. ESX is a component of VMware's larger offering, VMware Infrastructure, and adds management and reliability services to the core server product...
, ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V
Hyper-V
Microsoft Hyper-V, codenamed Viridian and formerly known as Windows Server Virtualization, is a hypervisor-based virtualization system for x86-64 systems. A beta version of Hyper-V was shipped with certain x86-64 editions of Windows Server 2008, and the finalized version was released on June 26,...
, and others. VMware Virtualization is provided through a partnership with VMWare
VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
and uses a version of that company's ESXi. Unlike other VMWare software, ESX and ESXi run directly on the system hardware without the need for any other software (called Bare Metal), and provide the necessary hypervisor
Hypervisor
In computing, a hypervisor, also called virtual machine manager , is one of many hardware virtualization techniques that allow multiple operating systems, termed guests, to run concurrently on a host computer. It is so named because it is conceptually one level higher than a supervisory program...
functions to host several guest operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s (such as Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
or Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
) on the physical server. Guest operating systems are limited to 255 gigabytes of vRAM and 8 virtual processors for vSphere 4.x and has been upgraded to 1TB of vRAM and 32 vCPUs in vSphere 5.0.
Networking
The Cisco 6100 Series switch (called a "Fabric Interconnect") provides network connectivity for the chassis and blade servers connected to it through 10 Gigabit and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The Fabric Interconnects are derived from the Nexus 5000 and run NX-OSNX-OS
NX-OS is a network operating system designed by Cisco Systems for their own Nexus series Ethernet switches and MDS series Fibre Channel storage area network switches. NX-OS is designed to support high performance, high reliability server access switches used in the data center...
as well as the UCS Manager software. The FCoE component is necessary for connection to SAN storage
Storage area network
A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices...
, since the UCS system itself has very little storage capacity. Cisco currently produces two models: the 20-port Cisco UCS 6120XP and the 40-port Cisco UCS 6140XP.
The Fabric Interconnect can further connect to multiple Fabric Extenders, Port Extenders using VNTag to the Fabric Interconnects, allowing a large number of servers to be managed by one Fabric Interconnect (or two in Active-Active failover).
Management
Management of the system is handled by the Cisco UCS Manager software embedded into the 6100 series switch, which is accessed by the administrator through a common browser such as Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
or Firefox. Virtual machine
Virtual machine
A virtual machine is a "completely isolated guest operating system installation within a normal host operating system". Modern virtual machines are implemented with either software emulation or hardware virtualization or both together.-VM Definitions:A virtual machine is a software...
s can be moved from one physical chassis to another, applications may be moved between virtual machines, and management may even be conducted remotely from an iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
using SiMU - Simple iPhone Management of UCS. In addition to the embedded software, administrators may also manage the system from VMWare's vSphere.
The Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) is also used to configure and manage C-Series stand-alone servers. The CIMC can also be used to manage B-Series blades in addition to the UCS Manager application if configured.
External links
- Unified Computing on Cisco website
- Product Datasheet for UCS Blade systems on cisco.com
- UCS-SIMU Blog on blogspot.com
- Edge Virtual Switching
- Nehalem memory with catalina on haywood.org
- Cisco UCS 6120XP 20-Port Fabric Interconnect on company website