Cisco UCS C220 M7 Rack Server

2-Socket Rack Server — Cisco UCS C220 M7

Cisco UCS C220 M7 is a versatile, general-purpose, 2-socket rack server in a high-density 1RU form factor, part of the seventh-generation Unified Computing System (UCS) family. The platform is engineered for a wide range of demanding workloads: enterprise-grade virtualization, containerization (including Red Hat OpenShift and Kubernetes), databases, collaboration environments, web infrastructure, and bare-metal applications. Key architectural advancements over previous generations include the transition to PCIe Gen 5.0, DDR5 ECC memory support, and integration with modern Intel Xeon Scalable processors featuring built-in AI accelerators (Intel AMX, DSA, QAT).

The platform is designed for customers building resilient infrastructure with a long lifecycle: the server supports centralized management through Cisco Intersight, integrates with software-defined storage and Cisco network fabrics, and is validated for leading hypervisors (VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM) and enterprise-class operating systems.

Use Cases

The Cisco UCS C220 M7 is the optimal solution for organizations requiring:

• High-density virtualization and containerization with Red Hat OpenShift, Kubernetes, and VMware vSphere
• Medium-sized and distributed databases (Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SAP HANA in 1RU configurations)
• Collaboration environments and enterprise applications (Exchange, SharePoint, VDI)
• Bare-metal computing with maximum performance and minimal overhead
• Web infrastructure, cloud services, edge computing, and branch data centers
• Latency-sensitive workloads requiring direct NVMe access

Compute and Memory

Processors. The server supports up to two 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Sapphire Rapids) or 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable (Emerald Rapids) processors. Maximum core count reaches 60 per socket, delivering up to 120 physical cores and up to 240 threads in a single 1RU server. 5th Gen processors deliver higher per-core performance, improved energy efficiency, and support for faster memory modules.

Memory. The server provides 32 DIMM slots (16 per socket) organized in 8 channels per socket. It supports DDR5 ECC RDIMM modules up to 128 GB. Maximum memory capacity is 4 TB. With 5th Gen processors and 1DPC (one DIMM per channel) configurations, memory speeds reach 5600 MT/s. Memory Mirroring, Memory Sparing, and ADDDC (Advanced ECC) modes are supported — critical for databases and virtualization workloads sensitive to data integrity.

Drive Bays and Chassis Configurations

The server is available in two key front-panel configurations for 2.5-inch Small Form Factor (SFF) drives, allowing the platform to be adapted to specific workload profiles:

• UCSC-C220-M7S (hybrid configuration). Universal backplane with 10 SFF bays supporting SAS, SATA, and NVMe drives simultaneously. The optimal choice for mixed workloads requiring a combination of HDD/SSD capacity and NVMe performance.
• UCSC-C220-M7N (NVMe-only). Optimized version with 10 SFF bays designed exclusively for high-performance NVMe drives with direct processor connection (Direct Connect). This architecture minimizes latency and is ideal for databases, real-time analytics, and in-memory computing.
• Boot Subsystem. Secure internal M.2 SSD modules with hardware RAID mirroring support (up to 2×960 GB) are used for hypervisor or OS deployment. This separates the boot volume from the data array, improving fault tolerance and simplifying migration.

Important Note. To ensure stability and predictable operation, the server firmware (BIOS and CIMC) strictly validates drives against the Cisco compatibility list. Installation of non-genuine OEM drives from third-party brands (including consumer and enterprise-class drives without Cisco firmware) is not officially supported and is blocked at the BIOS/CIMC level. When ordering a configuration, we help select validated drives to avoid failures during deployment.

Network Interfaces and Expansion Slots

• PCIe Slots. The server offers flexible riser configurations: up to 3 PCIe 4.0 slots or up to 2 PCIe 5.0 slots. This versatility supports RAID/HBA controllers, network adapters, FPGA cards, and up to three compact GPUs for inference, VDI, and video analytics workloads.
• Network Adapters. A dedicated mLOM / OCP 3.0 slot is provided for Cisco UCS VIC 15000 Series virtual interface cards or standard OCP network cards. Configurations up to 200 Gbps are supported, including solutions with RoCE support and hardware overlay acceleration (VXLAN, NVGRE).
• Management. A dedicated 1 Gb Ethernet RJ45 management port is provided for out-of-band administration, without consuming primary network interface resources.

Power, Cooling, and Management

• Power. 1+1 hot-swappable redundancy is supported. A wide selection of Cisco power supplies from 770 W to 2300 W with Platinum and Titanium efficiency ratings is available, plus -48V DC versions for telecom and carrier environments. All power supplies support hot-swap without server downtime.
• Cooling. 8 hot-swappable fan modules provide cooling redundancy even under peak compute loads. The chassis aerodynamics are designed for standard server racks with front-to-back airflow.
• Management. The server can operate as a fully autonomous unit under the local CIMC (Cisco Integrated Management Controller) chip or be centrally managed through the cloud-based Cisco Intersight orchestration platform (Intersight Managed Mode). Redfish API, SNMP, IPMI, and integration with existing monitoring systems are supported.

Why GHI SERVERS

• Direct supply from China. We work with CNY and RUB. Turnkey logistics of server equipment from China, including customs clearance and delivery to our Moscow warehouse.
• Custom configuration. We help select processors, memory capacity and type, drive bays (M7S or M7N), network adapters, and risers for your task and budget.
• Moscow warehouse. Prompt replacement of defective units and warranty service without long downtime.
• 20+ years of expertise. Authorized Cisco partner since 2005. Pre-sales engineering, configuration assistance, and post-sales support.

Service and Support

• 24/7 technical support
• Pre-sales engineering and configuration assistance
• OEM warranty and full provenance documentation
• Installation, setup, and deployment of server equipment
• Component replacement and warranty service