Cisco expanded its Unified Computing System platform with 1RU and 2RU rack servers, complements to the blade server the system debuted with. They are based on the same x86 Intel Xeon 5500 processors on the B-series blade too.
Cisco said its rack server will provide an entry level on ramp to UCS, a platform for consolidating and virtualizing servers, storage, networking and other data center resources. Cisco did not provide pricing for its C-series rack mount system, which will ship in Q4; but prices for such systems can range from $1,500 to $15,000.
Cisco also said a rack system provides an alternative form factor for UCS customers and broadens the market for UCS. Cisco all but ruled out broadening the market for UCS further by allowing non-Cisco server participation in the platform’s memory extension and virtualized adapter capabilities.
And Cisco has no plans to license these technologies to other server vendors either.
“Would Cisco license IOS?” asked Soni Jiandani, Cisco’s vice president of marketing for the server access virtualization group.
As for multivendor server support in UCS, she said, “never say never.” Which also means, keep waiting.
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