Technical Specifications:

• Part Numbers:
  • UCS-FI-6248UP (Base model with power supplies)
  • UCS-SP-INFRA-FI (Infrastructure bundle - typically ships without power supplies, 12 pre-licensed ports)
  • UCS-FI-6248UP-UPG (Upgrade/license variant)
• Product Line: Cisco UCS 6200 Series Fabric Interconnects
• Form Factor: 1RU (1.7 inches) rack-mountable
• Device Type: Unified Fabric Interconnect Switch

Port Configuration:

Base Chassis:

• Fixed Ports: 32 x SFP+ unified ports
• Port Capabilities: Each port supports:
  • 1 Gbps Ethernet (1000BASE-SX/LX/T)
  • 10 Gbps Ethernet (10GBASE-SR/LR/ER)
  • Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
  • Native Fibre Channel (1/2/4/8 Gbps)
• Pre-Licensed Ports: 12 ports activated (base configuration)
• Total Base Ports: 32 ports (additional ports require licensing)

Expansion Capability:

• Expansion Slots: 1 expansion module slot
• Expansion Module: Optional UCS-IOM-2216-16P (16-port unified expansion module)
  • Adds 16 additional SFP+ unified ports
  • Pre-licensed with 8 ports activated
  • Requires separate purchase and license activation
• Maximum Total Ports: 48 ports (32 base + 16 expansion)

Performance Specifications:

• Switching Capacity: 960 Gbps (non-blocking wire-speed)
• Throughput: 714.24 Mpps (Million packets per second)
• Latency: Approximately 3.2 microseconds (ultra-low latency cut-through architecture)
• Architecture: Cut-through switching for deterministic, consistent latency regardless of packet size, traffic pattern, or enabled features
• Bandwidth: Line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet performance on all ports simultaneously

Unified Fabric & Converged I/O:

FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet) Integration:

• Seamlessly converge LAN and SAN traffic over a single unified fabric
• Eliminate separate Fibre Channel switches and parallel cabling infrastructure
• Direct connectivity to native Fibre Channel SANs from FCoE servers
• Support for FCoE to native FC conversion on unified ports

Lossless Ethernet:

• IEEE 802.1Qbb Priority-based Flow Control (PFC)
• IEEE 802.1Qaz Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS)
• Data Center Bridging Exchange (DCBX) protocol support
• Multiple traffic classes over lossless Ethernet fabric

Cisco UCS Manager Integration:

The Fabric Interconnect hosts and runs Cisco UCS Manager in a highly available clustered configuration:

• Centralized Management: Single management point for entire UCS domain
• Service Profiles: Server identity abstraction with portable service profiles
• Policy-Based Configuration: Centralized policy enforcement across all UCS components
• Zero-Touch Deployment: Automatic server discovery and provisioning
• Firmware Management: Centralized firmware updates for servers, adapters, and I/O modules
• Redundant Management: Dual Fabric Interconnects operate in active-active cluster for high availability

UCS System Connectivity:

Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers:

• Connects to UCS 5100 Series Blade Server Chassis
• Communication via UCS 2100 or 2200 Series Fabric Extenders (IOM modules)
• Each chassis connects to both Fabric Interconnects for redundancy
• Fabric Extenders act as remote line cards, extending the fabric into each chassis

Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers:

• Direct connectivity via Cisco UCS VIC (Virtual Interface Card) adapters
• Unified fabric connectivity for rack-mount servers
• Consistent management through UCS Manager

High Availability Architecture:

Dual Fabric Interconnect Deployment:

• Always deployed in redundant pairs (Fabric A and Fabric B)
• Active-active configuration with full redundancy
• Independent failure domains ensure continuous operation
• Automatic failover between fabric interconnects
• No single point of failure in UCS architecture

Component Redundancy:

• Power Supplies: Dual hot-swappable, load-sharing AC or DC power supplies (1+1 redundancy)
• Cooling: Dual hot-swappable fan modules with N+1 redundancy
• Management: Redundant management plane across clustered Fabric Interconnects

Quality of Service (QoS):

• Class of Service (CoS) Marking: 802.1p priority tagging
• Traffic Classification: Multiple traffic classes for differentiated service levels
• Traffic Shaping: Rate limiting and bandwidth management
• Queue Management: Priority queuing for latency-sensitive applications
• Policy-Based QoS: Centralized QoS policies enforced across entire UCS domain
• Application Prioritization: Ensure critical applications receive necessary bandwidth and low latency

Security Features:

• IEEE 802.1X Authentication: Port-based network access control
• RADIUS/TACACS+ Integration: Enterprise authentication services
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Granular administrative permissions
• Secure Management: SSHv2, SNMPv3, HTTPS for encrypted management access
• Network Admission Control (NAC): Policy-based endpoint security
• Fabric Binding: Secure fabric-wide device authentication

Virtualization Support:

• Cisco VM-FEX (Virtual Machine Fabric Extender): Hardware-level virtualization support
  • Direct VM-to-fabric connectivity
  • VM mobility with consistent network policies
  • Per-VM network statistics and monitoring
• Cisco VN-Link: Virtual machine network interface abstraction
• VMware vSphere Integration: Native VMware support with vCenter plugins
• Microsoft Hyper-V Support: Full compatibility with Microsoft virtualization

Supported Transceivers:

• SFP Modules: 100/1000BASE Ethernet SFP modules
• SFP+ Modules:
  • 10GBASE-SR (multimode, 850nm, up to 300m)
  • 10GBASE-LR (single-mode, 1310nm, up to 10km)
  • 10GBASE-ER (single-mode, 1550nm, up to 40km)
• Twinax Copper: SFP+ Direct Attach Copper cables for short-distance, low-cost connectivity
• Fibre Channel SFP+: 1/2/4/8 Gbps FC SFP+ modules for native FC connectivity

Power Supply Configuration:

AC Power Supplies:

• Hot-swappable, redundant AC power supply units
• Auto-ranging input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
• Load-sharing for balanced power distribution
• Field-replaceable without service disruption

DC Power Supply Option:

• Optional DC power supplies available for telecom/carrier environments
• Redundant configuration for maximum uptime

Important Note: The UCS-SP-INFRA-FI SKU typically ships without power supplies included (0 PSU). Power supplies must be ordered separately.

Cooling System:

• Fan Modules: Dual hot-swappable fan modules
• Management Daughter Card Integration: Left fan assembly integrated with management daughter card (UCS-FI-DL2)
• Airflow: Front-to-rear airflow design
• Redundancy: N+1 fan redundancy ensures continuous operation
• Variable Speed: Intelligent fan control adjusts speed based on thermal load

Physical Specifications:

• Dimensions:
  • Width: 17.3 inches (43.94 cm)
  • Depth: 29.5-30 inches (74.9-76.2 cm)
  • Height: 1.7 inches (4.37 cm) - 1RU
• Weight: Approximately 21-25 lbs (9.5-11.3 kg) depending on configuration
• Mounting: Standard 19-inch rack-mountable with included rack kit

Management Interfaces:

• Cisco UCS Manager: Integrated management software (GUI and CLI)
• Console Port: RJ-45 serial console for local access
• Management Ethernet Ports: Dedicated out-of-band management connectivity
• Management Daughter Card: UCS-FI-DL2 (located left side, integrated with left fan module)
• KVM Console: Remote graphical console via UCS Manager
• SNMP: v1/v2c/v3 for network management system integration
• REST API: Programmatic management and automation

Management Features:

• Service Profiles: Abstract server identity from hardware for mobility and consistency
• Pools and Policies: MAC address pools, WWNN/WWPN pools, UUID pools
• Templates: Create standardized service profile templates for rapid deployment
• Firmware Management: Centralized firmware updates with scheduling and rollback
• Monitoring: Real-time statistics, fault monitoring, and event logging
• Backup and Restore: Configuration backup and disaster recovery capabilities

Environmental Specifications:

• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
• Non-Operating Temperature: -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)
• Humidity: 10% to 85% relative humidity (non-condensing)
• Altitude: Supports standard data center operating altitudes

Standards Compliance:

• IEEE Standards: 802.1D, 802.1p, 802.1Q, 802.1Qbb (PFC), 802.1Qaz (ETS), 802.1X, 802.3, 802.3ae (10GbE)
• Fibre Channel: FC-PI, FC-FS, FCoE standards
• Safety: UL, cUL, CE, CB
• EMC: FCC Part 15 Class A, CE, VCCI
• Environmental: RoHS compliant

Ideal Applications:

• Cisco UCS Blade Server Deployments: Management and connectivity backbone for UCS 5100 Series chassis
• Converged Infrastructure: Unified LAN/SAN fabric for virtualized data centers
• Private Cloud Infrastructure: Foundation for OpenStack, VMware vCloud, Microsoft Private Cloud
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): High-density VDI deployments with Citrix or VMware Horizon
• Database Consolidation: High-performance, low-latency connectivity for Oracle RAC, SQL Server clusters
• SAP HANA: Certified platform for SAP HANA in-memory databases
• Big Data & Analytics: Converged infrastructure for Hadoop and big data platforms
• DevOps Environments: Rapid provisioning for continuous integration/continuous deployment pipelines

Licensing Model:

• Base License: 12 ports pre-licensed in base configuration
• Port Activation Licenses: Additional ports require separate license purchase
  • Base chassis: 32 total ports, 12 pre-licensed (20 ports require activation)
  • Expansion module: 16 total ports, 8 pre-licensed (8 ports require activation)
• Full System License: Licenses available to activate all 48 ports

Key Advantages:

• TCO Savings: Consolidate NICs, HBAs, switches, and cables into unified fabric
• Simplified Management: Single management domain for compute, network, and storage
• High Performance: 960 Gbps throughput with ultra-low 3.2µs latency
• Scalability: Support hundreds of servers in single UCS domain
• Service Profile Mobility: Move workloads between servers in minutes without reconfiguration
• Proven Reliability: Deployed in thousands of enterprise data centers worldwide
• Vendor Ecosystem: Extensive third-party software and hardware certifications

What's Typically Included (varies by SKU):

UCS-FI-6248UP (Full Configuration):

• 1 x Cisco UCS 6248UP Fabric Interconnect
• 2 x AC power supplies
• 2 x Fan modules (with management daughter card)
• 1 x Rack-mount kit
• Console cable
• Documentation

UCS-SP-INFRA-FI (Infrastructure Bundle):

• 1 x Cisco UCS 6248UP Fabric Interconnect
• 0 x Power supplies (must be ordered separately)
• 2 x Fan modules (typically included)
• 12 port licenses activated
• Rack-mount kit

Important Purchase Considerations:

1. Power Supplies: Verify if power supplies are included or must be ordered separately
2. Port Licenses: Determine total ports needed and purchase appropriate licenses
3. Expansion Module: Order expansion module separately if 48 ports required
4. Transceivers: SFP/SFP+ modules sold separately
5. UCS Manager License: Included with Fabric Interconnect purchase

Warranty & Support:

• Cisco standard hardware warranty
• Cisco SMARTnet and solution support services available
• TAC (Technical Assistance Center) support
• Software updates and firmware releases

Why Choose the Cisco UCS 6248UP Fabric Interconnect:

The UCS 6248UP represents the networking and management heart of Cisco's Unified Computing System, delivering unprecedented simplification, performance, and efficiency for data center operations. By consolidating traditional LAN and SAN infrastructure into a single unified fabric with low-latency, lossless Ethernet and integrated FCoE capabilities, this Fabric Interconnect dramatically reduces complexity, cabling, and costs while improving manageability. The innovative service profile model abstracts server identity from hardware, enabling rapid provisioning, seamless mobility, and consistent policy enforcement across hundreds of servers through the integrated Cisco UCS Manager. With 960 Gbps of non-blocking throughput, ultra-low 3.2-microsecond latency, and support for up to 48 ports, the UCS 6248UP provides the high-performance, highly available foundation required for mission-critical virtualized workloads, private clouds, and converged infrastructure deployments.