Cisco C885L-NVES3T8M1V | 3.84TB E1.S NVMe SSD, PCIe Gen5, Micron 9550

Q: Which Cisco server platforms support the C885L-NVES3T8M1V SSD?
A: This E1.S NVMe drive is designed for Cisco UCS M8 series rack servers, including the C885L M8, C885A M8, and C880A M8 dense GPU platforms. It is typically used as a boot drive or high-performance storage in AI-optimized server configurations with NVIDIA GPU accelerators.

Q: What makes the Micron 9550 suitable for AI and data center workloads?
A: The Micron 9550 delivers PCIe Gen5 performance with sequential reads up to 14GB/s, enabling rapid data transfer to GPUs and CPUs. It features exceptional power efficiency, supports NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage for direct SSD-to-GPU data paths, and uses advanced 232-layer NAND technology optimized for demanding AI training, inference, and data-intensive applications.

Q: Can this drive be used as a boot device in UCS servers?
A: Yes, the C885L-NVES3T8M1V is commonly deployed as a boot drive in Cisco UCS M8 configurations. Cisco UCS servers typically use separate M.2 RAID controllers for dedicated boot functionality, while E1.S drives like this one provide high-speed storage for data caching, AI datasets, and application workloads.

Q: What is the E1.S form factor and how does it differ from U.2?
A: E1.S is a compact enterprise SSD form factor measuring 15mm thick, designed for high-density server deployments. Compared to traditional U.2 drives, E1.S offers better space efficiency and airflow in modern server chassis while maintaining full PCIe Gen5 x4 NVMe performance, making it ideal for GPU servers and converged infrastructure.

Q: Does this SSD support encryption and security features?
A: Yes, the drive includes comprehensive security capabilities including TCG Opal 2.01 encryption, secure erase functionality, secure boot, and cryptographically signed firmware. These features meet enterprise and data center security requirements for protecting data at rest and ensuring authenticated firmware updates.