Cisco HCI-GPU-A30-M6 | A30 GPU, 24GB HBM2, PCIe 4.0, Passive Cooling, 180W

Q: Which Cisco servers support the HCI-GPU-A30-M6 GPU?
A: The HCI-GPU-A30-M6 is designed for Cisco hyperconverged infrastructure servers including the HCI 240C M6 and UCS C240 M6 series. It can be installed in riser slots 2, 5, or 7 depending on server configuration. As a double-wide GPU, it occupies two adjacent PCIe slots. The GPU requires Cisco-specific SBIOS firmware and must be procured from Cisco for proper server integration.

Q: What is Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) and how does it benefit enterprise deployments?
A: The A30 GPU supports MIG technology, allowing the GPU to be partitioned into up to four fully isolated GPU instances, each with dedicated high-bandwidth memory, cache, and compute cores. This enables IT administrators to offer right-sized GPU acceleration for different workloads simultaneously, maximizing utilization and providing secure resource allocation for AI inference, training, and HPC applications running concurrently.

Q: What workloads are best suited for the NVIDIA A30 GPU?
A: The A30 is optimized for mainstream enterprise AI inference at scale, machine learning training, high-performance computing with FP64 precision, data analytics, and virtual desktop infrastructure with NVIDIA vGPU software. Its versatile compute capabilities support diverse workloads including conversational AI, computer vision, scientific simulation, and dynamic workload balancing between production inference and model retraining.

Q: What are the power and cooling requirements for this GPU?
A: The HCI-GPU-A30-M6 has a 180W TDP and uses passive cooling, requiring proper server airflow management. Cisco servers with GPUs require low-profile heatsinks and a dedicated GPU air duct accessory. Organizations should use the Cisco UCS power calculator to ensure adequate PSU capacity when configuring servers with multiple GPUs or high-performance components.

Q: Can I mix the HCI-GPU-A30-M6 with other GPU models in the same server?
A: No, Cisco servers do not support mixing different GPU models or brands within the same system. All GPUs in a server must be identical. If you plan to install multiple GPUs, they must all be HCI-GPU-A30-M6 cards. You can install up to three A30 GPUs in compatible Cisco HCI servers depending on riser configuration and power supply capacity.