Last July I wrote a blog article showcasing the limited options listed on VMware’s vSAN ReadyNode listing.  Over the past 14 months, that list has grown so instead of updating that older post, I thought I’d provide a consolidated updated list of vSAN ReadyNode blade servers.

NOTE: I’m only focusing on the top blade server vendors (Cisco, Dell EMC, HPE and Lenovo).  

VMware vSAN ReadyNodes are x86 servers that have been pre-configured, tested and certified for VMware vSAN.   Each ReadyNode is optimally engineered for vSAN with the required amount of CPU, memory, network, I/O controllers and storage.  As of this writing, there are 7 profiles of ReadyNodes, each with unique profiles:

All Flash

AF-4

CPU: 2 x 10 core CPUs

Memory: 128GB RAM

Capacity: 4 x 1 TB SSD Endurance Class A or above Performance Class C or above

Cache: 1 x 200 GB SSD Endurance Class C or above Performance Class C or above

Performance: Up to 25,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• Cisco UCS B200 M4
• Cisco UCS B200 M5
• HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module

 

AF-6 

CPU: 2 x 12 core CPUs

Memory: 256GB RAM

Capacity: 8 x 1 TB SSD Endurance Class A or above Performance Class C or above

Cache: 2 x 200 GB SSD Endurance Class C or above Performance Class C or above

Performance: Up to 50,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• Dell EMC PowerEdge FC430
• Dell EMC PowerEdge FC630
• Dell EMC PowerEdge FC830
• HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module

 

AF-8

CPU: 2 x 12 core CPUs

Memory: 384GB RAM

Capacity: 12 x 1 TB SSD Endurance Class A or above Performance Class C or above

Cache: 2 x 400 GB SSD Endurance Class C or above Performance Class C or above

Performance: Up to 80,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• Dell EMC PowerEdge FC630
• Dell EMC PowerEdge FC830
• HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module
• HPE Synergy 660 Gen9 Compute Module
• HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade

 

Hybrid

HY-2

CPU: 1 x 6 core CPUs

Memory: 32GB RAM

Capacity: 2 x 1 TB NL-SAS 7.2K RPM

Cache: 1 x 200 GB SSD or Endurance Class >=B Performance Class >=B

Performance: Up to 4,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• NONE

 

HY-4

CPU: 2 x 8 core CPUs

Memory: 128GB RAM

Capacity: 4 x 1 TB NL-SAS 7.2K RPM

Cache: 1 x 200 GB SSD Endurance Class >=C Performance Class >=D

Performance: Up to 10,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• NONE

 

HY-6

CPU: 2 x 10 core CPUs

Memory: 256GB RAM

Capacity: 8 x 1 TB NL-SAS 7.2K RPM

Cache: 2 x 200 GB SSD Endurance Class >=C Performance Class >=D

Performance: Up to 20,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade

 

HY-8

CPU: 2 x 12 core CPUs

Memory: 384GB RAM

Capacity: 12 x 1 TB SAS 10K RPM

Cache: 2 x 400 GB SSD Endurance Class >=D Performance Class >=E

Performance: Up to 40,000 IOPs

Blade server models (see next section for details) available:

• HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade

 

OEM vSAN Ready Node Blade Server Details

Below are the specifics for each of the server models listed below.  The specifics that I’m listing below are from the VMware vSAN Compatibility Guide which was last updated on October 25, 2017.  It is not uncommon for details listed in this guide to be updated, so I encourage you to review the latest vSAN Compatibility Guide at https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/pdf/vi_vsan_rn_guide.pdf and check with your partner / OEM vendor to confirm the details prior to ordering.   In addition, the Compatibility Guide contains a lot of notes for each configuration, so please take the time to review them.  Lastly, if you find a discrepancy between the vSAN Compatiblity Guide and the information below, please let me know.  I copied and pasted most of this, but I have been known to make a mistake…from time to time.

The list below is sorted by profile then OEM vendor name.

====AF-4====

AF-4: Cisco UCS B200 M4 (4 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 3.8 TB

SKU	UCS-vSAN-B200M4-3-8TB
System	UCS B200 M4 Blade Server w/o CPU, memory, drive bays, HDD, VIC adapter
CPU	2 x UCS-CPU-E52650E 2.20 GHz E5-2650 v4/105W 12C/30MB Cache/DDR4 2400MHz
Memory	16 x UCS-MR-1X162RV-A 16GB DDR4-2400-MHz RDIMM/PC4-19200/dual rank/x4
Caching Tier	UCS-SD400G12S4-EP 400GB 2.5 inch Enterprise Performance 12G SAS SSD (10X endurance)
Capacity Tier	UCS-SD38TBKS4-EV 3.8TB 2.5 inch Enterprise Value 6G SATA SSD
Controller	UCSB-MRAID12G-HE Cisco FlexStorage 12G SAS RAID Controller w/2GB FBWC
NIC	Cisco UCS VIC 1340 modular LOM for blade servers
Boot Device	2 x UCS-SD-32G-S 32GB SD Card for UCS servers
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-4: Cisco UCS B200 M5 (4 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 7.6 TB

SKU	UCS-VSAN-B200M5-7TB
System	UCSB-B200-M5
CPU	2 x UCS-CPU-6148 2.4 GHz 6148/150W 20C/27.50MB Cache/DDR4 2666MHz
Memory	24 x UCS-MR-X32G2RS-H 32GB RDIMM DDR4 2666MHz
Caching Tier	400GB 2.5 inch Enterprise performance 12G SAS SSD (10X endurance)
Capacity Tier	3.8TB 2.5 inch Enterprise Value 6G SATA SSD
Controller	Cisco FlexStorage 12G SAS RAID Controller w/2GB FBWC SAS
NIC	UCSB-MLOM-40G-03 Cisco VIC 1340 Modular LOM for Blade servers (OR) UCS-VIC-M83-8P Cisco UCS VIC 1380 Mezzanine adapter
Boot Device	240GB M.2 SATA SSD (OR) 2x 64GB SD Card for UCS servers
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

 AF-4: HPE Synergy – SATA (3 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.6 TB

SKU	System Reference ID: SY480Gen9_SATA_AF4_1
System	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module
CPU	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10- core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982-L21 (AND) HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10-core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982- B21
Memory	4 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2400 CAS-17-17-17 Registered Memory Kit 805351-B21
Caching Tier	3 x HPE 1.6TB 6G SATA WI-3 SFF SC DS SSD 872363-B21
Capacity Tier	6 x HPE 1.6TB 6G SATA WI-3 SFF SC DS SSD 872363-B21
Controller	HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB FBWC 12Gb Mezzanine SAS Controller 759557-B21
NIC	HPE Synergy 3820C 10/20Gb Converged Network Adapter 777430-B21
Boot Device	HP Dual 8GB microSD Enterprise Midline USB Kit 741279-B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

 AF-4: HPE Synergy – SATA (3 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 12.8 TB

SKU	System Reference ID: SY480Gen9_AF4_1
System	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module
CPU	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10- core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982-L21 (AND) HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10-core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982- B21
Memory	4 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2400 CAS-17-17-17 Registered Memory Kit 805351-B21
Caching Tier	2 x HPE 800GB 12G SAS Mixed Use-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 822559-B21
Capacity Tier	8 x HPE 1.6TB 12G SAS Mixed Use-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 822563-B21
Controller	HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB FBWC 12Gb Mezzanine SAS Controller 759557-B21
NIC	HPE Synergy 3820C 10/20Gb Converged Network Adapter 777430-B21
Boot Device	HP Dual 8GB microSD Enterprise Midline USB Kit 741279-B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

====AF-6====

AF-6: DELL FX2 FC430 (4-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.6TB

SKU	DellStar Solution ID:6214313.1
System	FC430 Blade
CPU	2 x Intel Xeon E5-2670 v3 2.3GHz,30M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,12C/24T CPU
Memory	256 GB RAM
Caching Tier	2 x 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Capacity Tier	6 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Read Intensive MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	2 x QLogic 57810 Dual Port 10Gb Direct Attach/SFP+ Low Profile Network Adapter
Boot Device	2 x 16GB SD Card For IDSDM
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-6: DELL FX2 FC630 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.6TB

SKU	DellStar Solution ID: 6214323.1
System	FC630 Blade
CPU	2 x Intel Xeon E5-2670 v3 2.3GHz,30M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,12C/24T CPU
Memory	256 GB RAM
Caching Tier	2 x 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Capacity Tier	6 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Read Intensive MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	QLogic 57810-k Dual port 10Gb KR Blade Network Daughter Card
Boot Device	2 x 16GB SD Card For IDSDM
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-6: DELL FX2 FC830 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.6TB

SKU	DellStar Solution ID: 6214344.1
System	FC830 Blade
CPU	2 x Intel Xeon E5-4660 v3 2.1GHz,35M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,14C/28T
Memory	256 GB RAM
Caching Tier	2 x 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 400GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Capacity Tier	6 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Read Intensive MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	QLogic 57810-k Dual port 10Gb KR Blade Network Daughter Card
Boot Device	2 x 16GB SD Card For IDSDM
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-6: HPE Synergy – SATA (3 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 24 TB

NOTE: this is listed both as “AF-6” and “AF-4” within the vSAN ReadyNode Guide.

SKU	System Reference ID: SY480Gen9_SATA_AF6_1
System	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module
CPU	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2650 v4 (2.2GHz/12- core/30MB/105W) Processor Kit 826983-L21 (AND) HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2650 v4 (2.2GHz/12-core/30MB/105W) Processor Kit 826983-B21
Memory	8 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2400 CAS-17-17-17 Registered Memory Kit 805351-B21
Caching Tier	3 x HPE 800GB 6G SATA WI-3 SFF SC DS SSD 872359-B21
Capacity Tier	15 x HPE 1.6TB 6G SATA WI-3 SFF SC DS SSD 872363-B21
Controller	HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB FBWC 12Gb Mezzanine SAS Controller 759557-B21
NIC	HPE Synergy 3820C 10/20Gb Converged Network Adapter 777430-B21
Boot Device	HP 300GB 12G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Enterprise 3yr Warranty Hard Drive 785067-B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-6: HPE Synergy (3 node configuration); Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 24 TB

NOTE: this is listed both as “AF-6” and “AF-4” within the vSAN ReadyNode Guide.

SKU	System Reference ID: SY480Gen9_AF6_1
System	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Compute Module
CPU	HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10- core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982-L21 (AND) HPE Synergy 480 Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2630 v4 (2.2GHz/10-core/25MB/85W) Processor Kit 826982- B21
Memory	8 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2400 CAS-17-17-17 Registered Memory Kit 805351-B21
Caching Tier	2 x HPE 800GB 12G SAS Mixed Use-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 822559-B21
Capacity Tier	15 x HPE 1.6TB 12G SAS Mixed Use-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 822563-B21
Controller	HPE Smart Array P542D/2GB FBWC 12Gb Mezzanine SAS Controller 759557-B21
NIC	HPE Synergy 3820C 10/20Gb Converged Network Adapter 777430-B21
Boot Device	HP 300GB 12G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Enterprise 3yr Warranty Hard Drive 785067-B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

====AF-8====

AF-8: DELL FX2 FC630 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 19.2TB

SKU	DellStar Solution ID: 6214332.1
System	FC630 Blade
CPU	2 x Intel Xeon E5-2670 v3 2.3GHz,30M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,12C/24T CPU
Memory	384 GB RAM
Caching Tier	2 x 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Write Intensive MLC 12Gbps 2.5 inch Hot-plug Drive (OR) 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Capacity Tier	12 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Read Intensive MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	QLogic 57810-k Dual port 10Gb KR Blade Network Daughter Card
Boot Device	2 x 16GB SD Card For IDSDM
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-8: DELL FX2 FC830 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 19.2TB

SKU	DellStar Solution ID: 6214356.1
System	FC830 Blade
CPU	2 x Intel Xeon E5-4660 v3 2.1GHz,35M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,14C/28T
Memory	384 GB RAM
Caching Tier	2 x 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Write Intensive MLC 12Gbps 2.5 inch Hot-plug Drive (OR) 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Capacity Tier	16 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Read Intensive MLC 12Gpbs 2.5in Hot-plug Drive (OR) 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps 2.5in Hot-plug
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	QLogic 57810-k Dual port 10Gb KR Blade Network Daughter Card
Boot Device	2 x 16GB SD Card For IDSDM
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

AF-8: DELL FX2 FC830 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 22.4TB

SKU	contact Dell sales rep
System	FC830 Blade
CPU	4 x Intel Xeon E5-4660 v3 2.1GHz,35M Cache,9.60GT/s QPI,Turbo,HT,14C/28T
Memory	24 x 8GB DIMM, 2133MT/s, Dual Rank
Caching Tier	2 x 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Write Intensive 12Gbps 2.5 in, Phoenix-M3-HE
Capacity Tier	14 x 1.6TB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use 12Gbps 2.5in, Phoenix-M3-ME
Controller	FD332-PERC (Dual ROC)
NIC	2 x NetXtreme II BCM57810 10 Gigabit Ethernet
Boot Device	Internal SD Module with 1x 8GB SD Card
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

 AF-8: HPE BL460c Gen 9 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.4TB

SKU	BL460cGen9AF8 – 1
System	HP ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade
CPU	HP BL460c Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2660v3 (2.6GHz/10-core/25MB/105W) FIO Processor Kit 726990-L21
Memory	16 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2133 CAS-15-15-15 Registered Memory Kit 728629-B21
Caching Tier	2 x HP 400GB 6G SATA Write Intensive-2 SFF 2.5-in SC 3yr Wty Solid State Drive 804665-B21
Capacity Tier	10 x HP 960GB 6G SATA Read Intensive-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 3yr Wty Solid State Drive 816909-B21
Controller	HP D2220sb Configure-to-order Storage Blade (with P420i Storage Controller – p/n 692276- B21 – config’d with driver ) QW918A
NIC	HP FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 650FLB FIO Adapter 700764-B21
Boot Device	2 x HP 900GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Enterprise 3yr Warranty Hard Drive 652589- B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 AF-8: HPE BL460c Gen 9, version 2 (3-Node) ; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 9.4TB

SKU	BL460cGen9AF8 – 2
System	HP ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade
CPU	HPE BL460c Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2650v4 (2.2GHz/12-core/30MB/105W) Processor Kit 819840-B21
Memory	16 x HP 32GB (1x32GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2400 CAS-17-17-17 Registered Memory Kit 805351-B21
Caching Tier	2 x HP 400GB 6G SATA Write Intensive-2 SFF 2.5-in SC 3yr Wty Solid State Drive 804665-B21
Capacity Tier	10 x HP 960GB 6G SATA Read Intensive-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 3yr Wty Solid State Drive 816909-B21
Controller	HP D2220sb Configure-to-order Storage Blade (with P420i Storage Controller – p/n 692276- B21 – config’d with driver ) QW918A
NIC	HP FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 650FLB FIO Adapter 700764-B21
Boot Device	2 x HP 900GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Enterprise 3yr Warranty Hard Drive 652589- B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

====HY-6====

 HY-6: HPE BL460c Gen9; Raw Storage Capacity: Up To 6TB

SKU	System Reference ID: BL460cGen9HY6 – 1
System	BL460c Gen9 Hybrid – Medium – 1
CPU	HP BL460c Gen9 Intel® Xeon® E5-2670v3 (2.3GHz/12-core/30MB/120W) FIO Processor Kit 726989-L21
Memory	16 x HP 16GB (1x16GB) Dual Rank x4 DDR4-2133 CAS-15-15-15 Registered Memory Kit 726719-B21
Caching Tier	2 x HP 400GB 12G SAS Mainstream Endurance SFF 2.5-in ENT Mainstream SC 3yr Wty H2 Solid State Drive 779168-B21(* See Notes) (OR) HPE 400GB 12G SAS Mixed Use-3 SFF 2.5-in SC 3yr Wty Solid State Drive
Capacity Tier	6 x HP 1TB 6G SAS 7.2K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) SC Midline 1yr Warranty Hard Drive 652749-B21
Controller	HP Smart Array P420i (onboard in D2220sb storage blade)
NIC	HP FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 536FLB FIO Adapter 766491-B21
Boot Device	HP 8GB microSD Enterprise Mainstream Flash Media Kit (HP p/n – 726118-002/726116- B21) (OR) HP 8GB USB Enterprise Mainstream Flash Media Drive Key Kit 737953- B21
ESXi Pre-Installed?	No

 

 

Kevin Houston is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of BladesMadeSimple.com.  He has 20 years of experience in the x86 server marketplace.  Since 1997 Kevin has worked at several resellers in the Atlanta area, and has a vast array of competitive x86 server knowledge and certifications as well as an in-depth understanding of VMware and Citrix virtualization.  Kevin has worked at Dell EMC since August 2011 working as a Server Sales Engineer covering the Global Enterprise market from 2011 to 2017 and currently works as a Chief Technical Server Architect supporting the Central Region.

 

Disclaimer: The views presented in this blog are personal views and may or may not reflect any of the contributors’ employer’s positions. Furthermore, the content is not reviewed, approved or published by any employer. No compensation has been provided for any part of this blog.