With the aim of helping enterprises address the challenges emerging from the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) on the underlying infrastructure and processes of IT, Cisco is unveiling its first server built from the ground up for AI and ML workloads.
The new Cisco UCS server speeds up deep learning, a compute-intensive form of machine learning that uses neural networks and large data sets to train computers for complex tasks. Packed with powerful NVIDIA GPUs, it is designed to accelerate many of today's best-known machine learning software stacks.
Data scientists and developers can experiment with machine learning on a laptop. But deep learning at scale demands much more compute capability. It requires an IT architecture that is capable of taking in vast sets of data and tools that can make sense of this data and use it to learn. That is why Cisco is working with its technology partners to validate many of today's most popular machine learning tools and to help simplify deployments and accelerate time to insight.
"Over the next few years, apps powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning will become mainstream in the enterprise. While this will solve many complex business issues, it will also create new challenges for IT," said Roland Acra, SVP and GM for Cisco's Data Center Business Group. "Today's powerful addition to the Cisco UCS lineup will power AI initiatives across a wide range of industries. Our early-access customers in the financial sector are exploring ways to improve fraud detection and enhance algorithmic trading. Meanwhile in healthcare, they're interested in better insights and diagnostics, improving medical image classification, and speeding drug discovery and research."
With the addition of the Cisco UCS C480 ML, Cisco now offers a complete range of computing options designed for each stage of the AI and ML lifecycle. From data collection and analysis near the edge, to data preparation and training in the data center, to the real-time inference at the heart of AI, customers are covered.
The Cisco UCS C480 ML M5 Rack Server builds on Cisco's portfolio of UCS B-Series, C-Series, and HyperFlex systems. It will be available to buy from Cisco partners in Q4 2018, along with a range of AI and ML support capabilities from Cisco Services that span analytics, deep-learning and automation.