VAST EBox Storage Configuration

Let's configure your storage solution step by step

Step 1: Capacity Requirements

Typical sizes:

Example: 100TB usable ≈ 122TB raw. VAST uses ~18% for data protection.

15.3TB: Max performance. 30.7TB: Balanced choice. 61.4TB: Best $/TB at large scale but requires higher density deployments.

Discount 60%
40% 50% 60% 75%

Enterprise discounts typically range from 40-75% off list price.

Quick sizing estimate:
~50 EBox servers (30.7TB drives)

> VAST Data EBox on Cisco UCS Storage Calculator

Plan storage capacity and infrastructure requirements for VAST EBox deployments

60% Discount

Capacity Requirements

Partner Discount

Discount Level 60%
40% 50% 60% 75%
Enterprise Deal (60% off)

Network Design

Dedicated: Separate frontend and backend switch pairs. Maximum isolation and bandwidth.

Rack Layout

Single rack: 4 switches (2 FE + 2 BE) + servers in one rack. More compact but power-limited.

Sizing Summary

Enter capacity to see the number of servers and racks required (minimum 8 servers per cluster).

Power Configuration

Deployment Scale

Rack Layout Visualization (30.7TB drives)

Showing 1 scalable unit (representative sample of full deployment)

Configuration Summary

EBox Server (1U)
Frontend Switch (1U)
Backend Switch (1U)
Empty

Dual-Network Topology (Frontend + Backend)

Frontend Network (Client Access)

ConnectX-7 NIC #1 → Frontend Leaf Switches → Spine → Clients

Backend Network (Storage Cluster)

ConnectX-7 NIC #2 → Backend Leaf Switches → Cluster Traffic

Network Architecture Diagram

EBox Server Network Configuration

ConnectX-7 NIC #1 (Frontend)
  • 2x 200G ports (400G total bandwidth)
  • Connected to Frontend Leaf switches
  • Handles client I/O traffic
ConnectX-7 NIC #2 (Backend)
  • 2x 200G ports (400G total bandwidth)
  • Connected to Backend Leaf switches
  • Handles cluster replication & rebuild

Bill of Materials (30.7TB drives)

Cloud Cost Reference (for comparison only)

Cloud costs are estimates based on public pricing. Actual costs vary by region, commitment, and usage patterns. On-prem TCO should include power, cooling, space, and operations costs not shown here.

VAST Licensing Requirements (EBox 244)

License quantities are based on official VAST sizing guidelines. 100TB Capacity Licenses are billed monthly. Core Licenses are based on cluster configuration. Contact VAST for exact pricing.

How We Calculate These Estimates

Server Count

Servers = Target Capacity ÷ Usable Capacity per Server

Minimum cluster size: 8 servers (VAST requirement)

Usable vs Raw Capacity

Usable ≈ 82% of Raw capacity

~18% overhead for VAST data protection (erasure coding)

Drive Configurations

  • • 15.3TB: 8 data drives + 2 NVRAM → ~100TB usable/server
  • • 30.7TB: 8 data drives + 2 NVRAM → ~200TB usable/server
  • • 61.4TB: 7 data drives + 3 NVRAM → ~350TB usable/server

Pricing

List prices from Cisco CCW (Feb 2026)

Your discount is applied to all components. Actual quotes may vary.

Switch Count

Switches = ⌈(Servers × 2 ports) ÷ 32⌉ rounded to pairs

Each server uses 4×200G ports (2×400G switch ports with breakout)

Power Estimates

Server: ~850W | Switch (32-port): ~450W

Actual power varies by workload and configuration