920-9B010-00FE-0M2 Mellanox 36 Ports QSFP28 100GBPS EDR InfiniBand Switch

Overview of High-Density Mellanox InfiniBand Switch 

The Mellanox 920-9B010-00FE-0M2 InfiniBand switch is engineered for environments that demand extreme bandwidth, low latency, and predictable performance. Designed around a compact yet powerful architecture, this switch delivers reliable 100Gb/s EDR InfiniBand connectivity for modern data centers, high-performance computing clusters, and AI-driven workloads.

Core Product Identification 

• Manufacturer: Mellanox
• Model / Part Number: 920-9B010-00FE-0M2
• Category: InfiniBand Network Switch
• Switch Type: High-speed EDR InfiniBand

Technical Specification

• Total Ports: 36 QSFP28
• Maximum Throughput: Up to 100Gb/s per port
• Networking Technology: EDR InfiniBand
• Product Class: High-speed InfiniBand switch

Port Configuration Highlights

• 36 integrated QSFP28 interfaces
• Optimized for short- and long-range InfiniBand cabling
• Supports high node-count clusters without bottlenecks
• Balanced port distribution for spine-leaf architectures

Performance Capabilities

• Up to 100Gb/s bandwidth per port
• Ultra-low latency switching fabric
• High message rate handling for parallel processing
• Stable throughput under sustained workloads

Deployment Flexibility

• Suitable for small to large InfiniBand fabrics
• Supports spine-leaf and fat-tree topologies
• Compatible with a wide range of InfiniBand adapters
• Designed for continuous, always-on operation

Reliability Features

• Designed for 24/7 data center operation
• Efficient cooling for sustained high throughput
• High-quality components for extended lifespan
• Consistent performance under heavy network load

Ideal Use Cases

• High-performance computing clusters
• AI and deep learning infrastructures
• Large-scale data analytics platforms
• Enterprise and research data centers

Outline of 36 Ports QSFP28 100GBPS InfiniBand Switch  

The Mellanox 920-9B010-00FE-0M2 36 Ports QSFP28 100Gbps EDR InfiniBand Switch represents a specialized class of high-performance data center networking hardware engineered to address the extreme bandwidth, latency, and scalability demands of contemporary high-performance computing environments. This category of InfiniBand switches is designed for organizations that require deterministic performance, massive parallelism, and ultra-low latency interconnects to support compute-intensive workloads across tightly coupled server clusters. The 36-port QSFP28 configuration enables dense connectivity within a compact form factor, allowing data centers to maximize throughput per rack unit while maintaining efficient airflow and power utilization.

InfiniBand switching solutions in this category are purpose-built for workloads that depend on rapid message passing and low-latency communication, such as artificial intelligence training, deep learning inference, scientific simulations, computational fluid dynamics, weather modeling, genomics research, and financial analytics. By leveraging EDR InfiniBand technology at 100 gigabits per second per port, these switches deliver predictable, non-blocking performance that far exceeds traditional Ethernet-based architectures in latency-sensitive environments.

36-Port QSFP28 Design and Network Density Advantages

The 36-port QSFP28 layout defines a crucial characteristic of this InfiniBand switch category. Each port supports 100Gbps EDR InfiniBand signaling, allowing system architects to build high-radix topologies such as fat-tree, dragonfly, or mesh networks without excessive cabling complexity. The high port density enables efficient scaling of cluster sizes while minimizing the number of switching layers required to interconnect thousands of compute nodes.

QSFP28 interfaces provide a balanced combination of signal integrity, cable reach flexibility, and power efficiency. This category of switches supports both passive and active copper cables for short-distance connections as well as active optical cables and transceivers for extended reach. The ability to mix and match cable types allows data center designers to optimize for cost, distance, and performance depending on deployment requirements.

Optimized Rack Integration and Space Efficiency

InfiniBand switches with 36 QSFP28 ports are commonly deployed in top-of-rack or spine-layer roles within HPC and AI fabrics. The compact physical footprint ensures efficient use of rack space while maintaining sufficient thermal headroom for sustained high-throughput operation. This category is engineered to operate continuously under full load, making it suitable for environments where compute clusters run intensive workloads around the clock.

Advanced airflow design and redundant cooling mechanisms are typical attributes of this switch category, ensuring consistent performance even in densely packed racks. Power supply redundancy and hot-swappable components further enhance availability and simplify maintenance, reducing downtime in mission-critical environments.

EDR InfiniBand Technology and Performance Characteristics

Enhanced Data Rate InfiniBand, commonly referred to as EDR, delivers 100Gbps bandwidth per port while maintaining extremely low latency and high message rates. This technology forms the foundation of the Mellanox 920-9B010-00FE-0M2 switch category, enabling rapid data exchange between compute nodes and storage systems. EDR InfiniBand is particularly well suited for applications that rely on frequent synchronization, collective operations, and fine-grained parallelism.

Unlike conventional networking technologies that prioritize throughput at the expense of latency consistency, EDR InfiniBand focuses on predictable performance. This category of switches ensures minimal jitter and consistent packet delivery times, which are critical for tightly coupled parallel applications. The result is improved scaling efficiency as cluster sizes increase, allowing organizations to extract maximum value from their compute investments.

Low-Latency Switching and Cut-Through Forwarding

InfiniBand switches in this category utilize cut-through forwarding architectures that begin transmitting packets as soon as the destination address is processed, rather than waiting for the entire packet to be received. This design significantly reduces end-to-end latency, enabling faster completion of collective operations and reducing idle time across compute nodes.

Hardware-based congestion management and adaptive routing capabilities further enhance performance under heavy traffic conditions. These features help prevent bottlenecks and ensure balanced utilization of available links, even as workloads dynamically change. For large-scale HPC and AI clusters, such capabilities are essential for maintaining consistent application performance.

High Message Rate Support for Parallel Applications

In addition to raw bandwidth, this category of InfiniBand switches is optimized for high message rates, enabling efficient handling of millions of small messages per second. Many scientific and AI workloads rely on frequent communication of small data packets, making message rate performance as important as throughput. The architecture of EDR InfiniBand switches is specifically designed to accommodate these communication patterns without introducing excessive overhead.

Scalability and Fabric Design Flexibility

The Mellanox 36-port EDR InfiniBand switch category supports a wide range of scalable fabric designs, allowing organizations to tailor their network architecture to specific workload requirements. Whether deployed as a standalone switch for small clusters or integrated into a multi-tier fabric supporting thousands of nodes, this category provides the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving compute demands.

High-radix switching enables flatter network topologies, reducing hop counts between nodes and improving overall application performance. By minimizing the number of switching layers, organizations can achieve lower latency, reduced power consumption, and simplified management compared to traditional multi-tier network designs.

Support for Fat-Tree and Dragonfly Topologies

Fat-tree topologies are widely used in HPC environments due to their predictable performance and scalability characteristics. The 36-port configuration allows efficient construction of fat-tree fabrics that deliver full bisection bandwidth across the cluster. This ensures that any node can communicate with any other node at full speed, regardless of traffic patterns.

Dragonfly topologies, which emphasize reduced cabling and high global bandwidth, are also well supported by this category of InfiniBand switches. The combination of high port density and EDR bandwidth makes it possible to build large-scale dragonfly networks that balance performance, cost, and physical complexity.

Seamless Expansion and Future-Proofing

As compute requirements grow, InfiniBand fabrics built with 36-port EDR switches can be expanded incrementally without disrupting existing workloads. Additional switches and links can be integrated into the fabric while maintaining consistent performance characteristics. This scalability makes the category suitable for research institutions and enterprises that anticipate ongoing growth in data volume and computational intensity.

Reliability, Availability, and Enterprise-Grade Design

Reliability and availability are defining attributes of this InfiniBand switch category. Designed for continuous operation in demanding environments, these switches incorporate multiple layers of redundancy and fault tolerance. Features such as redundant power supplies, hot-swappable fans, and robust firmware contribute to high system uptime and simplified maintenance procedures.

Error detection and correction mechanisms are integrated into the InfiniBand protocol stack, ensuring data integrity across the fabric. This is particularly important for scientific simulations and financial workloads where data accuracy is paramount. The switch hardware continuously monitors link health and performance, enabling proactive identification and resolution of potential issues.

Use Cases Across High-Performance  

The Mellanox 920-9B010-00FE-0M2 InfiniBand switch category is widely adopted across industries that demand extreme compute performance and rapid data exchange. In academic and government research institutions, these switches form the backbone of supercomputing clusters used for climate modeling, physics simulations, and advanced materials research.

In commercial environments, AI and machine learning workloads benefit significantly from the low latency and high bandwidth provided by EDR InfiniBand fabrics. Training large neural networks requires frequent synchronization of model parameters across GPUs, making fast interconnects essential for reducing training time and improving resource utilization.

AI, Deep Learning, and GPU Cluster Connectivity

GPU-accelerated clusters rely heavily on high-speed interconnects to exchange data between nodes efficiently. This category of InfiniBand switches is optimized for GPU communication patterns, enabling rapid transfer of tensors and gradients during training and inference tasks. The result is improved scaling efficiency as additional GPUs are added to the cluster.

Support for RDMA and GPU-direct technologies allows data to move directly between GPUs across the fabric with minimal CPU involvement. This reduces overhead and further enhances application performance, making EDR InfiniBand an ideal choice for AI-driven data centers.

Scientific Computing and Financial Modeling

Scientific computing applications often involve complex numerical simulations that require frequent communication between processes. The deterministic performance of InfiniBand switches in this category ensures consistent results and efficient scaling across large clusters. Financial institutions similarly benefit from low-latency communication for risk analysis, algorithmic trading, and real-time analytics.

Integration with Existing HPC and Data Center Infrastructure

This category of InfiniBand switches is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing HPC and enterprise data center environments. Compatibility with a wide range of InfiniBand host channel adapters, storage systems, and management tools ensures smooth deployment and interoperability. Organizations can incorporate these switches into new or existing fabrics without extensive reconfiguration.

The standardized QSFP28 interfaces and adherence to InfiniBand specifications ensure compatibility across multiple generations of hardware. This flexibility allows data centers to mix different node types and gradually upgrade components as needed.

Power Efficiency and Operational Cost Considerations

Despite delivering extremely high performance, EDR InfiniBand switches in this category are engineered for power efficiency. Optimized ASIC designs and efficient cooling systems help minimize energy consumption per gigabit of throughput. This efficiency translates into lower operational costs and reduced environmental impact over the lifetime of the deployment.

By consolidating high bandwidth into fewer devices, organizations can reduce the total number of switches required, further lowering power, cooling, and space requirements. This makes the category attractive for both large-scale supercomputing facilities and enterprise data centers seeking to maximize performance within constrained budgets.

Long-Term Value and Strategic Networking Investment

Investing in a 36-port QSFP28 100Gbps EDR InfiniBand switch represents a strategic decision to support high-performance workloads over the long term. This category delivers a balance of performance, scalability, and reliability that aligns with the evolving demands of data-intensive computing. As workloads continue to grow in complexity and scale, the deterministic performance and flexibility of InfiniBand fabrics remain critical advantages.

Organizations that adopt this category benefit from a mature ecosystem of hardware, software, and expertise, ensuring ongoing support and innovation. The Mellanox InfiniBand switch category continues to serve as a foundational component of advanced computing infrastructures worldwide, enabling breakthroughs in science, technology, and data-driven decision making.