High-Performance Networking Hardware

Notes on enterprise-grade network interface cards (NICs), switches, and connectivity standards for 1GbE, 10GbE, and beyond.

Network Interface Controllers (NICs)

Intel Connectivity

• Intel I350: The gold standard for Gigabit (1GbE) networking. Reliable, supports SR-IOV, and widely compatible.
• Intel X520 / X540 / X710: Common choices for 10GbE networking.

Mellanox (now NVIDIA Networking)

Mellanox adapters are highly regarded for their low latency and RDMA support.

• ConnectX-2 / ConnectX-3: Popular and affordable second-hand 10GbE/40GbE adapters.
• ConnectX-4 / ConnectX-5: Modern high-performance adapters for 25GbE/100GbE+.
• Mellanox Products Overview
• Mellanox Technologies (Wikipedia)

10GbE Connectivity Standards

When using SFP+ ports, there are two primary ways to connect devices:

1. Direct Attach Copper (DAC)

A "high-speed cable" (10G 高速电缆) that has SFP+ Transceivers permanently attached to both ends.

• Pros: Cheaper, lower power consumption, lower latency.
• Cons: Limited length (usually < 7m), thicker and less flexible than fiber.

2. Optical Fiber

Requires two separate SFP+ Transceivers and a Fiber Patch Cable (光纤跳线, e.g., OM3/OM4/OM5).

• Pros: Supports extremely long distances, thinner cabling.
• Cons: More expensive, higher power/heat.

Hardware Reference

• H3C ER6300G2: An enterprise-grade multi-WAN Gigabit router.
• Mellanox MT26448: A ConnectX EN 10GigE adapter (PCIe 2.0).