NVIDIA QM87xx Series HDR Switches Comparison: QM8700 vs QM8790

InfiniBand HDR Switches Introduction: NVIDIA Quantum QM87xx

In today’s world where technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, the demand for high-performance computing has become more critical than ever. In such a scenario, Mellanox Quantum HDR InfiniBand Switches provide the perfect solution to cater to the growing need for high-speed data transfer and low-latency connectivity. The NVIDIA/Mellanox QM8700/QM8790 HDR switch systems are a high-performance fabric solution that comes in a compact 1U form factor. They provide a non-blocking bandwidth of up to 16Tb/s and a port-to-port latency of less than 130ns. These switches have the capacity to deliver 7.2 billion packets per second, or 390 million pps per port. They are designed to be cost-effective building blocks for embedded systems and storage with low port density systems. These systems offer superior performance, power, and space, which helps to reduce capital and operating expenses and provides the best return on investment.

Comparison Between QM8700 and QM8790 InfiniBand HDR Switches

QM8700 vs QM8790: System Specification

Here are the specification details of the four QM87xx switch models:

Models		MQM8700-HS2F	MQM8700-HS2R	MQM8790-HS2F	MQM8790-HS2R
Description		NVIDIA Quantum 200Gb/s InfiniBand switch, 40 QSFP56 ports, two power supplies (AC), x86 dual core, standard depth, P2C airflow, rail kit	Mellanox Quantum™ HDR InfiniBand Switch, 40 QSFP56 ports, 2 Power Supplies (AC), x86 dual core, standard depth, C2P airflow, Rail Kit	Mellanox Quantum™ HDR InfiniBand Switch, 40 QSFP56 ports, 2 Power Supplies (AC), unmanaged, standard depth, P2C airflow, Rail Kit	Mellanox Quantum™ HDR InfiniBand Switch, 40 QSFP56 ports, 2 Power Supplies (AC), unmanaged, standard depth, C2P airflow, Rail Kit
Port Types		40*QSFP56 200Gb/s	40*QSFP56 200Gb/s	40*QSFP56 200Gb/s	40*QSFP56 200Gb/s
Port Speed (Number)	200G	40	40	40	40
	100G	80	80	80	80
Power Supply (hot-pluggable)		1+1 redundancy	1+1 redundancy	1+1 redundancy	1+1 redundancy
Fans (hot-pluggable)		5+1 redundancy	5+1 redundancy	5+1 redundancy	5+1 redundancy
Airflow		Front-to-rear cooling	Rear-to-front cooling	Front-to-rear cooling	Rear-to-front cooling
Rack Height		1U	1U	1U	1U
Management		internally managed/managed		externally managed/unmanaged

Each QM8700 and QM8790 switch has two models, in which HS2F and H2SR differ in the airflow direction.

P2C airflow

C2P airflow

The hardware configuration of QM8700 and QM8790 are similar in mechanical and environmental specification and switching performance. The port configurations of QM8700 and QM8790 are both 40 200Gb/s HDR QSFP56, which can be split into up to 80 HDR 100G for interconnecting 100G HDR network card, and also support direct connection with 40 100G EDR by port speed reduction. Both QM8700 and QM8790 switches can connect to HDR and EDR network interface cards (NICs). Using 200G to 200G HDR DAC/AOC cable to interconnect with the 200G HDR QSFP56 network card; using 200G HDR to 2X100G HDR100 cable to interconnect the switch with HDR100 NIC card; using 100G to 100G EDR DAC/AOC cable to interconnect with 100G EDR NIC (needs port speed reduction).

QM8700 vs QM8790: Management Difference

The Mellanox Quantum™ QM8700 and QM8790 HDR switches offer unmatched performance and flexibility required for modern-day data centers. While both switches have the same port and power supply configuration, they differ in their management capabilities, which is an essential factor to consider when choosing a switch.

The following is the management ports difference between QM8700 and QM8790.

QM8700 is a fully-managed HDR switch (internally managed), offering x86 dual-core processing power and the ability to configure and manage the switch through a web interface, command-line interface (CLI), or through an API. This switch provides complete control over the network, enabling IT managers to monitor and manage the flow of data and traffic, ensuring optimal performance and network uptime.

QM8700 front panel

QM8790, on the other hand, is an unmanaged HDR switch (externally managed), which means it does not offer the same level of control and configuration options as QM8700. However, it still provides the same high-speed connectivity and low-latency performance that is required for modern-day data centers. It utilizes the advanced NVIDIA Unified Fabric Manager (UFM®) platform to enable data center operators to efficiently provision, monitor, manage, preventatively troubleshoot, and maintain the modern data center network.

QM8790 front panel

The Mellanox QM8700 and QM8790 HDR switches are both designed with standard depth and come with a rail kit, making them easy to install and integrate into existing data center infrastructures.

QM8700 and QM8790 rear panel

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mellanox Quantum HDR InfiniBand Switches QM8700 and QM8790 offer exceptional performance, flexibility, and scalability, making them the perfect solution for organizations that require high-speed connectivity and low-latency performance. While QM8700 provides full network management and configuration options, QM8790 offers a cost-effective solution for organizations that do not require advanced management features. With both switches offering the same high-speed connectivity and low-latency performance, organizations can choose the switch that best suits their needs, ensuring optimal performance and network uptime.


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