40gb nic split to 4 10G port ?dream come to true ?

[Freebsd1976]

I know mellanox nic not support split port , but does other brand support this port ?
Today download qlogic ql45xx nic user guide and read ,found something interest :

Converting a 40G Adapter to a Four-port 10G Adapter
Follow the steps in this procedure to convert a QLogic FastLinQ QL454xxHLCU or
QL45412HLCU from 40G mode to four-port 10G mode.
To convert a 40G adapter to a four-port 10G adapter:
1.
Boot to the UEFI or HII setup utility by pressing the appropriate function key
(F1 through F12, depending on the platform).
2.
Select a QL454xxHLCU or QL45412HLCU Adapter.
3.
On the Main Configuration Page, select Device Level Configuration.
4.
On the Device Level Configuration page, click Port Mode.
5.
For the port mode, select the 4x10 option. Figure 5-23 shows an example.
Save the changes and then power cycle the system.

so question is did this mean we can split a nic to 4 port and use a qsfp-4xsfp dac to connect other four 10G nic in other pc ? if it indeed support then we can use qsfp+-4xsfp+ dac to connect one server with 40g nic and 4 pc with 10g nic without need switch. maybe dream come to true ?
Did anyone know or already tried this ?

 

[BeTeP]

I have no personal experience but from what I was able to gather during my own research on the subject the QLogic/Marvell/Cavium FastLinQ 45000 series adapters indeed can be switched from 2x40Gb to 4x10Gb mode (1 QSPF becomes disabled, 2 QSPF port switches into 4x10Gb mode).

But the compatible cards (PCIe 3.0 x16 btw) were selling for like $200+ each at the time (i.e. more than I ended up spending on the 12-port 40Gb switch) so I decided against going that route.

 

[up3up4]

This one https://www.servethehome.com/hpe-620qsfp28-4x-25gbe-single-qsfp28-port-ethernet-adapter-review/

 

[Freebsd1976]

This one https://www.servethehome.com/hpe-620qsfp28-4x-25gbe-single-qsfp28-port-ethernet-adapter-review/

thanks , unfortournatly hpe version could not use in normal server , need find other version

 

[vangoose]

thanks , unfortournatly hpe version could not use in normal server , need find other version

Where did you get that?

 

[up3up4]

thanks , unfortournatly hpe version could not use in normal server , need find other version

Actually the HPE 620qsfp28 worked on my asrock and asus motherboard, but the slowest link speed locked at 25Gbit.

 

[Freebsd1976]

Where did you get that?

search ebay 49$ each

 

[Freebsd1976]

Actually the HPE 620qsfp28 worked on my asrock and asus motherboard, but the slowest link speed locked at 25Gbit.

25Gbit？ which split dac you used

 

[vangoose]

search ebay 49$ each

I mean where did you get the hpe version doesn't work in normal servers? I have a 621sfp28 on the way to play with, but you surprised me it won't work. I have 630sfp+ that I have no problem in supermicro servers.

 

[Freebsd1976]

I mean where did you get the hpe version doesn't work in normal servers? I have a 621sfp28 on the way to play with, but you surprised me it won't work. I have 630sfp+ that I have no problem in supermicro servers.

in the sth review say when insert the nic make their workstation can’t boot

 

[vangoose]

in the sth review say when insert the nic make their workstation can’t boot

There are card that won't work on consumer workstation boards, ie. My Intel P3700/HGST SN260 won't post on my asus and gigabyte boards, but they work fine on SM boards. Some sas hbas, nics won't work on consumer boards if they use smbus for management.

 

[Freebsd1976]

There are card that won't work on consumer workstation boards, ie. My Intel P3700/HGST SN260 won't post on my asus and gigabyte boards, but they work fine on SM boards. Some sas hbas, nics won't work on consumer boards if they use smbus for management.

understand , seems my z230 sff will not work

 

[up3up4]

25Gbit？ which split dac you used

25gbit sfp dac direct connect to a ql45212

 

[Freebsd1976]

no qs

25gbit sfp dac direct connect to a ql45212

really don't got it , how you connect qsftp28 to sfp28 port , which kind of cable ,not qsfp28-4xsfp28?

 

[Freebsd1976]

or could you post a picture about your cable ? thanks

 

[up3up4]

That isn't a breakout cable, it just a sfp28 10/25gbit Huawei DAC cable. ohh~plus a qsfp->sfp adapter

 

[Freebsd1976]

got it ， this mean

That isn't a breakout cable, it just a sfp28 10/25gbit Huawei DAC cable. ohh~plus a qsfp->sfp adapter

thanks ，we can use it as a single port 25g nic , if don’t use split cable .just don’t know could we use a 100g cable use it as 100g one port. ic

 

[Freebsd1976]

got it ， this mean

thanks ，we can use it as a single port 25g nic , if don’t use split cable .just don’t know could we use a 100g cable use it as 100g one port. ic

read the specs seems it work all speed 10 25 40 50 100

 

[up3up4]

Yeah, the STH review shows the nic connected with a dell 100g switch at 4x10gbit speed.

 

[vangoose]

Yeah, the STH review shows the nic connected with a dell 100g switch at 4x10gbit speed.

The nic has all the features and fully supported in esxi 7.0. How's the heat? I read the spec it's quite power hungry, twice the power than cx4.

I am getting a ql41212 (10/25gb) model to play with, for roce/rocev2 and vxlan dpdk for nsx-t.

price for ql41000/45000 is fairly reasonable these days comparing to cx4 as long as you don't plan to use it on consumer boards with windows 10. One big feature of qlogic chip is npar.