Which is better 100G nic? Mellanox ConnectX-4 or Intel E810

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uberguru

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Jun 7, 2013
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Which is better to go with for 100G networking for Dell Poweredge R630 servers
want something plug and play that just works
they will be used to connect to 40G port on mikrotik CRS326 switch CRS326-24S+2Q+RM | MikroTik

Ignore the price difference and assume they cost the same
Mellanox ConnectX-4 Dual x 100G

OR

Intel E810-CQDA2 Dual x 100G
 
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NablaSquaredG

Bringing 100G switches to homelabs
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uberguru

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The E810 is far newer, probably faster AND very flexible due to port breakout, BUT be aware that the E810 does NOT support 40G speed on the ports.

they will be used to connect to 40G port on mikrotik switch CRS326-24S+2Q+RM | MikroTik

If the Intel cant support 40G then that does not support the flexibility advantage claim
so what intel nic supports both 100G and 40G?
 

uberguru

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None, as far as I know.

does mellanox connectX-4 supports 40G
why cant 100/40G be automatically supported just like 1G/10G/25G are almost auto supported???

that was what i was thinking, did not realize that was not the case


so are there 100G nics that support 40G also?
I will like to get support for 40G now and i plan to get 100G switch soon so i can then use the 100G later
 
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nexox

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does mellanox connectX-4 supports 40G
why cant 100/40G be automatically supported just like 1G/10G/25G are almost auto supported???

that was what i was thinking, did not realize that was not the case


so are there 100G nics that support 40G also?
I will like to get support for 40G now and i plan to get 100G switch soon so i can then use the 100G later
Honestly a 40G NIC is so cheap you could just start there and by the time you're ready to upgrade 100G may have fallen in price enough to pay for it. But the ConnectX-4 specs do list 40G support, eg: Specifications
 
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NablaSquaredG

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nexox

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gea

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LAN performance is not all.
If you want to use it for SMB, the fastest option (requires Windows Server) is SMB direct/RDMA with a supported nic like the X4
 

uberguru

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LAN performance is not all.
If you want to use it for SMB, the fastest option (requires Windows Server) is SMB direct/RDMA with a supported nic like the X4
will be using on linux OS
that wont work?
 

uberguru

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currently only stable on a Windows Server (as SMB server, client can be Win11) not on SAMBA
so they made a nic that works only for windows?
like if this was mikrotik everyone will be saying it is homelab brand but mellanox did this and its enterprise thing to do?
 

nexox

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so they made a nic that works only for windows?
The NICs work great in Linux, Windows File Sharing protocols tend to work better in Windows though, and MS is ahead in RDMA usage for file transfer.
 

uberguru

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Concerning linux, it seems the cifs client is RDMA compatible to mount a directory.

And now ksmbd is fully compatible with RDMA.
https://sambaxp.org/fileadmin/user_upload/sambaxp2024-Slides/sxp24-Jeon-ksmbd_status.pdf

We should test all that a bit.
i dont need any of those as there is zerto windows in my infra
this will be used for server communication running linux
even when i do setup nfs/san the server and clients will still be linux

so again is the Mellanox ConnectX-4 Dual x 100G a good choice to go with that also supports 40G?