2.3.1. CN5000 SuperNIC
The CN5000 Omni-Path SuperNIC is designed and optimized specifically to support OpenFabrics Alliance (OFA) software, delivering industry-leading performance at scale. The SuperNIC delivers up to 400 Gbps (4 x 100 Gbps) bandwidth in each direction, enabling very high message rates and low latency for greater application throughput.
This section provide high-level information about the SuperNIC. For additional details, refer to the CN5000 Omni-Path SuperNIC Product Specification.
Single Port: Air-Cooled
Dual Port: Air-Cooled
Single or Dual Port: Air-Cooled With Air Baffle
Single Port: Conduction-Cooled
The SuperNIC includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, which provides maximum bandwidth between the host system and the network fabric. This high-speed connection enables the SuperNIC to deliver exceptional performance, including sub-microsecond MPI latency for time-sensitive applications. The SuperNIC is optimized for AI/ML workloads and features advanced congestion management technology.
Two cooling options support various deployment scenarios:
The air-cooled configuration uses traditional heatsinks on the ASIC and I/O components for standard data center environments.
The liquid-cooled configuration employs a conduction plate design for servers with integrated cooling loops.
Note
For OEM integration, a PCB option omitting cooling components allows the implementation of custom cooling solutions.
The SuperNIC comes in single-port and dual-port configurations to meet various connectivity needs. Single-port cards include a standard QSFP112 port that delivers 400 Gbps (4 x 100 Gbps) of bandwidth. Dual-port cards use a QSFP-DD112 (double density) port, providing two 400 Gbps connections through a single physical connector.
The SuperNIC delivers exceptional power efficiency, operating within the standard PCIe power envelope. Single-port configurations consume approximately 24 W, while dual-port configurations consume about 27.5 W (without optics).
The CN5000 SuperNIC is available in two versions.
The Version I SuperNIC is the original board design.
The Version II SuperNIC is an improved board design that includes port mapping differences from the original design.
Both versions may coexist within the same fabric; however, mixing Version I and Version II boards may require configuration adjustments to account for the difference in port mapping. Refer to the CN5000 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide, Replace the SuperNIC for more information.
2.3.1.1. SuperNIC Physical Specifications
This section provides a high-level overview of the SuperNIC physical specifications.
Dimensions
PCI Express low-profile card (height x length): 2.713 x 6.6 in. (6.89 x 16.76 cm)
Brackets
Standard bracket: 0.725 × 4.725 in. (1.842 × 12.02 cm)
Low profile bracket: 0.725 × 3.118 in. (1.842 × 7.92 cm)
Weight
0.37 lb (0.166 kg) with standard bracket installed
0.35 lb (0.157 kg) with low profile bracket installed
0.48 lb (0.216 kg) conduction-cooled, with low profile bracket installed
2.3.1.2. SuperNIC LEDs
Two link status indicators are present on the CN5000 SuperNIC. One or both may be used depending on the number of supported ports.
For Version I boards:
Single-port SuperNIC – Upper indicator is Port 2; Lower indicator is unused.
Dual-port SuperNIC – Upper indicator is Port 2; Lower indicator is Port 1.
For Version II boards:
Single-port SuperNIC – Upper indicator is Port 1; Lower indicator is unused.
Dual-port SuperNIC – Upper indicator is Port 1; Lower indicator is Port 2.
Note
Refer to "Replace the SuperNIC" in the CN5000 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide to identify the board version.
The green link status LED indicates the following states:
Off - Link down, power off, or following a power-on reset
Steady on - No link activity
Blinking - Link activity
Slow Blinking - Link up with traffic less than 10K packets/second
Fast Blinking - Link up with traffic greater than 10K packets/second
Intermittent Blinking - Beaconing mode