NVIDIA Mellanox MSN3700-CS2FC Spectrum-2 1U Open Ethernet Switch, 32× QSFP28 with Cumulus Linux: This is a 1U fixed-port Open Ethernet switch built on the NVIDIA Spectrum-2 ASIC. It provides 32 ports of QSFP28 supporting 100GbE and 40GbE, with 4×25GbE / 4×10GbE breakout per port. The CS2FC variant ships with Cumulus Linux preinstalled and uses P2C (power-to-connector) airflow. This is not a modular chassis switch. The trailing C in the part number indicates the Cumulus Linux preload — a refurbished unit may require relicensing of Cumulus from NVIDIA for production support. This is a refurbished unit.
Engineering Context
The MSN3700-CS2FC is a Spectrum-2 platform delivering 6.4 Tbps of switching capacity from 32 QSFP28 ports running at 100GbE line rate, with port-to-port latency in the ~300 ns range typical of Spectrum-2 silicon. Each QSFP28 port can be split into 4×25GbE or 4×10GbE for high-density access aggregation, giving up to 128 logical 25GbE ports per 1U chassis. Cumulus Linux on Spectrum-2 supports BGP-EVPN, VXLAN routing, NetQ telemetry, and Linux-native automation tooling (Ansible, ZTP, Puppet). Dual hot-swappable PSUs and N+1 fan redundancy are standard. Spectrum-2 hardware accelerates RoCE v2 with ECN and PFC for lossless storage and AI fabrics.
Deployment & Use Cases
Spine and aggregation switching in 100GbE spine-leaf data center fabrics. Cumulus-standard environments where the operations team has existing Linux/Ansible automation. AI/ML cluster fabrics for GPU compute nodes requiring RoCE v2. NVMe-oF and software-defined storage backbones. Service provider edge POPs running BGP-EVPN with VXLAN. Replacement of legacy Cumulus-based 40/100GbE switches in established NetDevOps shops.
Technical Specifications
OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number: MSN3700-CS2FC
Switch ASIC: NVIDIA Spectrum-2
Form Factor: 1U fixed-port rack switch
Ports: 32× QSFP28 (40/100GbE)
Breakout: 4× 25GbE or 4× 10GbE per QSFP28
Switching Capacity: 6.4 Tbps
Port-to-Port Latency: ~300 ns
Software: Cumulus Linux preloaded
Airflow: P2C (Forward) — PSU-side intake, port-side exhaust
Power Supplies: Dual hot-swappable redundant AC PSUs
Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
The MSN3700-CS2FC is an Ethernet-only switch — it is not a VPI device and does not support InfiniBand. QSFP28 cages accept QSFP28 and QSFP+ optics/AOCs/DACs at compatible speeds; SFP-form modules are not supported without a QSA adapter. Breakout requires supported breakout cables (QSFP28 to 4×SFP28). Cumulus Linux on a refurbished unit may not include current vendor support entitlements; production deployments that require NVIDIA Cumulus support should plan to relicense or migrate to SONiC/Onyx. The P2C airflow direction must match the rack's hot/cold aisle layout — installing in a C2P-airflow rack will cause hot-air recirculation.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS power-tests every Spectrum-2 switch, verifies port LED status across all 32 QSFP28 cages, confirms Cumulus Linux boot, and checks airflow direction before shipment. Visit tes-itsolutions.com for expert consultation on Spectrum-2 fabric design, Cumulus licensing options, global shipping with 1–3 day handling, and warranty coverage on every unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the switching capacity and port configuration of the MSN3700-CS2FC?
The MSN3700-CS2FC delivers 6.4 Tbps of switching capacity across 32 QSFP28 ports running at 100GbE line rate, with port-to-port latency in the ~300 ns range typical of Spectrum-2 silicon. Each QSFP28 port can be split into 4x25GbE or 4x10GbE, giving up to 128 logical 25GbE ports per 1U chassis.
Can the MSN3700-CS2FC run InfiniBand?
No. The MSN3700-CS2FC is an Ethernet-only Spectrum-2 switch and is not a VPI device, so it does not support InfiniBand. Its QSFP28 cages also do not accept SFP-form modules without a QSA adapter, and breakout requires supported QSFP28 to 4xSFP28 cables.
What condition is the MSN3700-CS2FC supplied in by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
This MSN3700-CS2FC is a refurbished unit supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS (tes-itsolutions.com). Every unit is power-tested, all 32 QSFP28 port LEDs are verified, Cumulus Linux boot is confirmed and airflow direction is checked before shipment. Note that Cumulus Linux on a refurbished unit may require relicensing from NVIDIA for production support.