NVIDIA Mellanox® MT53600Q-1UNC — MTS3600 (IS5025) 36-Port QSFP QDR 40Gb/s Unmanaged InfiniBand Switch, 1U
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MT53600Q-1UNC is a 36-port QSFP QDR 40Gb/s unmanaged (externally managed) InfiniBand switch in a 1U form factor, built on InfiniScale® IV silicon and belonging to the MTS3600 / IS5025 platform family. Label note: the units in this listing carry the part number MT53600Q-1UNC as printed on the physical label. This is a label variant of the same MTS3600 (IS5025) 36-port QDR platform commonly listed as MTS3600Q-1UNC; T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS lists the two label variants separately so the part number you receive matches the label you ordered. Protocol: InfiniBand QDR. Lifecycle status: End-of-Life (EOL). Condition: Refurbished. Two units available.
Specifications
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
Model / MPN (as labeled): MT53600Q-1UNC
Platform family: MTS3600 / IS5025, InfiniScale IV
Product type: Fixed 1U InfiniBand edge switch, unmanaged (externally managed)
Ports: 36 x QSFP
Per-port speed: QDR 40Gb/s
Aggregate switching capacity: 2.88Tb/s (36 ports x 40Gb/s, full bi-directional)
Management: none onboard — no console/Ethernet management port class; managed externally by a fabric subnet manager (I2C service connector only)
Form factor: 1U rack-mount
Airflow / PSU configuration: per ordering suffix — verify airflow direction against the unit label before deployment
Lifecycle: End-of-Life (EOL)
Condition: Refurbished
Engineering Context
The MTS3600/IS5025 class was the standard QDR-era 36-port edge switch for top-of-rack leaf duty and small-to-medium clusters. Being unmanaged, the switch itself runs no subnet manager: fabric bring-up requires an external subnet manager such as OpenSM on a connected host, or a managed switch elsewhere in the fabric. In legacy QDR clusters these units are commonly kept as cold spares for failed leaf switches.
Use Cases
Spare or replacement leaf switch for legacy QDR 40Gb/s InfiniBand fabrics
Small lab or test QDR fabrics (with OpenSM on a host)
Cost-effective 36-port QDR expansion of existing legacy clusters
Maintenance stock for MTS3600/IS5025-based installations
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)
NOT a managed switch. There is no onboard subnet manager or management CLI; an external subnet manager (e.g., OpenSM) is required in the fabric.
NOT a different product from the MTS3600 (IS5025) platform. MT53600Q-1UNC is the part number as printed on these units' labels; it is a label variant within the MTS3600 (IS5025) 36-port QDR family. It is listed separately from our MTS3600Q-1UNC stock so the delivered label matches the order.
NOT FDR, EDR, HDR or NDR capable. QDR 40Gb/s generation only.
NOT an Ethernet / 40GbE switch. InfiniScale IV is InfiniBand-only; the QSFP ports are not 40GbE ports.
NOT QSFP28 / OSFP. Ports are QDR-era QSFP; EDR/NDR optics and cables do not apply.
NOT supplied with QSFP cables, transceivers or rack rails unless explicitly listed.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Typical fabric peers: ConnectX-2 / ConnectX-3 QDR adapters and QDR-era switches (IS5025/IS5030/IS5600 class) at 40Gb/s.
Subnet manager: mandatory external SM — OpenSM on an attached host or a managed switch in the same fabric.
Cabling: QSFP QDR passive/active copper or optical cables within QDR link budgets.
Airflow: verify airflow direction of the specific unit against your rack design (ordering suffixes differ across the family).
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware level, airflow direction and SM topology before installation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox MT53600Q-1UNC?
It is a 36-port QSFP QDR 40Gb/s unmanaged InfiniBand switch, 1U, on InfiniScale IV silicon, with 2.88Tb/s aggregate capacity - part of the MTS3600 (IS5025) platform family, with MT53600Q-1UNC as the label-printed part number.
Q. How does MT53600Q-1UNC differ from MTS3600Q-1UNC?
Both designate the same MTS3600 (IS5025) 36-port QDR unmanaged platform. MT53600Q-1UNC is the part number printed on the labels of the units in this listing. We list the label variants separately so the delivered unit's label matches your purchase order.
Q. Is the MT53600Q-1UNC managed or unmanaged?
Unmanaged (externally managed). It runs no subnet manager and has no management CLI; run OpenSM on a connected host or use a managed switch in the fabric.
Q. Can the MT53600Q-1UNC be used as a 40GbE Ethernet switch?
No. It is InfiniBand-only. The 36 QSFP ports operate as QDR 40Gb/s InfiniBand ports, not 40GbE.
Q. Does it support FDR or EDR speeds?
No. The MT53600Q-1UNC is QDR 40Gb/s generation. FDR 56Gb/s requires SwitchX-based systems and EDR 100Gb/s requires Switch-IB.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished. Two units available; each receives power-on verification where test topology is available, label check, cosmetic inspection and professional packaging. EU stock, global B2B shipping.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every MT53600Q-1UNC unit ships with: (1) power-on and link verification where test topology is available, (2) label and revision check, (3) full cosmetic inspection, (4) professional packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for legacy InfiniBand fabric maintenance at no extra cost.
Condition: Refurbished. EOL legacy platform sold for maintenance, spares and lab deployment of existing QDR fabrics.