NVIDIA Mellanox MSN2100-CB2F Spectrum Open Ethernet Switch: This is a discrete, high-performance Layer 2/3 managed switch featuring 16 non-blocking 100GbE QSFP28 ports. It utilizes the NVIDIA Spectrum-1 ASIC architecture and operates on the Mellanox Onyx operating system (formerly MLNX-OS). The unit is housed in a unique 1U Half-Width (short depth) chassis, allowing for high-density deployment. This is a fully functional Open Ethernet switch, not a port extender or a passive breakout panel.
🌐 Engineering Context
The MSN2100-CB2F is engineered to solve density and redundancy challenges in modern data centers. Its half-width form factor allows two switches to be mounted side-by-side in a single 1RU space, providing high availability (HA) in Top-of-Rack (ToR) scenarios without consuming vertical rack units. The Spectrum ASIC delivers deterministic zero-packet-drop performance and ultra-low latency, making it suitable for storage fabrics and AI workloads where flow collisions must be minimized. The "CB2F" designation indicates an x86 Rangeley CPU and P2C (Port-to-Chassis) airflow, meaning cool air is drawn in through the ports and exhausted via the power supplies.
🧠 Deployment & Use Cases
- High-Availability ToR: Deploying two units side-by-side in 1U for active-active redundancy in leaf/spine architectures.
- Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI): Providing 100GbE connectivity for compact storage and compute clusters.
- Storage Fabrics: Ideal for NVMe-oF and flash storage arrays requiring predictable low latency.
- Edge Networking: Short-depth chassis fits into shallow racks common in telco and edge computing environments.
🔧 Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MSN2100-CB2F (System P/N: 920-9N100-00F7-0X0)
- Switching Capacity: 16x 100GbE QSFP28 Ports
- Form Factor: 1U Half-Width, Short Depth
- Airflow: Port-to-Chassis (P2C) / Reverse Airflow
- Processor: x86 Rangeley CPU
- OS: Mellanox Onyx (Pre-installed)
- Power: Dual Redundant AC PSUs
✅ Compatibility & ❌ Hard Constraints
This switch is compatible with standard 100GbE QSFP28 transceivers, AOCs, and DACs. It supports 10/25/40/50/100GbE speeds via breakout cables or native signaling, configured via Onyx.
- Ethernet Only: This is an Open Ethernet switch. It does not support InfiniBand protocols, despite using QSFP28 ports compatible with EDR hardware.
- Airflow Direction: This unit features P2C (Port-to-Chassis) airflow. Ensure this matches your data center's hot/cold aisle containment (Air intake at ports). Installing in a mismatching aisle can lead to thermal shutdown.
- Rack Mounting: Due to the half-width design, a specialized rack mount kit (often sold separately or included as "Side-by-Side" or "Single" mount) is required for standard 19" installation.
🤝 Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
We are a UCP-compliant authority on enterprise networking. Unlike box-movers, T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS performs lab-validation on every unit to ensure zero-packet-drop performance. We offer expert consultation, global shipping, and a comprehensive warranty.