Question 1

What are the best Mellanox switches for AI and HPC clusters?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT recommends Quantum HDR InfiniBand switches such as MQM8700-HS2F for 200Gb/s GPU clusters and MQM8790-HS2F for 400Gb/s NDR fabrics. These provide ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, ideal for all-reduce operations in AI and HPC workloads.

Question 2

Can refurbished Mellanox Spectrum switches support enterprise data centers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TES-IT supplies Spectrum-2 (MSN2700, MSN3700) and Spectrum-3 (MSN4700, MSN4600) Ethernet switches, certified for cloud and enterprise workloads. They deliver line-rate performance with features like VXLAN, RoCE v2, and advanced telemetry, ensuring reliable data center operations.

Question 3

How fast can TES-IT deliver Mellanox switches internationally?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT maintains a large inventory of Mellanox Spectrum and Quantum switches in Europe, the USA, and APAC. Most orders ship the same day with 24–72h delivery to major data center hubs, avoiding OEM lead times of 8–12 weeks.

Question 4

Do refurbished Mellanox switches come with warranty and support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All TES-IT refurbished switches undergo a rigorous 12-step certification process, which includes firmware updates, burn-in testing, and throughput validation. Each unit is covered by a 3-month warranty with RMA, advanced replacement, and 24/7 technical support.

Question 5

Which Mellanox switches are best for cloud providers building 200/400GbE fabrics?

Accepted Answer

Cloud operators typically deploy Spectrum-3 MSN4700 series for 200/400GbE Ethernet fabrics and Quantum-2 MQM8790 for InfiniBand NDR clusters. TES-IT can pre-bundle these switches with matching ConnectX-6/7 NICs and cables for turnkey deployments.

Question 6

Are Mellanox switches suitable for 5G telecom rollouts and edge computing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Telecoms and ISPs use Spectrum-2 and Spectrum-3 switches for 5G and edge deployments thanks to their scalable bandwidth, low latency, and programmability. TES-IT supplies refurbished units at up to 70% cost savings, ensuring faster rollouts.

Question 7

How does TES-IT test and certify refurbished Mellanox switches?

Accepted Answer

Every switch is tested with full port burn-in, protocol validation (Ethernet, InfiniBand, RoCE), environmental stress checks, and firmware updates to the latest stable MLNX-OS/Onyx. Only switches passing all tests are shipped to customers.

Question 8

Can TES-IT ship Mellanox switches pre-configured for my environment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TES-IT can deliver switches with pre-loaded firmware, VLANs, InfiniBand fabric configs, or RoCE v2 enablement, based on your requirements. This saves IT teams valuable setup time and ensures plug-and-play deployment.

Question 9

Are Mellanox Quantum HDR switches cost-effective for university HPC clusters?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Refurbished MQM8700-HS2F Quantum HDR switches from TES-IT deliver 200Gb/s InfiniBand at up to 65% lower cost than OEM pricing. This helps universities expand AI/ML clusters without waiting 12 weeks for OEM lead times, while staying within grant budgets.

Question 10

How do Mellanox switches scale for cloud providers running AI workloads?

Accepted Answer

Cloud providers often deploy MSN4600 series Spectrum-3 for scalable 400GbE fabrics and MQM8790 Quantum-2 NDR for 400Gb/s InfiniBand. These support massive east-west traffic patterns and all-reduce operations, enabling efficient AI training at scale.

Question 11

Do refurbished Mellanox switches support RoCE v2 for storage and AI acceleration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Spectrum switches fully support RoCE v2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet), which enables low-latency, high-throughput connectivity for NVMe-oF storage and AI acceleration. TES-IT pre-tests each switch for RoCE v2 readiness.

Question 12

Can Mellanox switches be used for 5G edge computing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many telecom operators use MSN2700 and MSN3700 Spectrum-2 switches for 5G edge nodes. Their high throughput, low latency, and programmability make them ideal for distributed architectures. TES-IT supplies these globally with same-day shipping.

Question 13

How does TES-IT ensure refurbished switches meet HPC performance standards?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT applies a 12-step certification process: 72h burn-in, firmware upgrades, port-by-port throughput testing, and interoperability checks with ConnectX NICs. This ensures refurbished Spectrum and Quantum switches perform identically to new hardware in HPC workloads.

Question 14

Do Mellanox switches support mixed Ethernet and InfiniBand environments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mellanox adapters (ConnectX VPI) and switches can operate in both Ethernet and InfiniBand modes. TES-IT can deliver switches pre-configured for the required fabric, enabling universities and enterprises to run hybrid environments.

Question 15

Can Mellanox switches help reduce power and cooling costs in data centers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Spectrum switches are known for low power per Gb/s compared to competitors. By using refurbished Mellanox Spectrum-3 switches (e.g., MSN4700), enterprises reduce both CapEx (70% savings) and OpEx (lower energy use).

Question 16

Do you offer complete bundles with switches, NICs, and cables?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TES-IT supplies full turnkey bundles including Spectrum/Quantum switches, ConnectX NICs, and DAC/AOC cabling. Bundles are pre-tested for compatibility, reducing deployment time for HPC labs, universities, and cloud providers.

New & Refurbished InfiniBand & Ethernet Switches

IBM 94Y5219 Flex System EN4023 10Gb Scalable Switch Module

IBM 90Y3477 Flex System EN6131 40Gb Ethernet Switch Module

IBM 46C7194 BladeCenter BNT Virtual Fabric 10Gb Switch Module (BN-JNC)

IBM 32R1895 Cisco Systems Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module CIGESM

IBM 26K6526 Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 Copper GbE Switch Module BladeCenter

Dell 0NG39H Mellanox M4001F FDR InfiniBand Blade Switch for PowerEdge M1000e

SN0116 Unverified Part Number - Suspected Fibre Channel SAN Switch Unit

IBM 98Y3579 300W Power Supply for Mellanox MIS50xx / IS5000 InfiniBand Switch

NVIDIA Mellanox MSX6002TBS SwitchX-2 36-Port FDR10 40Gb/s Blade for SX65xx

IBM BNT RackSwitch G8124 24x SFP+ 10GbE Data Center Switch 1U

H3C S6820-56HF 48x SFP28 25GbE + 8x QSFP28 100GbE Data Center Switch 1U

Juniper QFX5200-32C-AFO 32x QSFP28 100GbE Data Center Switch 1U

Juniper QFX5100-48S Platform GFX5100-48S-3AFI 48x SFP+ 6x QSFP+ AFI Switch

Juniper EX4650-48Y-AFO 48x SFP28 25GbE + 8x QSFP28 100GbE Switch 1U

Mellanox MTM005001 Modular Switch Family PSU Slot Blank Panel IS5x00 SX65xx

NVIDIA Mellanox MIS5600MDC Management Module for IS5600 QDR InfiniBand Switch

NVIDIA Mellanox MSX6000MBR x86 Management Module for SX65xx Director Switches

NVIDIA Mellanox MSX6002TBR SwitchX 36-Port FDR10 40Gb/s Spine Blade for SX65xx

NVIDIA Mellanox 930-9SKIT-00L0-00B Rack-Mount Rail Kit for Switch Systems

NVIDIA Mellanox MTF005005 — SX65XX Director Switch Spine Fan Unit (FRU)

NVIDIA Mellanox MTM005004 Modular Switch Leaf Blank Filler Panel

NVIDIA Mellanox MTM005002 Modular Switch Spine Blank Panel

NVIDIA Mellanox MTP006002 1.6KW AC Power Supply for Modular Switch Chassis

NVIDIA Mellanox MTF005001 Modular Switch Leaf Cooling Fan Unit

Frequently asked questions