NVIDIA Mellanox MSN3700-CS2F Spectrum-2 1U Open Ethernet Switch, 32× QSFP28: 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 CS2F variant uses P2C (power-to-connector) airflow with the PSU side as the intake. This is not a modular chassis switch and is not preloaded with Cumulus Linux; ONIE is preloaded so a network OS such as NVIDIA Onyx, Cumulus Linux, or SONiC can be installed. This is a refurbished unit.
Engineering Context
The MSN3700 (SN3700) is a Spectrum-2-based platform delivering 6.4 Tbps of switching capacity from 32 QSFP28 ports running at 100GbE line rate. Port-to-port latency is 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. Dual hot-swappable PSUs and N+1 fan redundancy are standard. Spectrum-2 supports advanced Ethernet features including RoCE v2 with hardware-accelerated congestion control (ECN/PFC), VXLAN routing, and large MAC/IPv4/IPv6 forwarding tables.
Deployment & Use Cases
Spine switching in spine-leaf 100GbE data center fabrics. Aggregation for 25GbE/10GbE leaf switches via 4×25G or 4×10G breakout. AI/ML cluster fabrics for GPU compute nodes (DGX, HGX) where RoCE v2 is required. NVMe-oF and SDS storage backbones. Hyperscale and telco edge deployments running SONiC. Cloud provider Ethernet underlays where open NOS choice is a procurement requirement.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MSN3700-CS2F
- 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 (up to 128 logical 25GbE ports)
- Switching Capacity: 6.4 Tbps
- Port-to-Port Latency: ~300 ns
- Software: ONIE preloaded (supports NVIDIA Onyx, Cumulus Linux, SONiC)
- 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-CS2F is an Ethernet-only switch — it is not a VPI device and does not support InfiniBand. QSFP28 cages accept QSFP28 and QSFP+ optics, AOCs, and DACs at compatible speeds; SFP-form modules are not supported without a QSA adapter. Breakout requires supported breakout cables (QSFP28 to 4×SFP28 or QSFP+ to 4×SFP+). The P2C airflow must match the rack's hot/cold aisle layout. ONIE-only shipment means a NOS must be installed before production use; Cumulus Linux, Onyx, or SONiC licensing and support contracts are not included with a refurbished unit and must be sourced separately if required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the MSN3700-CS2F?
The MSN3700-CS2F is a Spectrum-2 based SN3700 Open Ethernet switch with 32 QSFP28 ports at up to 100GbE, running NVIDIA Onyx, 1U.
Q. Can it run other network operating systems besides Onyx?
As an ONIE-compatible platform, it can also accept Cumulus Linux or SONiC.
Q. Will T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS confirm the configuration of MSN3700-CS2F before shipping?
Yes. T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS (tes-itsolutions.com) bench-tests each unit where test topology is available, before dispatch from EU stock.
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, and confirms airflow direction before shipment. Visit tes-itsolutions.com for expert consultation on Spectrum-2 fabric design, ONIE/NOS installation guidance, global shipping with 1–3 day handling, and warranty coverage on every unit.
