1 – Introduction Interoperability

Q

■Appendix E Glossary of technical terms

■Index

In addition, the InfiniPath Install Guide contains information on InfiniPath hardware and software installation.

1.3

Overview

The material in this documentation pertains to an InfiniPath cluster. This is defined as a collection of nodes, each attached to an InfiniBand™-based fabric through the InfiniPath Interconnect. The nodes are Linux-based computers, each having up to eight processors.

The InfiniPath interconnect is InfiniBand 4X, with a raw data rate of 10 Gb/s (data rate of 8Gb/s).

InfiniPath utilizes standard, off-the-shelf InfiniBand 4X switches and cabling. InfiniPath OpenFabrics software is interoperable with other vendors’ InfiniBand HCAs running compatible OpenFabrics releases. There are two options for Subnet Management in your cluster:

■Use the Subnet Manager on one or more managed switches supplied with your Infiniband switches.

■Use the OpenSM component of OpenFabrics.

1.4

Switches

The InfiniPath interconnect is designed to work with all InfiniBand-compliant switches. Use of OpenSM as a subnet manager is now supported. OpenSM is part of the OpenFabrics component of this release.

1.5

Interoperability

InfiniPath participates in the standard InfiniBand Subnet Management protocols for configuration and monitoring. InfiniPath OpenFabrics (including IPoIB) is interoperable with other vendors’ InfiniBand HCAs running compatible OpenFabrics releases. The InfiniPath MPI and Ethernet emulation stacks (ipath_ether) are not interoperable with other InfiniBand Host Channel Adapters (HCA) and Target Channel Adapters (TCA). Instead, InfiniPath uses an InfiniBand-compliant vendor-specific protocol that is highly optimized for MPI and TCP between InfiniPath-equipped hosts.

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IB6054601-00 D

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Q-Logic IB6054601-00 D manual Overview, Switches, Interoperability, Appendix E Glossary of technical terms
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IB6054601-00 D specifications

The Q-Logic IB6054601-00 D is a high-performance InfiniBand adapter card designed for data centers and enterprise applications requiring robust connectivity and low-latency communication. This adapter is part of QLogic's extensive portfolio of networking solutions, catering to the needs of high-performance computing (HPC), cloud computing, and virtualization environments.

One of the standout features of the IB6054601-00 D is its capability to support data transfer rates of up to 56 Gbps. This makes it ideal for applications demanding large bandwidth and quick data processing. The adapter is optimized for RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) technology, which allows data to be transferred directly between the memory of different computers without involving the CPU. This reduces latency and CPU overhead, leading to enhanced overall system performance.

The architecture of the IB6054601-00 D includes support for a dual-port design, which offers increased bandwidth, redundancy, and fault tolerance. This dual-port configuration is especially advantageous for environments that require high availability and reliability, such as financial services and mission-critical applications.

The adapter utilizes advanced error detection and correction mechanisms, ensuring that data integrity is maintained during transmission. With features like adaptive routing and congestion management, the IB6054601-00 D is capable of optimizing the handling of data flows, thereby enhancing performance even under heavy loads.

In terms of compatibility, the Q-Logic IB6054601-00 D supports a wide range of operating systems and virtualization technologies, making it easy to integrate into diverse IT environments. It also includes drivers and software packages that facilitate seamless deployment and management.

In addition to high-speed connectivity, the adapter is designed with power efficiency in mind. It adheres to Energy Star regulations, helping organizations lower their operational costs while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Overall, the Q-Logic IB6054601-00 D stands out for its high throughput, low latency, and reliability. Its combination of advanced features and technologies positions it as an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their data center performance and maximize the efficiency of their network infrastructure. With the growing demands for faster and more efficient data transfer, solutions like the IB6054601-00 D are essential in meeting the evolving needs of modern enterprises.
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