HPE 649892-001
BLC 4× FDR Managed switch InfiniBand Switch Module (34‑Port)
The HPE 649892‑001 (aka BLC 4× FDR Managed switch InfiniBand Switch, option 648312‑B21) is a high-density, low-latencyswitch blade engineered for use in HPE BladeSystem c‑Class enclosures. It delivers 34 active InfiniBand ports—16 internal rear‑plane downlink connections to server blades plus 18 external QSFP ports for inter-switch expansion. Supporting InfiniBand FDR (Fourteen Data Rate) at 56 Gbps signaling (~52 Gb/s payload) per port, this switch is ideal for HPC clusters, storage fabrics, and compute-intensive workloads. As a Managed switch it supports advanced fabric features like ISL trunking, adaptive routing, and error recovery, while relying on external subnet manager software for fabric orchestration. Its double‑wide form factor keeps chassis density high while delivering enterprise‑level interconnect performance.
Features
Installed in a double‑wide switch bay of the HPE c7000/c7000 Platinum BladeSystem enclosure, the 649892‑001 provides 16 server‑connected downlinks via midplane and 18 QSFP external ports for uplinks or fabric interconnects . Each port supports 56 Gbps FDR signaling (~52 Gb/s throughput), ensuring sub‑microsecond cut‑through forwarding with consistent low-latency performance. The module operates as a Managed switch InfiniBand switch, but does not include an onboard subnet manager; fabric management is handled externally by host-based or rack-level software like OpenSM or Mellanox UFM Fully compatible with HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 blade servers, it leverages BladeSystem’s power and cooling infrastructure for chassis-integrated operation. The switch housing and Mellanox-based architecture provide robust diagnostics, link error recovery, and fabric resiliency. Blade-level installation requires minimal rack footprint while offering high port density and scalable fabric topology—ideal for fat-tree designs, clustered compute farms, and SAN-like fabrics.
Advanced Options
This switch module is widely available as part of the refurbished HP ecosystem and is shipped tested with vendor warranty support. Its dense InfiniBand port count and compact blade form-factor make it a strategic component for building high-performance, low-latency environments within BladeSystem chassis.
Product Key Features
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16 internal InfiniBand downlink ports via blade enclosure midplane
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18 external QSFP FDR ports for fabric uplinks or expansion
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Per‑port FDR performance: ~52 Gb/s payload (56 Gb/s signaling)
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Double‑wide blade for c‑Class enclosure form factor
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Managed switch requiring external subnet manager (no embedded SM)
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Supports copper and optical QSFP cables; ISL trunking and adaptive routing
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Reliability & Performance
Engineered for high-performance environments, the 649892‑001 delivers deterministic low latency under full traffic conditions. Each FDR port sustains ~52 Gb/s bidirectional throughput, ideal for HPC workloads where inter-node communication speed is critical. Reliability is enhanced through Mellanox-based switch silicon with hardware-level flow control, error recovery, and diagnostics.Because the switch is externally Managed switch, fabric architecture remains flexible — subnet management can be configured redundantly via host-based software or rack-level management tools, removing single points of failure at the blade level . The module integrates Intel-quality tested components under refurbishing standards and often ships with a 90‑day warranty from trusted resellers Power and cooling are provided by the BladeSystem chassis. The modular design supports hot-swap replacement and preserves chassis airflow. Physical dimensions (~10.5″ depth, double-wide blade height) optimize compute density while providing full InfiniBand connectivity without occupying external rack space. By consolidating server-to-fabric connections within the enclosure and offering high external port count, it minimizes cabling complexity and speeds deployment of scalable HPC and storage fabrics.
Key Features :
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16 internal blade downlink ports (FDR to servers)
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18 external QSFP FDR ports (for ISL/uplink)
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~56 Gbps signaling (~52 Gb/s payload) per port
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BladeSystem double‑wide blade form factor
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Externally Managed switch InfiniBand switch (requires subnet manager)
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Supports aqueous FDR copper/optical fabric cabling
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