Cisco, Nvidia team up to build fatter, faster pluggable
If you thought 1.6 Tbps was fast, just wait, Cisco's USFP targets 12.8 Tbps in a single optical pluggable
Cisco and Nvidia have joined forces to develop a new pluggable optic designed to significantly increase bandwidth in AI datacenters. This ultra-dense small form factor pluggable (USFP) is expected to pack up to 32, 400 Gbps lanes into a port, potentially doubling the performance of existing pluggables. The new USFP module would offer 12.8 Tbps of Ethernet bandwidth, comparable to high-end enterprise switches from a few years ago.
With this technology, a single port could consolidate the cabling for eight GPUs, simplifying the complex network of optic cables that currently connect thousands of AI accelerators, NICs, and switches. While the development of such a high-capacity pluggable is challenging, Cisco and Nvidia believe it will significantly simplify cabling in AI datacenters.
Nvidia's participation in the USFP standard's development is notable, as the company has recently shifted away from pluggables in its switches. However, Nvidia's NICs still rely on pluggables for greater flexibility, especially for its large GPU clusters. The USFP standard will be open, allowing other companies to use it in their designs.
Microsoft is also embracing this new technology, using Cisco's USFP in its multi-datacenter AI infrastructure.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Cisco, Nvidia team up to build fatter, faster pluggable theregister.com
