25G/100G Network Card Purchasing Guide

In today's rapidly evolving landscape of cloud computing, big data, and mobile internet, the demand for high-speed networking solutions has never been stronger. As private and public cloud data centers, as well as service providers, seek to meet the growing need for higher bandwidth, the adoption of 25G and 100G network cards is on the rise. With the promise of enhanced scalability and flexibility, these network cards are becoming the dominant choice for data centers. This guide aims to assist you in selecting the right 25G/100G network card, considering various factors.

Choosing the right 25G/100G network card requires careful consideration of bus type, port configuration, and Ethernet NIC or InfiniBand NIC.

When selecting a network card, it is important to consider the bus type compatibility with your server or workstation. The three main PCI bus types are PCI, PCI-X, and PCI-E. PCI-E, with its point-to-point serial technology and dedicated bandwidth, has emerged as the preferred choice. It offers various sizes, including x 1, x 4, x 8, x 16, and x 32. For 25G network cards, options like PCIe 3.0 x 8, PCIe 3.0 x 16, and PCIe 4.0 x 8 are common, while 100G network cards usually support PCIe 3.0 x 16 and PCIe 4.0 x 16 (denoting the number of channels).

It is crucial to ensure that your server supports the required PCIe version and has the appropriate slot before making a purchase. Take the MCX4121A-ACAT network card as an example. This network card supports 25G speed and the hardware interface is PCIe 3.0 x 8. If you choose this network card, you need to ensure that the server supports PCIe 3.0 and has a PCIe x 8 slot.

25G and 100G network cards can be single-port or multiple-port, and they can be paired with 25G SFP28/100G QSFP28 optical modules or high-speed cables for internet access and storage. Opting for multiple-port fiber network cards can provide redundancy, minimizing the risk of network failure due to card malfunctions.

Consider the intended application and requirements when choosing between Ethernet and InfiniBand network cards. Ethernet is designed for smooth information exchange among different systems, prioritizing compatibility and distributed computing. InfiniBand, on the other hand, focuses on high-performance computing, offering high bandwidth and low latency suitable for internal or external data interconnection. For more details about the two types of NICs, please refer to Ethernet Network Interface Card vs. IB Network Interface Card.

In current mainstream data center networks, the primary challenge is to interconnect multiple heterogeneous systems. Even in single large-scale application scenarios such as cloud computing and big data, the focus is on high throughput, where multiple nodes perform various tasks, and there is not a high requirement for low latency communication between nodes. Flexibility of access and scalability are considered more important. Therefore, Ethernet is highly suitable for these scenarios.

Ethernet network cards only support Ethernet mode, while InfiniBand network cards support two modes: InfiniBand mode and Ethernet mode. Regarding 25G network adapters, the market primarily offers 25G Ethernet cards, while 100G network adapters include both 100G Ethernet network cards and 100G InfiniBand network cards. The choice between the two depends on the specific use case.

The table below shows all the 25G and 100G network cards that FS provided.

As the demand for higher bandwidth continues to grow in data centers driven by cloud computing, big data, and mobile internet, selecting the right 25G/100G network card is crucial for achieving optimal performance. Factors such as bus type compatibility, port configuration, and Ethernet versus InfiniBand considerations should be taken into account. By understanding these key factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your specific requirements and ensures seamless networking capabilities.