Comparison of 25G Network Cards: NVIDIA vs Intel

With the development of data centers and cloud computing, 25G Ethernet has emerged as the mainstream trend for the next generation of data centers. Its high-performance bandwidth, cost-effectiveness, and low power consumption have garnered significant attention. In this domain, NVIDIA and Intel are two prominent brands that have introduced multiple popular 25G network cards. This article will compare these four network cards from NVIDIA and Intel and explain some common network card features, helping you understand their differences and features.

As 25G dual-port network cards, these four network cards share significant similarities in terms of ports, speed, and main features. The table below provides a detailed comparison of the differences between Intel XXV710-DA2 vs NVIDIA MCX512A-ACAT and Intel E810-XXVAM2 v NVIDIA MCX631102AN-ADAT.

As can be seen from the above table, the biggest functional difference is that Intel XXV710 does not support RDMA. The RDMA feature allows network traffic to bypass the CPU, avoid using TCP, and eliminate extra data copies to improve performance and free up CPU cores.

In the field of high-performance computing, network cards serve as one of the most important media for connecting servers and network devices and have many complex and necessary functions. Here, we will explain some common network card features.

• RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet): Based on Ethernet RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) technology, currently there are three types of RDMA networks: InfiniBand, RoCE, and iWARP. The RoCE protocol has two versions: RoCEv1 and RoCEv2. RoCEv1 is an RDMA protocol implemented at the Ethernet link layer, allowing communication only within the same layer 2 network. It has seen limited adoption. RoCEv2 provides RDMA capabilities based on layer 3 networks and is more adaptable to a wider range of general network scenarios.

   

  

• iWARP: It is another network protocol that enables Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) for data transfer over Ethernet. iWARP is based on TCP and utilizes TCP for reliable transmission. Compared to RoCE, in large-scale network deployments, iWARP's numerous TCP connections can consume significant memory resources, requiring higher system specifications. Ordinary Ethernet switches can be used, but network cards that support iWARP are necessary.

• NVIDIA ZTR (Zero Touch RoCE): ZTR technology developed by NVIDIA is a form of Zero Touch RoCE technology with round-trip time congestion control. It enables seamless deployment of RDMA over converged Ethernet in data centers without requiring any configuration.

• Selective Repeat: It introduces a new QP retransmission mode in RoCE, where dropped packet recovery is achieved by resending the packet instead of resending the PSN (Packet Sequence Number) window.

• OVS Offload: Open vSwitch (OVS) is a high-quality, multi-layer virtual switch software that allows virtual machines (VMs) to communicate with each other and with the external world. Offloading the data plane to the NIC chip's eSwitch enables performance improvements and reduces CPU overhead.

• ISCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface): ISCSI is a storage networking standard based on IP and enables accessing block storage services over TCP/IP networks by sending SCSI commands. It is commonly used for data transfer within internal networks and remote storage management.

• Intelligent Offloads: By utilizing intelligent offloads such as VMDq (Virtual Machine Device Queues) and flexible port partitioning, I/O bottlenecks can be reduced. SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization) is employed for network traffic of each VM, enabling near-native performance and scalability for VMs.

• FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet): It is a computer networking technology that encapsulates fiber channel frames within Ethernet networks, allowing fiber channels to be used over 10/25/40GbE Ethernet while preserving its protocol.

Conclusion

By understanding the differences and features between these network cards, you will be equipped to make informed decisions when selecting a 25G network adapter that aligns with your specific needs. As the demand for high-speed networking continues to grow, staying updated with the latest advancements in the 25G network card market will be crucial for businesses and data centers seeking optimal performance and efficiency.