Mellanox SN2010 Ethernet Switch for Hyperconverged Infrastructures

The Mellanox SN2010 Ethernet Switch is designed to be the performance backbone of modern hyperconverged infrastructures and Ethernet Storage Fabrics. As a half-width top-of-rack (ToR) switch, it consolidates dense connectivity into a compact form factor without compromising throughput or reliability. With 18 ports of 10/25 GbE and 4 splittable ports of 40/100 GbE, the SN2010 provides a flexible, scalable, and future-ready networking foundation that fits seamlessly into data centerLeaf and spine architectures, edge deployments, and dense rack environments. It is engineered to deliver low latency, high bandwidth, and simplified management—empowering IT teams to accelerate virtualization, containerized workloads, and storage intensive applications while reducing cabling and operational complexity.

• Flexible port mix for dense, scalable connectivity: The SN2010 packs 18 ports of 10/25 GbE alongside 4 splittable 40/100 GbE ports, offering a versatile mix that accommodates compute, storage, and storage networking traffic in a single appliance. This port footprint supports fast data plane performance for virtual machines, hypervisors, and software-defined storage, while enabling seamless uplinks to core or leaf switches. With these capabilities, you can design a future-ready network that grows alongside your virtualization stack and storage fabrics.
• Optimized for hyperconverged infrastructures and ESF: Built to be the ideal ToR solution for hyperconverged deployments, the SN2010 helps reduce latency between compute nodes, storage controllers, and hypervisor hosts. Its design aligns with Ethernet Storage Fabrics (ESF) strategies, delivering high-throughput, low-latency interconnects for distributed storage workloads and scale-out architectures. This synergy minimizes bottlenecks and maximizes the efficiency of converged compute and storage ecosystems.
• High-density, space-saving half-width design: By occupying less chassis space without sacrificing performance, the SN2010 is perfect for data centers with limited rack real estate. The half-width form factor enables tighter row density, easier cable management, and cleaner deployment in dense ToR environments. This compact design reduces cooling and power draw per rack, while maintaining robust performance for demanding workloads.
• Robust performance for storage fabrics and virtualization workloads: The combination of 10/25 GbE and 40/100 GbE in a single switch provides ample bandwidth for virtualization, NVMe over Fabrics, iSCSI, and other storage-intensive operations. The SN2010 supports scalable interconnects between hypervisors and storage arrays, enabling efficient data movement, reduced I/O latency, and improved application responsiveness across virtualized and containerized environments.
• Simple management with broad interoperability: Designed for ease of deployment, the SN2010 integrates with common virtualization platforms and management workflows. Its straightforward configuration and monitoring capabilities help IT teams provision networks quickly, enforce policy-based networking, and maintain consistent performance across clusters. The switch’s interoperability supports a wide range of storage and compute configurations, enabling administrators to focus on delivering services rather than wrestling with networking complexity.

Technical Details of Mellanox SN2010 Ethernet Switch for Hyperconverged Infrastructures

• Port configuration: 18 x 10/25 GbE ports and 4 x 40/100 GbE ports that are splittable for flexible uplink options.
• Form factor: Half-width top-of-rack (ToR) switch designed for dense data-center deployments and easy integration into hyperconverged environments.
• Target deployments: Ideal for hyperconverged infrastructures and Ethernet Storage Fabrics (ESF), enabling efficient access to distributed storage and accelerated data paths.
• Primary use case: High-performance interconnect for compute nodes, storage nodes, and storage fabrics within modern data centers and edge deployments.
• Performance characteristics: Delivers high-throughput, low-latency networking suitable for virtualization, storage workloads, and service fabrics in scale-out architectures.

How to install Mellanox SN2010 Ethernet Switch

• Unpack and inspect the SN2010 chassis and cables to ensure there is no damage in transit. Verify that you have the appropriate power, management, and uplink cables for your data center environment.
• Mount the switch in a suitable rack position, preferably at the ToR level to minimize latency to connected servers. Secure the unit to reduce vibration and ensure stable operation.
• Connect the 18 x 10/25 GbE ports to your server NICs or storage adapters, and connect the 4 x 40/100 GbE ports to your uplink or spine switches according to your network design. If you intend to utilize the 40/100 GbE ports as splittable interfaces, configure the appropriate breakout cables and settings as part of your initial provisioning.
• Power up the switch and connect it to a management network if you plan to configure it remotely. Access the management interface using the provided IP address, console, or out-of-band management method specified by your deployment guidelines.
• Update the firmware to the latest stable release, then configure basic network settings, VLANs, and routing policies as needed for your hyperconverged or ESF topology. Implement traffic segmentation for storage fabrics, ensure quality of service (QoS) if required, and enforce security measures such as access control and management authentication.
• Integrate with your hypervisor, storage, and orchestration layers. Validate end-to-end connectivity between compute nodes and storage targets, perform throughput tests, and monitor for latency or congestion. Document the configuration for future maintenance and scale-out planning.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Mellanox SN2010 best suited for?

  A: The SN2010 is designed as a top-of-rack switch for hyperconverged infrastructures and Ethernet Storage Fabrics, offering a compact form factor with a flexible port mix to support both compute and storage interconnects in modern data centers.

• Q: How many ports does the SN2010 have and what speeds are supported?

  A: It includes 18 ports of 10/25 GbE and 4 splittable 40/100 GbE ports, enabling a mix of mid-range and high-speed uplinks to support diverse workloads and storage fabrics.

• Q: What deployment scenarios benefit most from the SN2010?

  A: Deployments that require dense, low-latency interconnects for hyperconverged clusters, distributed storage fabrics, and edge data center environments benefit most, as the switch consolidates essential networking into a compact, efficient unit.

• Q: What is the advantage of a half-width ToR switch?

  A: A half-width ToR switch saves rack space, reduces cabling complexity, improves airflow, and lowers overall power consumption per rack while maintaining high-performance connectivity for servers and storage devices in dense environments.

• Q: How do I ensure optimal performance with ESF on the SN2010?

  A: To optimize Ethernet Storage Fabrics, plan your topology to minimize hops between storage targets and compute nodes, configure appropriate VLANs and QoS policies, and verify that uplink bandwidth aligns with storage traffic patterns to prevent bottlenecks.