HPE 648312-B21

BLc 4× FDR InfiniBand Switch Module (34‑Port for c-Class BladeSystem)

The HPE 648312‑B21 is a double‑wide infiniBand Switch blade designed for HPE BladeSystem c-Class enclosures, offering 16 internal downlink ports via server midplane and 18 external QSFP ports, delivering a total of 34 active ports. Each port supports FDR (Fourteen Data Rate, 56 Gb/s signaling with ~52 Gb/s payload) for ultra‑low latency, high-throughput connectivity. Ideal for HPC clusters and storage fabrics, it serves as a high-speed interconnect within server blades and across external fabrics. This externally managed version requires a separate subnet manager and seamlessly integrates with Mellanox-based host channel adapters (HCAs). With robust architecture and proven compatibility in HPE Gen8/Gen9 blade deployments, it's a reliable foundation for enterprise-class InfiniBand fabric design.

Features

Designed to fit into the double-wide Switchbays of HPE BladeSystem c7000 enclosures, the 648312‑B21 provides 16 backplane InfiniBand downlink ports that connect directly to server blades, enabling full-speed FDR communication within the enclosure. In addition, the module offers 18 QSFP external ports for inter-Switch links (ISLs), fabric expansion, or uplink to rack Switch—all supporting both copper and optical QSFP cables ([turn0search13]turn0search16).Each port supports up to 56 Gb/s FDR signaling (~52 Gb/s throughput in each direction), with sub-microsecond latency typical of cut-through InfiniBand fabrics. The Switch has no embedded subnet manager—administration is handled externally via host-based (e.g. OpenSM) or rack-based manager—allowing flexible fabric topologies and failover strategies ([turn0search13]turn0search16). Because it’s unmanaged at blade level, it's ideal for large-scale fabrics requiring deterministic connectivity and minimal latency.

Advanced Options

Compatibility includes HPE ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 blade servers in c-Class enclosures. The module draws power and cooling through the chassis midplane and requires proper BladeSystem infrastructure for installation. This blade leverages Mellanox Switchfamily silicon, offering port reliability, error recovery, and diagnostic support across both internal and external connections ([turn0search2]turn0search16).