RE: Mellanox / Cumulus

[<aaron1 () gvtc com>]

One of my CDN caching providers sent a Mellanox SN2700 with their servers.  Seems to be running well.  They manage 
them, I just give them rack, power, and a couple 10 gig links into my core

-Aaron

-----Original Message-----
From: NANOG <nanog-bounces+aaron1=gvtc.com () nanog org> On Behalf Of Tom Hill
Sent: Wednesday, November 4, 2020 9:37 AM
To: nanog () nanog org
Subject: Re: Mellanox / Cumulus

On 02/11/2020 17:52, Bryan Holloway wrote:
> Anybody using these in production in an SP environment? And if so, any 
> opinions, good or bad?

I haven't used them in an SP environment precisely because the Mellanox hardware - while miles better than equivalent 
Broadcom designs - does not cater to anyone with more than the most basic of QoS requirements.

Realistically, the ASIC designs are brilliant for data centre/storage/HPC use, but they do not have (last I was 
briefed) any hardware that would replace even an access switch, let alone a capable border router.

I would *love* for that to change, so please correct me if I'm outdated.

On the software side, Cumulus Linux is very capable, and a joy to work with. However, the business case to support even 
the Broadcom DNX range (e.g. Arista 7280R) just wasn't there /before/ their acquisition. Again, if that's changed it 
would be a fine software suite to investigate.

Regards,

--
Tom