MSN3700-CS2FO - 32x QSFP28 100GbE 1U Switch | NVIDIA Mellanox
MPN: MSN3700-CS2FO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
MSN3700-CS2FO Overview
A data center leaf/spine switch is a network device that aggregates traffic from top-of-rack leaf switches and routes it between spine layers in cloud-scale layer-2 and layer-3 networks. The MSN3700-CS2FO belongs to the NVIDIA Spectrum SN3000 switch family, which sits within the broader hierarchy of Ethernet switching systems -> Open Ethernet bare-metal switches -> data center aggregation/spine platforms.
Key features include 32 QSFP28 ports each supporting up to 100GbE (with breakout to 4x25GbE per port typical for the SN3700C class), a forwarding rate of 8.33 Bpps, and low latency of approximately 425 ns according to distributor specifications. The Spectrum-2 ASIC provides consistent low latency and advanced software-defined networking features, making the platform suited to web-scale IT, cloud, hyperconverged storage, and data analytics workloads.
Technically, the switch is delivered as a bare-metal Open Ethernet platform with an ONIE (Open Network Install Environment) boot loader, allowing operators to install a NOS of their choice such as Cumulus Linux, SONiC, or other ONIE-compatible operating systems. The x86 management CPU enables local NOS execution, while dual redundant AC power supplies and front-to-back P2C airflow support hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center deployments. A rail kit is included for standard 19-inch racks.
Typical applications include 100G spine and leaf-spine aggregation in cloud data centers, high-density 25G server connectivity via port breakouts, hyperconverged storage fabrics, and big data analytics clusters where low-latency, high-throughput east-west traffic is critical.
A key design consideration: this OPN is listed by NVIDIA as End of Life (EOL) and no longer orderable through normal channels, so new deployments should evaluate current Spectrum platforms or refurbish/secondary-market stock with warranty coverage.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, the NVIDIA SN3000 series datasheet, hardware user manual ordering information, and drop-in alternative analysis not found on any single manufacturer page.
Drop-in alternatives for MSN3700-CS2FO — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MSN3700-CS2FO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Airflow, Form Factor, Power Supplies, Forwarding Rate, Port Configuration.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MSN3700-CS2F
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MSN3700-CS2FC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →SSE-SN3700-CS2RC
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MSN3700-CS2FO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Family | NVIDIA Spectrum SN3000 Series (SN3700C) |
| Switch ASIC | Mellanox Spectrum-2 |
| Port Configuration | 32 x QSFP28 |
| Port Speed | Up to 100GbE per port |
| Switching Capacity | 6.4 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 8.33 Bpps |
| Latency | Approximately 425 ns |
| Form Factor | 1U rack-mount, standard depth |
| CPU | x86 management CPU |
| NOS Support | ONIE boot loader (bare metal Open Ethernet, NOS not pre-installed) |
| Power Supplies | 2 x AC (redundant) |
| Airflow | P2C (port-to-cloud, front-to-back) |
| Input Voltage | AC 100-264 V |
| Accessories | Rail kit included |
| Layer Support | Layer 2 and Layer 3 |
| Lifecycle Status | EOL (End of Life) per NVIDIA hardware user manual |
MSN3700-CS2FO Interfaces & Connectors
MSN3700-CS2FO exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | AC 100-264 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | AC 100-264 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for MSN3700-CS2FO as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
MSN3700-CS2FO is suitable for 6 applications: Data Center Leaf-Spine Aggregation, High-Density 25G Server Connectivity, Hyperconverged Storage Fabrics, Big Data and Analytics Clusters, Web-Scale IT and Cloud Providers, Enterprise Core / 100G Uplink Consolidation.
Data Center Leaf-Spine Aggregation
The MSN3700-CS2FO fits spine-layer duty in cloud-scale leaf-spine fabrics because its 32 x QSFP28 ports and 6.4 Tbps of Spectrum-2 switching capacity provide the non-blocking east-west bandwidth that modern virtualized clusters demand. In a typical topology, each spine switch aggregates 32 leaf uplinks at 100GbE, or up to 128 x 25GbE leaf links via 4x25GbE breakout cables, with forwarding latency of approximately 425 ns keeping hop count penalties low. The ONIE boot loader allows operators to run Cumulus Linux or SONiC for consistent automation across the fabric using standard DevOps tooling. Because the platform is EOL, it is best deployed to extend an existing SN3700C-based fabric rather than in new greenfield builds.
Recommended
High-Density 25G Server Connectivity
For top-of-rack aggregation of 25G servers, the MSN3700-CS2FO's QSFP28 ports break out to 4x25GbE each, yielding up to 128 x 25G server-facing links on a single 1U system. This suits hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) racks where each node uses dual 25GbE uplinks and north-south traffic consolidates onto 100G spine links. The Spectrum-2 ASIC maintains consistent low latency (~425 ns per hop) across all port speeds, avoiding the jitter variance common on softer switch platforms. The bare-metal ONIE model lets storage and virtualization teams standardize on one NOS image across mixed generations of SN3000 hardware, simplifying configuration management with tools like Ansible. Dual redundant AC PSUs and P2C airflow align with standard data center rack power and cooling designs.
Recommended
Hyperconverged Storage Fabrics
Hyperconverged storage clusters (e.g., vSAN, Ceph) generate heavy east-west replication and rebalancing traffic that benefits directly from the MSN3700-CS2FO's 6.4 Tbps non-blocking fabric and deterministic 425 ns latency. Per the NVIDIA SN3000 series datasheet, the platform supports advanced software-defined networking features needed for storage QoS and RoCE-class deployments. Each storage node can attach at 100GbE natively or 4x25GbE, letting administrators scale node bandwidth without changing the switch layer. The x86 CPU runs ONIE-installed NOS images so storage vendors' certified network configurations can be reproduced identically as clusters grow. Because consistent low latency and line-rate throughput are maintained across all 32 ports, replication storms during node failures do not degrade foreground I/O.
Recommended
Big Data and Analytics Clusters
Distributed analytics frameworks (Spark, Hadoop, Kafka) push large shuffle and replication bursts between nodes, and the MSN3700-CS2FO's 8.33 Bpps forwarding rate and 6.4 Tbps capacity absorb these bursts without the head-of-line blocking seen on lower-tier aggregation switches. Its 32 QSFP28 ports support mixed 100G uplinks and 25G/10G server breakouts, allowing a single 1U switch to serve an analytics rack with varied node generations. The Spectrum-2 ASIC's consistent low latency (~425 ns) shortens distributed-lock and consensus round trips, which measurably improves job completion times in shuffle-heavy workloads. ONIE-based NOS deployment enables telemetry and automated ECMP tuning aligned to the analytics scheduler's traffic patterns, and dual PSUs protect long-running batch jobs from single power-domain faults.
Recommended
Web-Scale IT and Cloud Providers
Per the NVIDIA SN3000 series datasheet, the SN3000 family is purpose-built for web-scale IT, and the MSN3700-CS2FO embodies that model: bare-metal hardware, ONIE boot loader, no vendor-locked NOS, and an open Ethernet feature set controllable through the operator's own software stack. Cloud operators deploy pairs of these switches as redundant 100G leaves, automating provisioning through open NOS APIs (Cumulus Linux, SONiC) and standard telemetry. The x86 CPU provides local compute for agents and containers, while the Spectrum-2 ASIC exposes advanced SDN features such as rich ACLs, ECMP, and tunneling needed for overlay networking. Fleet-standardizing on the SN3700C simplifies spare inventory, and secondary-market availability keeps brownfield expansions economical even after EOL.
Recommended
Enterprise Core / 100G Uplink Consolidation
Enterprises consolidating 10G/25G access layers onto 100G core links can use the MSN3700-CS2FO as a compact 1U core switch, terminating up to 32 x 100GbE or breakout combinations thereof within a standard-depth chassis. The 6.4 Tbps fabric and 425 ns latency keep inter-VLAN and routed core traffic responsive, and Layer 2/Layer 3 support covers core routing protocols via the installed NOS. Its dual AC power supplies (100-264 V) connect to separate power domains for resilience, and the included rail kit plus front-to-back P2C airflow matches typical enterprise rack standards. For enterprises with existing Mellanox/NVIDIA networking, adding an EOL SN3700C from the refurbishment channel provides a low-cost, software-compatible core expansion before migrating to current-generation platforms.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MSN3700-CS2FO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MSN3700-CS2F | MSN3700-CS2FC | SSE-SN3700-CS2RC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 1U rack-mount, standard depth | 1U rack-mount, standard depth - same | 1U rack-mount, standard depth - same | 1U rack-mount - same |
| Brand | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | Supermicro |
| Ports | 32 x QSFP28 | 32 x QSFP28 | 32 x QSFP28 | 32 x 100G ports |
| Switching Capacity | 6.4 Tbps | 6.4 Tbps | 6.4 Tbps | 6.4 Tb/s |
| NOS Model | Bare metal with ONIE | Bare metal with ONIE | Bare metal with ONIE | Open Networking |
| Lifecycle Status | EOL | EOL (same OPN family) | EOL (same OPN family) | Discontinued (EOL) per Supermicro |
Key Differentiators
- P2C airflow matched to front-to-back rack rows (vs MSN3700-CS2FC)
- Cross-brand Spectrum-2 equivalent available (vs SSE-SN3700-CS2RC)
- Honest trade-off: EOL lifecycle (vs MSN3700-CS2F)
Design Notes
Confirm airflow direction before ordering any SN3700C variant. The MSN3700-CS2FO uses P2C (port-to-cloud, front-to-back) airflow, while the CS2FC uses C2P (back-to-front). Installing a unit whose airflow opposes your rack's cold/hot aisle design will cause intake of hot exhaust air, triggering thermal throttling or premature PSU/fan failure. NVIDIA's ordering information page explicitly warns to pay attention to airflow direction when ordering. Verify the suffix code against your facility layout and existing SN3700C fleet before purchasing refurbished units.
The MSN3700-CS2FO ships with 2 AC power supplies rated for 100-264 V AC input. For redundancy, connect each PSU to a separate power feed or UPS domain (A/B feeds). Operating both PSUs from a single PDU negates the redundant design and makes the switch vulnerable to a single power-path fault. When planning rack power budgets, account for the x86 CPU and full 32-port QSFP28 optical load; consult the NVIDIA SN3000 hardware user manual for exact per-unit maximum wattage before finalizing branch circuit sizing.
This is a bare-metal Open Ethernet switch: it arrives with only the ONIE boot loader and no network operating system. Budget for an ONIE-compatible NOS license/image (Cumulus Linux, SONiC, etc.) and validate that your chosen NOS version still supports the Spectrum-2 SN3700C platform, since EOL hardware is often dropped from recent NOS releases. Also note the equivalent NVIDIA OPN 920-9N201-00F7-0N1 is listed as no longer orderable, so verify warranty and RMA terms when buying from secondary-market vendors; NetworkTigers and BrightStar Systems offer 365-day warranties on tested units.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not stated in the provided web sources for this complete switch system; consult the NVIDIA SN3000 series datasheet or hardware user manual for regulatory declarations.
