MSN3700-VS2RC - 200GbE 32xQSFP56 Spectrum-2 Switch | NVIDIA
MPN: MSN3700-VS2RC ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28905 | $28,905.00 |
| 10 | $28325 | $283,250.00 |
| 100 | $27760 | $2,776,000.00 |
| 500 | $27210 | $13,605,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $26670 | $26,670,000.00 |
MSN3700-VS2RC Overview
A data center Ethernet switch is a networking device that forwards Ethernet frames between endpoints at Layer 2 and Layer 3, forming the leaf, spine, and super-spine tiers of modern data center fabric topologies. Within the power/performance hierarchy of networking equipment, the switch platform sits above NICs and below full routing platforms, and the SN3700 belongs to the third generation of NVIDIA Mellanox Spectrum switch systems purpose-built for leaf/spine/super-spine roles.
Key features include the Spectrum-2 ASIC (2nd generation), port speeds spanning 1GbE to 400GbE, full 32-port 200GbE density in a single rack unit, and an onboard x86 CPU for hosting the pre-installed Cumulus Linux network operating system. This Open Ethernet design frees operators from vendor-locked NOS choices, supporting SONiC and other open network operating systems alongside Cumulus Linux.
The Spectrum-2 architecture provides deep port buffers, virtualization-friendly features, and scale-out fabric capability that enables full rack connectivity to any server at any speed. Rich network virtualization support makes the platform suitable for large enterprises and cloud data centers consolidating multiple overlay networks on shared physical infrastructure.
Typical applications include 200GbE spine and super-spine tiers in hyperscale and cloud fabrics, high-density leaf deployments aggregating 100G server connections, and high-performance computing (HPC) interconnects where the 8.33 Bpps processing rate sustains lossless traffic at line rate.
Design consideration: verify rack power (2x AC PSUs) and front-to-back C2P airflow direction against cold-aisle/hot-aisle layout before ordering, since airflow direction is fixed per SKU. For Cumulus Linux deployments, confirm NOS licensing and QSFP56 breakout cable compatibility (2x100G, 4x50G) for mixed-speed fabrics.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, family-variant comparisons, and practical deployment notes not found together in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MSN3700-VS2RC — 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-VS2RC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Airflow, Power Supplies, Form Factor, ASIC, Management CPU.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MSN3700-VS2FC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$9100 / Unit
View Datasheet →MSN3700-CS2FC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet →MSN3700-CS2RC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →920-9N201-00RA-0C0
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MSN3470-VS2FC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MSN3700-VS2RC Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Series | NVIDIA Spectrum SN3000 (SN3700) |
| ASIC | NVIDIA Spectrum-2 (2nd generation) |
| Port Count | 32 x QSFP56 |
| Max Port Speed | 200 GbE per port |
| Port Speed Range | 1GbE to 400GbE |
| Aggregate Throughput | 12.8 Tb/s |
| Packet Processing Rate | 8.33 Bpps |
| Form Factor | 1U rack-mount, standard depth |
| Network Operating System | Cumulus Linux (pre-installed, Open Ethernet) |
| Management CPU | x86 CPU, 2.20 GHz |
| Power Supplies | 2 x AC (redundant, hot-swappable) |
| Airflow | C2P (connector-to-panel) |
| Included Accessories | Rail kit |
| Target Topology | Leaf / Spine / Super-spine |
| Network Type | Ethernet (Open Ethernet) |
| Alternate OPN | 920-9N201-00RA-0C0 (NVIDIA numbering, same hardware) |
MSN3700-VS2RC Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for MSN3700-VS2RC. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
MSN3700-VS2RC is suitable for 6 applications: 200GbE Spine Fabric, Super-Spine Tier in Hyperscale Data Centers, High-Performance Computing (HPC) Interconnect, Cloud Enterprise Virtualization Fabrics, AI / Machine Learning Cluster Back-end Network, Storage Area Network (RoCE) Fabric.
200GbE Spine Fabric
The MSN3700-VS2RC serves as a 200GbE spine switch in leaf-spine data center topologies, offering 32 QSFP56 ports and 12.8 Tb/s of non-blocking fabric capacity. Its 8.33 Bpps packet processing rate sustains line-rate east-west traffic even under heavy microburst loads typical of virtualized and AI workloads. Each QSFP56 spine downlink can connect a 200GbE leaf uplink directly or break out to 2x100G, letting operators scale from 100G to 200G leaves without changing the spine generation. With Cumulus Linux on the onboard 2.20 GHz x86 CPU, BGP underlay and EVPN-VXLAN overlay provisioning is fully automatable via Ansible or similar tooling.
Recommended
Super-Spine Tier in Hyperscale Data Centers
In three-tier hyperscale fabrics, the SN3700 acts as a super-spine aggregating multiple spine switches. Its 1U form factor packs 12.8 Tb/s into minimal rack space, and the Open Ethernet architecture supports both Cumulus Linux and SONiC for consistent NOS across tiers. The platform's port-speed flexibility (1GbE to 400GbE) allows gradual migration: super-spine links can run at 200GbE today and move to 400GbE optics as traffic grows, protecting the capital investment. Dual redundant AC PSUs with hot-swap capability and C2P airflow match standard hyperscale rack power and cooling layouts, and the rich virtualization feature set supports network overlay multi-tenancy at cloud scale.
Recommended
High-Performance Computing (HPC) Interconnect
HPC clusters benefit from the SN3700's lossless, high-radix Ethernet fabric: 8.33 Bpps processing and the Spectrum-2 buffer architecture sustain all-to-all traffic patterns in MPI-based simulations and AI training jobs. A 32-port 200GbE switch interconnects compute nodes at 200G or aggregates storage traffic at 100G using breakout cables on the same chassis, simplifying fabric design. Cumulus Linux exposes standard Linux CLAUDE-style tooling for fanout and route management that HPC administrators can script. Deploying MSN3700-VS2RC as the core of a RoCEv2-capable fabric (per NVIDIA platform capabilities) delivers RDMA performance with Ethernet economics versus proprietary interconnects.
Recommended
Cloud Enterprise Virtualization Fabrics
Large enterprises building private clouds use the MSN3700-VS2RC as a leaf or spine switch under VMware, OpenStack, or Kubernetes networking. The Spectrum-2 platform's network virtualization support (EVPN/VXLAN via Cumulus Linux) enables multi-tenant overlays on shared hardware, with 100G breakout leaf connectivity to hypervisor hosts and 200G uplinks to the spine. Its port speeds from 1GbE to 400GbE let one switch generation connect legacy 10G/25G servers, current 100G hosts, and future 400G endpoints. Standard-depth 1U chassis with rail kit fits existing enterprise racks without redesign, and dual hot-swap AC PSUs meet enterprise uptime requirements.
Recommended
AI / Machine Learning Cluster Back-end Network
AI training clusters generate massive east-west gradient-sync traffic that saturates conventional fabrics. The MSN3700-VS2RC provides a 200GbE back-end fabric spine where 8.33 Bpps forwarding and Spectrum-2 congestion handling minimize tail latency during all-reduce operations. GPU nodes equipped with ConnectX NICs connect at 200G through QSFP56 DACs/AOCs, while the switch's deep buffers absorb synchronized traffic bursts. Combined with Cumulus Linux automation, the fabric scales from tens to hundreds of nodes by adding SN3700 spines. C2P airflow matches GPU rack exhaust conventions common in NVIDIA DGX-style deployments, keeping thermal design coherent end to end.
Recommended
Storage Area Network (RoCE) Fabric
Flash-scale storage arrays and NVMe-oF targets require deterministic, low-latency networking. The SN3700 carries RoCEv2 storage traffic losslessly across its 12.8 Tb/s fabric, with 100G/200G links connecting storage controllers and compute initiators. Using breakout cables, one QSFP56 port serves four 50G storage nodes, maximizing density in dense flash deployments. The Spectrum-2 ASIC's buffer depth and ECN/PFC support under Cumulus Linux protect RDMA traffic from congestion collapse. Dual redundant PSUs and hot-swappable fans meet the availability expectations of tier-0 storage networks, while the 1U chassis conserves rack units typically dominated by storage payloads.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MSN3700-VS2RC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MSN3700-VS2FC | MSN3700-CS2RC | 920-9N201-00RA-0C0 | MSN3470-VS2FC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor / Package | 1U rack-mount chassis (standard depth) | 1U rack-mount - same | 1U rack-mount - same | 1U rack-mount - identical hardware | 1U rack-mount - same |
| Brand | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | NVIDIA (Mellanox) | NVIDIA | NVIDIA (Mellanox) |
| ASIC Generation | Spectrum-2 (2nd gen) | Spectrum-2 | Spectrum-2 | Spectrum-2 | Spectrum-1 |
| Throughput | 12.8 Tb/s | 12.8 Tb/s | 12.8 Tb/s | 12.8 Tb/s | 6.4 Tb/s class (Spectrum-1) |
| Airflow Direction | C2P (connector-to-panel) | P2C (panel-to-connector) | C2P (per RC suffix) | C2P - identical to VS2RC | P2C (per FC suffix) |
| Power Supplies | 2 x AC, redundant | 2 x AC, redundant | C-series PSU config | 2 x AC, redundant | 2 x AC, redundant |
| NOS | Cumulus Linux (pre-installed) | Cumulus Linux | Cumulus Linux | Cumulus Linux | Cumulus Linux |
Key Differentiators
- 200GbE spine density with Spectrum-2 forwarding (vs MSN3470-VS2FC)
- Dual-sourcing under one hardware platform (vs 920-9N201-00RA-0C0)
- Airflow-matched variants avoid thermal redesign (vs MSN3700-VS2FC)
Design Notes
Order the correct airflow SKU for your rack: the MSN3700-VS2RC exhausts C2P (connector-to-panel, i.e., out the port side). Installing a C2P unit in a P2C rack (or vice versa) recirculates hot exhaust into neighboring equipment and can trigger thermal throttling or premature PSU fan failure. NVIDIA's ordering-information page warns explicitly to 'pay attention to the airflow direction when ordering' - if your facility airflow is reversed, order MSN3700-VS2FC (P2C) instead; the hardware and software are otherwise identical.
The VS2RC uses two hot-swappable AC power supplies for redundancy. Connect each PSU to a different PDU fed from separate branch circuits (A/B feeds) so a single upstream breaker trip does not drop the spine. Before rack installation, verify available circuit capacity against the per-SKU power draw listed in the NVIDIA SN3000 hardware user manual, and budget headroom for optics - QSFP56 transceivers add several watts per port versus DACs, which measurably changes total system draw in fully populated 32-port builds.
Plan breakout cabling before ordering optics: QSFP56 ports support 2x100G and 4x50G/4x25G fanout only with compatible breakout DACs/AOCs or proper breakout optics; a 200G-to-4x25G fanout requires specifically qualified cable SKUs. Also confirm Cumulus Linux licensing/support entitlement is included with your purchase quote, since Open Ethernet switches are frequently sold with or without NOS support contracts at very different price points. Finally, when mixing inventory from Mellanox-era and NVIDIA-era channel stock, remember OPN 920-9N201-00RA-0C0 and MSN3700-VS2RC are the same hardware.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not present in retrieved web data. Consult NVIDIA regulatory documentation for the SN3000 series.
