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100GbE
100 Gigabit Ethernet achieves 100Gbs data rates using the Ethernet Layer 2 protocol over a variety of media, usually using QSFP28 transceivers. There are four generations, depending on whether it's 10x10Gb, 4x25Gb, 2x50Gb, or pure 100Gb per direction. It is defined on CAT-7A and CAT-8 copper, twinaxial, and fibre.
100GbE NICs
PCIe 3.0 at 8 lanes doesn't have sufficient throughput to carry a full 100Gbps; its theoretical max is 7.877GB/s or 63.016Gb/s. PCIe 4.0 at 8 lanes or PCIe 3.0 at 16 lanes are necessary. A full 200Gbps signal (or two 100Gbps ports) requires 16 lanes of PCIe 4.0 or 8 lanes of PCIe 5.0. A full 400Gbps signal (or two 200Gbps ports) requires 16 lanes of PCIe 5.0, 8 lanes of PCIe 6.0, or 4 lanes of PCIe 7.0.
- Intel E810-CQDA2T, E810-2CQDA2 (dual port)
- Intel E810-CQDA1 (single port)
- Mellanox ConnectX-4 MCX415A-CCAT (single port, pcie 3)
- Mellanox ConnectX-4 MCX416A-CCAT (dual port, pcie 3)
- Mellanox ConnectX-5 MCX516A-CDAT (dual port)
- Broadcom P2100G (dual port, pcie 4.0x16)
- Broadcom P2200G (dual port, pcie 4.0x16, 200Gbps)
- Solarflare X2541 (pcie 3.1x16)