NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740
The NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740 is a specialized 1U 100GbE datacenter switch delivering 32 ports of 40G/100G QSFP28 with enhanced software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities. Providing 6.4 Tbps of line-rate throughput powered by the Spectrum ASIC, the SN2740 was engineered for telecommunications providers and hyperscalers requiring advanced OpenFlow pipeline control. Secondary market buyers utilize the SN2740 for network virtualization testbeds and high-capacity SDN deployments.
Specifications
| Brand | NVIDIA |
|---|---|
| Family | Spectrum |
| Form factor | 1U fixed switch |
| Released | Mar 2016 |
| End of sale | Sep 2021 |
| End of support | Sep 2026 |
| Ports | 32x 40G/100G QSFP28 ports |
| Switching capacity | 6.4 Tbps / 4.76 Bpps forwarding throughput |
| Sdn features | Enhanced OpenFlow pipeline support and advanced flow table telemetry |
| Latency | 300 nanoseconds low cut-through latency |
| Form factor | 1U rack-mount chassis with redundant power supplies |
Generations
- Previous generation: NVIDIA Spectrum SN2700
- Next generation: NVIDIA Spectrum-2 SN3700
Works together
How the NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740 connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 ways, with the parts and products on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Servers
HPE Edgeline EL1000 1U converged edge system
HPE Edgeline EL4000 1U converged edge system
HPE Synergy 660 Gen10 Compute Module full-height compute module
HPE Apollo 4200 Gen9 2U rack
HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen9 1U rack
HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen10 2U rack
Adapters for the server
MCX556A-ECAT NVIDIA ConnectX-5 VPI Dual-Port 100Gb/s EDR InfiniBand and 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe 3.0 x16 Adapter
MCX623106AN-CDAT NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx EN Dual-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 x16 Ethernet Network Adapter
BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
540-BDBX Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Adapter
Storage
Dell PowerStore 7000T 2U rack
Lenovo ThinkSystem DM7100H 4U rack
Lenovo ThinkSystem DM5100F 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 1200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 3200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 5200T 2U rack
Optics
QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
QSFP-100G-SR4-S Cisco 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
- HPE Edgeline EL1000 1U converged edge system
- HPE Edgeline EL4000 1U converged edge system
- HPE Synergy 660 Gen10 Compute Module full-height compute module
- HPE Apollo 4200 Gen9 2U rack
- HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen9 1U rack
- HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen10 2U rack
Adapters for the server
- MCX623106AN-CDAT NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx EN Dual-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 x16 Ethernet Network Adapter
- BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
- 540-BDBX Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Adapter
540-BDCF Dell Intel E810-CQDA2 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
Storage
- Dell PowerStore 7000T 2U rack
Dell PowerScale F600 1U rack- Lenovo ThinkSystem DM7100H 4U rack
- Lenovo ThinkSystem DM5100F 2U rack
Dell PowerScale F900 2U rack
Dell PowerScale H700 4U
Optics
- QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
- QSFP-100G-SR4-S Cisco 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
HCI nodes
HPE SimpliVity 380 Gen10 2U rack
HPE SimpliVity 380 Gen9 2U rack
HPE SimpliVity 325 Gen10 1U rack
HPE SimpliVity 380 Gen10 G 2U rack
Adapters for the server
- MCX623106AN-CDAT NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx EN Dual-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 x16 Ethernet Network Adapter
- BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
- 540-BDBX Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Adapter
- 540-BDCF Dell Intel E810-CQDA2 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
Optics
- QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
- QSFP-100G-SR4-S Cisco 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with NVIDIA
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that NVIDIA has tested with the NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740.
- Compatibility NVIDIA Qualified System Catalog (certified GPU servers)
- Specifications NVIDIA Networking documentation (adapters, switches, cables)
- Support NVIDIA Enterprise Support
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
What differentiates the SN2740 from the SN2700?
The SN2740 includes expanded SDN flow table memory and specialized OpenFlow firmware optimizations.
Can the SN2740 run Cumulus Linux?
Yes, it supports Cumulus Linux and standard ONIE open networking operating systems.
Buying or selling Spectrum SN2740?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740 Product Overview, checked 2026-10-27
- NVIDIA Spectrum SN2740 Datasheet, checked 2026-10-27