NVIDIA Mellanox empowers data centers with advanced networking capabilities, featuring RDMA, user-friendly interfaces, efficient design, and competitive performance. Designed for Linux-based environments, it ensures robust network automation and AI integration.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Mellanox | 2.0% |
| Cisco Ethernet Switches | 9.0% |
| Aruba Switches | 8.9% |
| Other | 80.1% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 4 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 2 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 80 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 32 |
| Large Enterprise | 102 |
Known for its compact hardware, NVIDIA Mellanox delivers dependable networking through its innovative features like no-drop traffic handling and essential data center protocols BGP EVPN and VXLAN. It enhances efficiency with its integration into AI-driven environments and extensive configuration options on Linux. Though the installation and its command-line interface pose challenges for some, its automation capabilities complement complex infrastructures in data centers. Users highlight its scalability in networking, yet seek improvements in documentation, training, and OS transition aspects for smoother integration and enhanced accessibility. Ongoing advancements are anticipated, particularly regarding support response and platform compatibility like Elastic.
What are the key features of NVIDIA Mellanox?In industries operating networking infrastructures, NVIDIA Mellanox offers LAN and AI data center solutions, integral to high-performance computing. Users in sectors utilizing spine-and-leaf topology for top-of-rack and core devices leverage its infinite band speed and EVPN/VxLan capabilities. With support for edge, storage, and border gate switches, it optimizes networking automation beginning with Ethernet-based setups. Organizations gradually enhance complexity as their networking needs evolve.
NVIDIA Mellanox was previously known as Mellanox Switches, Mellanox SN2700.
CNPC, Korea Consumer Agency, Nutanix, Roxo Systems, StorPool, Atlantic.Net, INFN, StarWind, NYSE Technologies, Creative Consultants, ENKI
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| CEO at Tekpulse Ltd | 4.0 | I've used NVIDIA Mellanox in our data center for high-speed automation and integration, but its lack of GUI and steep learning curve pose challenges. Deployment was smooth, and overall, I’d rate it an eight out of ten. |
| Managing Partner & Technical Consultant at IT Expert | 4.0 | I primarily use NVIDIA Mellanox for AI data center infrastructure, focusing on networking. The standout feature is its no-drop traffic. While generally stable, some older bugs persist. Support could be improved, but performance and pricing remain competitive. |
| Managing Partner & Technical Consultant at IT Expert | 4.5 | I find Mellanox Switches very good, stable, and scalable for data centers, leveraging powerful, open Linux hardware. Although the new CLI is harder post-Nvidia acquisition, it's more powerful. Setup is simple. I highly recommend them. |
| Solutions Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees | 4.5 | We use NVIDIA Mellanox for locking various switches, appreciating its configurability due to its Linux OS. While the support response time could improve, its interface is easy to use, offering simple configuration and excellent scalability, with power supply redundancy. |
| Senior Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees | 3.5 | I use Mellanox as a network switch, appreciating its unique RDMA feature, stability, and ease of use. However, I find its configuration and initial setup difficult, especially compared to Cisco. Overall, I rate it 7/10. |
| Managing Director at Digimat spa | 4.0 | I find Mellanox Switches stable with good size, power, features, and reasonable pricing. Setup was tricky due to documentation, and I'd like better integration with monitoring platforms and multi-language customer support. |
| DevOps at a consultancy with 501-1,000 employees | 3.0 | I've used this solution for two years. While its functionality is valuable and it's stable, the setup was complex and training needs improvement. It's less user-friendly than Cisco, so I rate it 6/10. |
| Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees | 4.5 | I rate Mellanox switches 9/10. They are user-friendly, stable, scalable, and competitively priced for on-premises use. While always room for improvement, I strongly recommend them. |
NVIDIA Mellanox is usually used for numerous purposes, but in our case, we are using it in a data center for high-end servers running 200 gig interfaces, and we are able to link it up with Ansible to automate certain processes.
We are starting with a basic Ethernet environment, and gradually, over time, we will move into other features that NVIDIA has as the requirements grow and as the team improves.
One of the features that attracted us is the functionality to automate processes and to integrate with current systems such as the AI environment.
These features have helped optimize workloads in my organization.
The feature we would want to see in future updates of NVIDIA Mellanox is improved accessibility for normal users, as quite a lot of experience is needed before using Mellanox. None of the Mellanox have GUI interfaces, and most of the time when performing advanced configurations, it has to be in a CLI environment, which makes it difficult to configure.
I have been working with NVIDIA Mellanox for about five years.
Installing and deploying NVIDIA Mellanox was straightforward; the only challenge we encountered was difficulty when changing the operating system.
It does not support all operational systems. The users are not quite familiar with the native Cumulus Linux 5.6 environment, so I attempted installing an operating system such that its configuration is the same environment as Cisco.
I would assess their technical support as good—not the best, but it is good, so I would rate it an eight.
Positive
We wanted to utilize the advanced InfiniBand and Ethernet solutions offered by NVIDIA, but the users are not too familiar with the InfiniBand environment, which is why we are using the Linux Cumulus 5.6, which is usually the normal Ethernet.
I am familiar with NVIDIA Mellanox, as I have products from NVIDIA on review here on our website. I use enhanced multi-tenancy features.
Currently, within the data center, we have mixtures of both Cisco Nexus switches, NVIDIA switches, and Huawei switches, so eventually, we are changing all the switches to NVIDIA.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate NVIDIA Mellanox an eight.
Neutral
Mellanox Switches are used for spine-and-leaf topology in data center networks for top-of-rack devices, core devices for infinite bands at speed, and EVPN/VxLan solutions. They're very good.
The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the powerful hardware and the software is open. They're using Linux operating system. You can do and install many things, and it performs well.
Mellanox Switches were easier before Nvidia bought Mellanox and then their new version of the operating system changed. They started with Onyx, and now they only use Linux. If they Learn Linux OS essentials before Cumulus it would be a good option for starters. The new CLI is more difficult to use but more powerful than the older one. It has its advantages.
I have used Mellanox Switches within the last 5 years.
Mellanox Switches have been stable in our usage.
The scalability of Mellanox Switches has been good.
We have many clients using this solution. We are waiting for a large project, in the cloud provider sector, but we are waiting for devices for our last customer.
I have not used technical support.
Mellanox Switches are simple to install. The installation can take approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Additionally, you can use zero-touch provisioning, but you need to have technical knowledge. It's not easy for a junior engineer.
There is no license need anymore to use the switch ports of Mellanox Switches.
I recommend this solution to others.
I rate Mellanox Switches a nine out of ten.
We use the solution to lock switches, storage switches, and border gate switches.
The tool is very configurable because it runs on a Linux operating system.
The response time of the support could be faster.
The solution is very stable because it runs on the Linux operating system. I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.
The tool is easy to scale. They have introduced leaf and spine architecture for traditional architecture. 60 users are using this solution.
I rate the solution’s scalability a nine out of ten.
We have used Juniper before.
You need to be knowledgeable in Linux to configure it. If you're good at Linux, the initial setup is straightforward. If you're unfamiliar with Mellanox scripting and coding, you'll need a consultant to implement it.
Since I am familiar with Linux, it's pretty straightforward to deploy, assign IP addresses, and route.
Mellanox is straightforward to use once you are familiar with its interface. Configuration is simple, and it offers excellent scalability. The system operates efficiently with power supply redundancy, minimizing the need for additional consideration.
The solution is affordable.
I rate the product’s pricing as two out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.
Two engineers are enough for the solution's deployment and maintenance.
I advise you to be familiar with Mellanox because it is a back-end operating system of Mellanox.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
We primarily use the solution for a network switch.
Mellanox provides a feature called RDMA. This feature is very special and only Mellanox can provide it. For example, Cisco cannot offer this.
The solution is very stable.
It is a very easy-to-use product.
The configuration is a bit different from Cisco, and therefore, for me at least, there's a bit of a learning curve. I'd like it to be a bit easier. It's one thing they could improve on.
The installation process can be a bit difficult.
I've been using the solution for three or four years.
The stability of the product is very good. I haven't health with bugs or glitches and it doesn't seem to crash or freeze. The performance is reliable.
Our company may have up to 20 Mellanox switches. I'm not sure if we plan on expanding and adding in any more any time soon.
I have just asked friends in the past for advice if I have questions about these switches. I have not bought a special license for support.
I have found the installation process to be slightly difficult.
The main engineer has installed four or six switches so far.
You do need a special license in order to receive technical support. I don't have this license. I'm lucky in that I have friends who understand the device and they can assist as needed.
When you buy the hardware, it also includes the software license.
Mellanox has been acquired by Amedia.
I'm not sure which version of the solution we're using. I don't have the version number available off-hand.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. I like the solution. It does have some unique features that may be helpful for certain users.
We are using Mellanox Switch for our data center as the top public switch.
The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the size, power consumption, and the vast amount of features.
Mellanox Switches could improve by adding some features that can make it easier for integrating the switches in some managing and monitoring platforms, such as Elastic or similar software for monitoring data with the data center in a more holistic way.
I have been using Mellanox Switches for approximately one year.
Mellanox Switches is highly stable, we have not had any problems at all.
I have been completely satisfied with the stability of Mellanox Switches. When I need to enlarge our infrastructure it will work well.
It would be useful to have the support speak in different languages, such as Italian. It would make it more useful for us to understand.
I rate the support from Mellanox Switches a three out of five.
The implementation of Mellanox Switches was a bit tricky. However, our team of engineers proceeded for approximately four or five days and managed. The issue was it the documentation was not easy to find on their website. We needed to speak to an expert because this is a not very straightforward implementation.
We are not a large organization, we have four or five engineers that are involved in the maintenance of the data center. However, the Mellanox Switch does not require a lot of maintenance activities, it is very low maintenance.
The price of Mellanox Switches is reasonable compared to other solutions. The price and quality ratio was very good. There is a one-time license purchase that is needed.
I rate the price of Mellanox Switches an eight out of ten.
I'm completely satisfied with the Mellanox Switches.
I rate Mellanox Switches an eight out of ten.
The primary use case of this solution is for LAN.
Currently, I am working with a client on a small private cloud for HPC (High-Performance Computing) with large data. We have ten gigabytes.
The deployment model is on-premises.
The most valuable features of this solution are its functionality.
If you compare this solution with Cisco, utilization in Cisco is more popular and it is more friendly. It's the experience and the responding ability of the document training.
The training documentation can be improved.
This solution is stable.
This solution is scalable.
I have not been in contact with technical support. I work with other aspects of information and development.
The initial setup was complex for us.
The deployment took a week because I am a developer, and the math was a problem for me. For a network engineer, it would be more difficult.
For a basic deployment, it would be quick, only one or two days.
It would take one person to deploy a defense on the project, for a small project with high availability, in three switches, it would take two people, and for a large project, you would need a team.
One person is needed to maintain all aspects of the network.
It's an open-source solution.
They began to pursue Nutanix, but they are not using it on tests. I will be using it in the future for my projects.
I have not been using this solution for long and don't have a lot of experience.
I would rate this solution a six out of ten.
These switches are useful in the data center environment as well as the Edge.
This solution is deployed on-prem.
From what I've been told, a valuable feature of Mellanox switches is they're quite user-friendly.
The scalability is working fine at the moment, but there's always room for improvement. As of right now, I don't know of any improvements to suggest.
I have been using Mellanox switches for a couple of months now.
The stability of this solution is great, which is one of the reasons why I chose it.
This solution is scalable.
The initial setup was straightforward. I wasn't technically involved in the actual installation so I can't comment on how much time it took.
We provide Mellanox switches to customers.
The pricing is very competitive. The licensing costs are fine.
I rate Mellanox switches a strong nine out of ten. I would recommend Mellanox to others who are considering implementation.
