What Is Network Interface Card?_
A NIC provides the physical interface between a compute node and the network fabric, handling data transmission and reception at the link layer. In GPU clusters, NICs are used for scale-out networking (InfiniBand or Ethernet) to connect nodes across racks, distinct from the NVLink interconnects used for intra-node GPU-to-GPU communication. Each NIC typically supports one or more ports, such as QSFP or OSFP, and is installed as a PCIe add-in card or integrated on the motherboard.
Technical Details
NICs operate at speeds up to 400 Gbps or higher per port, depending on the generation and fabric type (e.g., InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet 400G). They use push-pull connectors like QSFP or OSFP, which have no torque screws, and are cabled with MPO fiber or copper depending on distance. The NIC firmware and drivers must be configured to match the fabric's link layer and flow control settings, often requiring per-port tuning during commissioning.
How Leviathan Systems Works with Network Interface Card
During rack assembly, we install NICs in GPU nodes and cable them to the top-of-rack switches using MPO fiber for scale-out networking. In commissioning, we verify link status and firmware versions on each NIC to ensure proper fabric integration.
Related service
Network Testing & Commissioning →