Multi-Host NIC with External PCIe Cable Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern server enclosures face challenges in integrating high-performance, high-power network interface cards (NICs) due to heat generation, cost, and complexity, especially when dealing with multiple compute nodes, which leads to increased hardware costs, thermal management issues, and complicated network installations.
Innovation Solution
A multi-host network interface card (MC) system that allows multiple network hosts to share a single NIC via a peripheral component bus (PCIe) cable, reducing hardware duplication and heat production, while enabling independent serviceability and higher bandwidth capabilities through external connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each compute node includes its own Network Interface Controller (NIC), then each host can operate independently with dedicated network connectivity, but hardware costs increase and thermal management becomes more complex due to multiple high-power NICs
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple compute nodes share a single physical NIC through PCIe cable connections. The first host connects directly to the NIC while subsequent hosts connect via PCIe cables to connector receptacles on the NIC, allowing resource sharing and reducing hardware duplication across the system
Solution Approach 2:
The NIC serves multiple functions by providing network connectivity to multiple hosts simultaneously. It acts as a shared network interface for the first host and additional hosts through PCIe cable connections, making a single device universal across multiple compute nodes
2Productivity
If multiple high-performance NICs are deployed to serve multiple compute nodes, then network bandwidth and performance improve, but heat generation and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hosts share a single physical NIC to reduce the total number of high-power network interface devices in the system. This consolidation maintains network connectivity for all hosts while significantly reducing heat generation and power consumption compared to deploying dedicated NICs in each host
3Reliability
If dedicated NICs are installed in each host, then network connectivity is simplified and reliable, but hardware costs and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple network connectivity functions into a single shared NIC. The first host connects directly to the NIC while additional hosts connect via PCIe cables to connector receptacles on the NIC, reducing hardware costs through resource sharing while maintaining reliable network connectivity across all hosts
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an external multi-host system includes an external peripheral component bus (PCB) cable terminated with a first and second PCB connector plug, a first network host including a first processor and a first PCB connector receptacle to receive the first PCB connector plug, and a second network host including a second processor and a multi-host network interface card, which includes a network connector receptacle to receive a first network connector plug terminating a network cable, a second PCB connector receptacle to provide connectivity with the first network host and to receive the second PCB connector plug, a first PCB edge-connector to provide connectivity with the second processor, and processing circuitry to operate communication with the first network host over the external PCB cable and with the second processor via the first PCB edge-connector, and exchange network packets between the network hosts and a network.