Category : Case Studies, Hardware News, News by T-Pole, Server | Infiniband | 2 May 2025
In the world of high-performance computing (HPC) and advanced industrial applications, the speed and efficiency of data transfer between systems are often paramount. When connecting a data acquisition unit, usually close to the source (like a machine or one or more sensors), to a powerful remote computing server located in a control room, traditional Ethernet networks can reveal their limitations in terms of latency and throughput.
In a time-critical mission, the computing server must be able to make real-time decisions, for example, on quality control results, so that the machine can accept or reject certain products at very high throughput. Should delays or latency occur, the performance of the entire system could be compromised. This article presents a specific solution developed by TPole for a client with precise performance requirements: a 200 GBit/s InfiniBand kit.
The Client’s challenge: fast, low-latency data transfer
Our client had a clearly defined need: to establish communication between two distinct systems:
- A “machine server”: dedicated to acquiring data from peripherals directly installed on it.
- A remote computing server: intended for intensive processing and evaluation of the acquired data.
The goal was to transfer raw data from the acquisition server to the computing server as quickly and efficiently as possible. The key requirements were:
- High performance: The need for very high bandwidth to handle potentially large volumes of data.
- Low latency: Minimizing transfer delay to enable near real-time or very rapid data evaluation.
This architecture allows for resource specialization: a robust system optimized for acquisition near the source, and a powerful, centralized system for complex processing.
The TPole Solution: 200 GBit/s Point-to-Point InfiniBand Kit
To meet these stringent requirements, TPole identified InfiniBand technology as the optimal choice. InfiniBand is a high-performance communication standard known for its extremely high bandwidth and, crucially, its very low latency—ideal characteristics for server-to-server interconnections and in HPC environments.
The implemented solution consists of a specifically configured “InfiniBand Kit,” based on:
- Technology: InfiniBand HDR (High Data Rate).
- Speed: 200 GBit/s, ensuring massive data throughput.
- Physical medium: direct point-to-point fiber optic connection, chosen for its immunity to electromagnetic interference and its ability to cover greater distances than copper while maintaining high performance.
- Maximum distance: Up to 100 meters, sufficient to connect the two systems while keeping them physically separate, perhaps in different rooms.
This configuration allows for the creation of a dedicated, high-performance “communication bus” exclusively for data transfer between the two servers, bypassing traditional networks and their potential bottlenecks.
Advantages of the InfiniBand solution
Adopting this InfiniBand Kit offers numerous advantages:
- Extreme performance: The 200 GBit/s speed enables nearly instantaneous data transfers, even for large datasets. These performances have been verified in our laboratories by implementing a dedicated test system.
- Minimal latency: InfiniBand is designed to minimize delays, a critical factor for time-sensitive applications.
- Effective separation: Allows each server to be optimized for its specific task (acquisition vs. processing) without compromise. The acquisition unit can be strategically positioned, while the computing unit can reside in a controlled environment (data centre).
- Reliability: The point-to-point fibre optic connection ensures a stable and high-performing link.
Conclusion
The “200G InfiniBand Kit” solution implemented by TPole is a concrete example of how our expertise allows us to select and adopt the best technical solutions for our clients and verify that they offer real solutions to their problems. In this case, the right interconnection technology can solve complex challenges in high-performance data transfer. By effectively separating the acquisition unit from the processing unit via an ultra-fast, low-latency communication channel, a more efficient, scalable, and high-performing system architecture is enabled, fully meeting the client’s needs for rapid evaluation of data acquired in the field.
To find out how to best leverage TPole’s expertise to optimize your products, contact us today through our contact page.
