Enterprise Strategy Group took a closer look at the Dell PowerSwitch Z9864F-ON to examine how organizations can build out the network connectivity required for GenAI workloads as well as achieve denser data center footprints.

While the test configuration was complex, the test goal was simple - to demonstrate that the Dell PowerSwitch 400G Ethernet network fabric could transport RDMA and NCCL traffic at or near line rate across the 400GbE network fabric and without packet loss. PowerSwitch Ethernet Fabric provided zero-loss handling of AI traffic from the 64 connected NICs/GPUs. 

AI is transforming the world of business, but it comes with a high cost. Cloud service providers are consuming most of the AI accelerators, driving up the price of AI services. But what if you didn't need expensive AI accelerators to run AI? IDC predicts that over 50% of AI systems will not be accelerated in 2024.

Dell Technologies is leveraging its prior experience to enable GenAI infrastructure solutions for both front-end (application traffic, storage access, general network) and back-end (GPU fabric) environments that include compute, storage, and networking.

This whitepaper describes how Ethernet and Dell Technologies’ Fabrics enable the new world of Generative AI. It is intended for business leaders Chief Technology Officer (CTOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), IT infrastructure managers, and system architects who are interested and tasked in, involved with, or considering implementation of Generative AI.

ESG’s initial review of the Dell PowerSwitch Z9664F-ON reveals that it can provide a cost-effective option for building out a 400G data center fabric occupying smaller footprints. Eliminating the need to use multiple 100G-capable switches in the data center eliminates unnecessary expenses while maximizing network performance, capacity, and throughput.