- Catherine
- July 16, 2023
- 9:43 am
In Super Pod networking, if the last SU has less than 32 nodes, such as only 16 nodes, can the last SU's Leaf switch use only 4 switches? This will cause two network cards of the same node to access the same leaf switch, will there be any problem with the SHARP tree?

John Doe
Answered on 9:43 am
In Super Pod networking, if the last SU has less than 32 nodes, such as only 16 nodes, then the last SU’s Leaf switch can use only 4 switches. This can save the number of switches and costs, but it will sacrifice some network performance and reliability.
SHARP tree is a topology structure based on multi-layer switches, which can achieve efficient global aggregation and broadcast. The construction of SHARP tree requires the following conditions:
- Each node has two network cards, which are connected to different Leaf switches.
- Each Leaf switch has two uplink ports, which are connected to different Spine switches.
- Each Spine switch has two downlink ports, which are connected to different Leaf switches.
If the two network cards of the same node are connected to the same Leaf switch, then the SHARP tree cannot meet the above conditions, and the following problems will occur:
- Network redundancy is reduced. If the Leaf switch or its uplink port fails, the node will lose network connection.
- Network bandwidth is reduced. Because each node can only use the bandwidth of one network card, instead of the aggregated bandwidth of two network cards.
- Network latency is increased. Because the communication between each node may need to go through more hops.
Therefore, if you want to use SHARP tree as the topology structure of Super Pod networking, it is recommended that the two network cards of each node are connected to different Leaf switches, to ensure network performance and reliability.
People Also Ask
Related Articles

800G SR8 and 400G SR4 Optical Transceiver Modules Compatibility and Interconnection Test Report
Version Change Log Writer V0 Sample Test Cassie Test Purpose Test Objects:800G OSFP SR8/400G OSFP SR4/400G Q112 SR4. By conducting corresponding tests, the test parameters meet the relevant industry standards,

Understanding NVIDIA’s Product Ecosystem and Naming Conventions
Compute Chips—V100, A100, H100, B200, etc. These terms are among the most commonly encountered in discussions about artificial intelligence. They refer to AI compute cards, specifically GPU models. NVIDIA releases

Differences Between BA, LA, and PA in Optical Transmission
Before diving into the specifics of BA, LA, and PA, it’s essential to understand the role of optical amplifiers in general. Optical amplifiers boost the power of optical signals without

What Is the Minimum Bend Radius of an Optical Fiber?
The minimum bend radius of an optical fiber is defined as the smallest radius to which the fiber can be bent while still maintaining normal transmission of optical signals. In

AEC Active Cable Testing Solution – Deciphering AEC Performance Step by Step
With the continuous expansion of data centers and the increasing demand for high-performance computing, the AEC (Active Electrical Cable) has emerged as an effective high-speed, short-distance transmission solution. Major cloud

Why Do 400G/100G Optical Ports in Switches Require Forward Error Correction (FEC)?
Introduction Optical networks require the use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) to guarantee reliable communication. Similar to how a reader may overlook a single spelling mistake in a text but

OCP EMEA 2025: FiberMall’s 1.6T Pluggable Optical Module Based on 224G per Lane
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has driven a substantial demand for higher bandwidth, making the 224G per lane configuration essential. Enhanced energy efficiency is equally