- Catherine
- August 26, 2023
- 3:31 am
Subnet manager of switch, subnet manager of OFED, UFM, is there any difference in the number of management nodes of them? Which one is more suitable for clients to choose when deploying?

Harry Collins
Answered on 3:31 am
The switch subnet manager, the OFED subnet manager, and UFM are software that are used to initialize and manage switches and hosts in the InfiniBand network. Their main difference lies in where they run and the scope of their functions.
The switch subnet manager is software that runs on the switch itself. It can automatically discover and configure devices in the network and provide basic network monitoring and diagnostic functions. It does not require additional management nodes, but it also does not support advanced network optimization and security functions.
The OFED subnet manager is software that runs on the host. It can use the subnet management service provided by OpenSM or Mellanox OFED. It can run on multiple hosts, achieving subnet manager redundancy and load balancing. It supports some advanced network functions, such as adaptive routing and congestion control, but it also does not support network security and preventive maintenance functions.
UFM is software that runs on dedicated management nodes. It is NVIDIA’s unified network management platform. It can monitor and manage the InfiniBand network comprehensively, supporting various advanced network functions, such as adaptive routing, congestion control, network security, preventive maintenance, performance analysis, etc. It requires at least one management node and a UFM license.
Which one is more suitable for customers to choose depends on their needs and budgets. If customers only need basic network functions and do not want to add extra management nodes, they can choose the switch subnet manager. If customers need some advanced network functions and already have host nodes, they can choose the OFED subnet manager. If customers need the most comprehensive and advanced network functions and are willing to invest in dedicated management nodes and UFM licenses, they can choose UFM.
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,

How Ethernet Outpaces InfiniBand in AI Networking
Ethernet Challenges InfiniBand’s Dominance InfiniBand dominated high-performance networking in the early days of generative AI due to its superior speed and low latency. However, Ethernet has made significant strides, leveraging

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