NVIDIA SN5600 - 64 x OSFP 800GbE Spectrum-4 Open Ethernet Switch
The NVIDIA SN5600 is the flagship 800GbE model of t...
NVIDIA SN5600 – 64 x OSFP 800GbE Spectrum-4 Open Ethernet Switch
The NVIDIA SN5600 is the flagship 800GbE model of the SN5000 series: a fixed-configuration Open Ethernet switch built on the NVIDIA Spectrum-4 ASIC, providing 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 1 x SFP28 in a 2U form factor. It delivers 51.2 Tbps of switching throughput and processes up to 33.3 Bpps, backed by a 160 MB fully shared packet buffer. The SN5000 class is the Ethernet backbone of NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X AI networking platform, which makes the SN5600 the reference leaf/spine building block for 800G AI cluster fabrics. This page covers the SN5600 model family; each factory part number (OPN) has its own product page linked in the variant table below.
Key Specifications
Ports: 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 1 x SFP28
Port speeds: 10/25/50/100/200/400/800GbE on ports 1-64; 1/10/25GbE on port 65
Throughput: 51.2 Tbps
Packet rate: 33.3 Bpps
Packet buffer: 160 MB, fully shared across all ports
Form factor: 2U, 3.46 x 17.2 x 28.3 in (88 x 438 x 720 mm), 23.5 kg (51.8 lbs)
Power supplies: hot-swappable 3 kW AC PSUs; typical power 940 W (passive cables)
Management processor: Intel Xeon hexa-core (Coffee Lake E-2276ME) with secured boot, 32 GB DDR4, 160 GB SSD
Software: factory builds designate Cumulus Linux – note: software licensing, subscription and support entitlements are not conveyed with refurbished hardware
SN5600 Part Numbers and Variants
SN5000-generation systems use NVIDIA-format part numbers (920-…). Variants differ by airflow direction, power architecture (AC PSUs vs 48VDC busbar on the D models) and factory software designation. Match airflow to your aisle layout and power input to your facility distribution.
920-9N42F-00RI-7C0 – SN5600, Cumulus Linux designation (license not included), C2P airflow (port-side intake, rear exhaust), AC PSUs
920-9N42F-00RI-KC0 – SN5600D, the D-model variant of the same 64 x OSFP 800GbE platform, Cumulus Linux designation (license not included), C2P airflow
Other factory software and airflow builds circulate on the secondary market. If you need a specific OPN that is not listed here, request a quote and we will source it.
SN5600 vs SN5400 vs SN5610
SN5600: 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 1 x SFP28, 51.2 Tbps, typical power 940 W – the 800GbE flagship
SN5610 (920-9N42F-00RI-3C1): 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 2 x SFP28, 51.2 Tbps, typical power 900 W
SN5400 (920-9N42C-00RB-7C0 / 920-9N42C-00FB-7C0): 64 x QSFP56-DD 400GbE + 2 x SFP28, 25.6 Tbps, typical power 670 W – the 400GbE sibling
Choose the SN5600 when the fabric is 800G-native or when you want maximum 400GbE density via breakout from a single 2U system; choose the SN5400 when 400GbE line rate is the design target at lower power.
Port Flexibility and Breakout
Each OSFP 800GbE cage splits to 2 x 400GbE or 4 x 200GbE – up to 128 x 400GbE from one 2U system. Actual modes depend on the installed network OS version and transceivers.
Spectrum-4 Architecture
SN5600 systems are built on the NVIDIA Spectrum-4 switching ASIC with a fully shared, monolithic packet buffer – every port can draw on the entire buffer, which absorbs microbursts and many-to-one incast far better than segmented-buffer designs in the same class. The platform supports RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) for storage and AI east-west traffic, rich telemetry with NVIDIA What Just Happened (WJH) hardware-level visibility, and the Open Ethernet model: the same hardware runs multiple network operating systems, so the fabric is never locked to one vendor stack.
Deployment Scenarios
AI cluster fabrics: the SN5000 class is the Ethernet backbone of NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X AI networking platform – pair with NVIDIA H100 GPUs for GPU cluster builds
800GbE/400GbE spine and super-spine: up to 128 x 400GbE from one 2U system via breakout
High-performance storage fabrics: RoCE with hardware timestamping and nanosecond-level telemetry
SN5600 Price and Availability
Switching of this class is typically project-priced: the delivered cost depends on configuration, optics and cabling, quantity, and lead time, and secondary-market availability of 800G systems changes week to week. Refurbished units price well below new list. For a current SN5600 price, request a quote – a BrightStar specialist will respond with availability, condition and warranty terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a used NVIDIA SN5600 cost?
SN5600-class systems are project-priced rather than list-priced: configuration, optics, quantity and delivery timeline all move the number, and 800G secondary-market supply is still developing. Request a quote for current refurbished pricing – it is typically well below new list for equivalent hardware.
What software does the SN5600 run?
The OPNs on this page designate factory builds with Cumulus Linux, NVIDIA’s Linux-native network OS for automation-driven fabrics. As with all refurbished hardware, software licensing, subscription and support entitlements are not conveyed with refurbished hardware – units are tested on original-spec firmware, factory reset, and configuration wiped. Confirm any OS licensing or support requirements with NVIDIA for your production environment.
What is the difference between the SN5600 and SN5600D?
Both provide 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 1 x SFP28 on the Spectrum-4 ASIC. The D designation marks the data-center D-model build of the platform; within the SN5000 generation, D models differ in power architecture (48VDC busbar rather than AC PSUs). Confirm the power configuration of the specific OPN you are quoting – each variant page states its build.
What airflow directions are available?
The SN5600 OPNs listed here are C2P (connector-to-power) variants: air intake at the connector (port) side, exhaust at the power/fan (rear) side. NVIDIA marks this direction with red handles or dots on the fan and PSU modules. All FRUs in one chassis must share the same airflow direction. Note that NVIDIA’s F/R lettering does not map to other vendors’ conventions – always confirm with the intake/exhaust wording.
What breakout options does the SN5600 support?
Each OSFP 800GbE cage splits to 2 x 400GbE or 4 x 200GbE – up to 128 x 400GbE from one 2U system.
Is a refurbished SN5600 tested before shipping?
Yes. BrightStar Systems inspects and tests every unit on original-spec firmware, performs a factory reset and configuration wipe, and backs it with warranty (1 year end-user / 90 days reseller).
Related NVIDIA SN5000 Series Products
920-9N42F-00RI-3C1 – SN5610 – 64 x OSFP 800GbE + 2 x SFP28
920-9N42C-00RB-7C0 – SN5400 – 64 x QSFP56-DD 400GbE + 2 x SFP28
Browse the full lineup on the NVIDIA Switches category page or the SN5000 Series page.
Refurbished by BrightStar Systems
BrightStar Systems supplies professionally tested refurbished NVIDIA and Mellanox networking hardware. Every unit is inspected, tested on original-spec firmware, factory reset, and configuration wiped before shipment, and backed by our standard warranty. Data center switching of this class is typically project-priced – request a quote for current availability and pricing.
