Broadcom: First Ethernet switch chip with 102.4 Tbit/s

With a data transfer rate of 102.4 Tbit/s, the Tomahawk 6 is the world's fastest Ethernet switch chip to date. High transfer performance is crucial for the coupling of AI servers. Broadcom is thus digging out the hatchet against Nvidia, which has been selling its network products since the Mellanox takeover, preferably in the form of complete servers.

Depending on the configuration, the chip can connect to 1024 ports with 100 Gbit/s each or 512 ports with 200 Gbit/s each. If maximum speed is required, 1.6 Tbit/s each on 64 ports is also possible. Broadcom promises that one million accelerators can be linked together in large data centers via numerous Tomahawk 6 switches. Several data centers with around 100,000 accelerators and Broadcom hardware are already planned, according to the announcement.

Optional optics

As standard, the Tomahawk 6 is designed for connections via copper cable. However, for networks that require optical connections, Broadcom also supplies the chip with so-called co-packaged optics (CPO) as an option. Next to the actual chip switch are chiplets that convert optical signals into electrical signals to connect several servers via fiber optics. This reduces power consumption and latency in server operation. The Tomahawk 6 series also supports functions of the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC), to which Broadcom belongs.

All configurations include the so-called Cognitive Routing 2.0. Congestion control, network telemetry, load control and error detection are well-known in network technology, but according to Broadcom, they can be tailored to the growing requirements of AI hyperscalers with the help of smart AI routing.

As usual in the industry, the manufacturer is not commenting on general availability and prices.

(aki)