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PCIe 5.0 x16 8x M.2 NVMe Switch AIC
Key Features:
8x M.2 Ports (dedicated x4 lanes per port)
No. of Devices: Up to 8
Bus Interface: PCIe 5.0 x16
Switch AIC: Robust, Plug & Play NVMe Storage Expansion solution
Natively supported by Mainstream Operating systems
Supports x86 Intel/AMD & ARM Platforms
M.2 SSDs: 2242, 2260, 2280
Robust, Compact, All-in-one PCIe Gen5 M.2 NVMe Connectivity Solution for x86/AMD industrial and edge platforms
HighPoint's Rocket 1608A 8-Channel NVMe Switch AIC is an ultra-compact high-density, M.2 NVMe SSD connectivity solution capable of delivering up to 60GB/s of real-world transfer speed and 12 Million IOPs for Industrial and Edge computing environments. The robust, small-footprint AIC form factor directly hosts M.2 NVMe media, and can be easily integrated into any industry standard x86 Intel/AMD server or workstation with a free PCIe x16 slot, including compact industrial platforms and rackmount chassis.
The Rocket 1608A leverages Broadcom’s industry-leading PEX89048 PCIe Gen5 PCIe Switch IC to maximize the speed, reliability and scalability of M.2 storage configurations, providing a full x16 lanes of upstream bandwidth and x4 lanes to each M.2 port; ideal for performance-hungry data-intensive applications including high-speed data acquisition, virtualization services and AI/ML workflows.
Key Features:
8 Independent M.2 Ports
Wide-range of M.2 Form factor Support (2242, 2260, 2280)
Leverages Broadcom’s 48-lane PCIe Gen5 PEX89048 PCIe Switch IC:
• Ensures the fastest, densest downstream connectivity possible
• Optimizes signal integrity & stability, and minimizes latency
Designed to maximize performance & connectivity density per PCIe 5.0 x16 slot: nearly 60GB/s and 12 Millions IOPs
Customizable Firmware Solutions for Gen5 AICs
Natively supported by Mainstream Operating systems; delivers driverless deployment experience
Robust, flexible & scalable; Tailor speed & capacity for the deployment & infrastructure requirements of each Application/Workflow
Supports Multi-AICs Configurations: 2 or more AICs can coexist in a single workstation or server
Supports x86 Intel/AMD & ARM Platforms
Powered by Industry Proven PCIe Switching Technology
The Rocket 1608A is engineered to maximize the potential of each available PCIe x16 slot to deliver peak performance and superior storage connectivity. Each AIC leverages Broadcom’s industry-leading x48-Lane PCIe Switch ICs to optimize signal integrity, minimize latency and provide the fastest, densest downstream port connectivity possible in a single-slot device. Learn More...
Native, Driverless Mainstream OS Support delivers Seamless Deployment Experience
Rocket 1608A AICs are natively supported by all modern Linux and Windows based operating systems, and utilize Broadcom’s embedded MPT driver, and the OS’s native NVMe drivers. Administrators need only physically install the AIC – no software installation or unique management suite is required.
HighPoint PCIe/NVMe Switch storage solutions are universally compatible with all modern operating systems, including Microsoft Windows/Windows Server, Azure and Hyper-V, and Linux distributions such as RHEL, Debian, Ubuntu, & Rocky Linux.
M.2 media hosted by the AIC will be automatically recognized by these platforms, and can be formatted and partitioned using the default storage interface or SDS (software defined storage) application of choice.
In addition, native OS compatibility significantly streamlines service and maintenance sessions as support for the hardware is already embedded directly into each OS.
Advanced Field Service Feature Suite
Intelligent Self-Diagnostic LEDs & Alarms: The Rocket 1608A features Built-In Early Warning LED Indicators and Audible Alarms. Simple color coding and light/sound patterns enable administrators to instantly asses the status of hosted NVMe media, the strength of the PCIe connection, and temperature of the PCIe switch hardware.
FRU (Field Replicable Unit) Support: The Rocket 1608A is a field replaceable unit (FRU); the VPD stored on each adapter enables customers and service providers to easily procure replacements with the correct firmware/driver combination.
HighPoint MPT Utility: HighPoint’s MPT Utility offers advanced real-time monitoring and diagnostic services for each Switch Adapter.
Advanced Cooling Solution
Rocket 1608A AICs are equipped with a powerful, ultra-efficient hardware cooling solution comprised of an anodized aluminum heatsink with an integrated low-decibel cooling fan, multiple layers of high-efficiency thermal padding, and a ventilated PCIe bracket. The solution rapidly transfers waste heat away from the hosted M.2 media and Switch chipset, and keep the performance-sapping threat of thermal throttling at bay.
Flexible Multi-AIC Configurations
Provided there are two or more free PCIe x16 slots, as many as four NVMe Switch AICs can coexist within a single platform. Operating systems will recognize each AIC as a distinct device, and is capable of operating independently. Configurable in single or multi-AIC/Adapter deployments, HighPoint NVMe Switch solutions offer unmatched flexibility in design and performance optimization.
HighPoint P2P Solutions: Direct PCIe Data Pathways
HighPoint's PCIe Peer-to-Peer (P2P) architecture enables compatible devices such as NVMe storage and GPUs to exchange data directly across the PCIe fabric, reducing unnecessary transfers through system memory and the CPU.
For supported NVIDIA platforms, GPUDirect Storage (GDS) extends this architecture by enabling direct data transfers from NVMe storage to GPU memory. This can reduce latency and CPU overhead while improving GPU utilization for demanding AI, HPC, media, and data-intensive workloads.
Applications & Use Cases
The Rocket 1608A NVMe Switch AIC's state-of-the-art PCIe Gen5 Switch Architecture and eight independent M.2 ports enable customers to maximize the performance, scalability and reliability of M.2 storage configurations.
Native OS support and plug-and-play installation streamlines deployment and service workflows, enabling customers to seamlessly integrate Gen5 storage performance into any x86/AMD platform with a free PCIe 5.0 x16 slot; ideal for data-intensive, high-speed workflows including SDS, Virtualization Servers and Edge computing platforms.
This versatility makes the Rocket 1608A an ideal choice for IT environments that require rapid, flexible, and high-density storage expansion solutions.
Virtualization & Cloud Computing
Use Cases: Cloud Computing & Virtual Machine hosting
Benefits: Speeds up to 12 million IOPS, 4 to 8 independent M.2 Ports, and Native Linux & Windows support are ideal for VM platforms and Cloud Storage Services.
Edge Computing
Use Cases: Industrial Platforms, Edge Server & Workstations
Benefits: Native hardware support simplifies service & upgrade workflows, and the low-profile form-factor is ideal for compact rack-mount chassis.
