Rocket 1504D

Datasheet
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PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4x M.2 NVMe Switch AIC

Key Features:

4x M.2 Ports (dedicated x4 lanes per port)

No. of Devices: Up to 4

Bus Interface: PCIe 4.0 x 16

Switch AIC: Robust, Plug & Play NVMe Storage Expansion solution

Natively supported by Mainstream Operating systemsSupports x86 Intel/AMD & ARM Platforms

M.2 SSDs: (2242 / 2260 / 2280)

Product Model	Rocket 1504D Switch AIC
Hardware Features
Bus Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16
Number of Channel / Port	4 x NVMe Ports (Dedicated PCIe 4.0 x4 per port)
Connector Type	M.2
Number of devices	4
SSD Form Factor	M.2 (2242, 2260, 2280)
Data Transfer Rate	32GB/s
External Power Connector	N/A
Toolless SSD Installation	Yes
FRU Support	Yes
Diagnostic LED Support	Disk Active, Disk Fail, Disk Present

Rocket 1504D: Second Generation PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4-M.2 NVMe Switch AIC

The Rocket 1504D is HighPoint’s Second-Generation 4-port M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe Switch AIC, and is capable of delivering up to 32GB/s of transfer bandwidth industry-standard x86 workstation and server platforms via a single PCIe x16 slot, using just four off-the-shelf M.2 SSDs.

The compact all-in-one design directly hosts NVMe media, removing the need for internal drive bays and cabling accessories. The half-length, single-width form factor is ideal for space-constrained computing environments such as industrial workstations, edge platforms and rackmount servers.

Key Features:

4 Independent M.2 Ports
Wide-range of M.2 Form factor Support (2242, 2260, 2280)
Leverages Broadcom’s 48-lane PCIe Gen5 PEX88048 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 4.0 x16 slot: Up to 32GB/s and 6 Millions IOPs using just four NVMe SSDs!

Customizable Firmware Solution for diverse array of storage infrastructure requirements
Natively supported by Mainstream Operating systems; delivers driverless deployment experience
Supports x86 Intel/AMD & ARM Platforms
Firmware-based Diagnostics Capability

Powered by Industry Leading 2nd-Gen PCIe Gen4 Switch Technology

The Rocket 1504D is powered by HighPoint’s 2nd-generation PCIe Gen4 Switching Architecture, which leverages Broadcom’s industry leading PEX88048 IC Switch IC to optimize signal integrity, minimize latency, maximize data transfer speed, and enable the AIC to provide x48 lanes of internal PCIe Gen4 bandwidth. A full x16 lanes are allocated to the upstream connection, and x4 lanes to each M.2 Port; this guarantees that maximum bandwidth is available to each M.2 SSD at all times, enabling the AIC to deliver a class-leading 28GB/s of real-world transfer performance. Learn More About HighPoint PCIe Switching Architecture...

Native, Driverless Mainstream OS Support delivers Seamless Deployment Experience

Rocket 150xD series 2nd-gen PCIe Gen4 NVMe Switch AICs are natively supported by all modern Linux and Windows based operating systems. Engineered to utilize Broadcom’s embedded MPT driver, and the OS’s native NVMe drivers, administrators need only physically install the AIC – no additional software 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

Integrated LCD Indication Alert System.png

Intelligent Self-Diagnostic LEDs & Alarms: The Rocket 1504D 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: Rocket 1504D AICs are field replaceable units (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 1504D 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.

Applications and Use Cases

HighPoint’s second-generation Rocket 1504D is cost-effective, high-performance NVMe storage expansion solution capable of directly hosting up to 32TB of storage capacity at speeds up to 32GB/s in a compact, half-length PCIe AIC form factor; ideal for small form-factor industrial and edge computing environments. Native hardware support by all major operating systems and simple-plug-and-play installation streamline integration and service workflows, enabling clients to add high-performance NVMe storage to any Intel/AMD x86 or ARM platform with a free PCIe Gen4/Gen5 x16 slot.

Media Editing & Content Creation

Use Cases: 4K/8K Editing Platforms, Media Workstations

Benefits: Dedicated x16 bandwidth, proven switch technology and an advanced cooling system ensure M.2 media operates at peak performance.

Edge Computing

Use Cases: Edge Server & Workstation Environments

Benefits: The compact form-factor, Blazing performance, and rapid response time are ideal edge server and workstation applications.

Medical & Scientific

Use Cases: EMS (electron microscopy), MRI/CT scan storage, electronic health records (EHR), & medical research databases

Benefits: Massive bandwidth & capacity support HD imaging systems, rapid access to large files & patient data to enhance diagnostic & research

PCIe Gen5 Solutions

Product	PCIe	Ports	M.2 FF	AIC FF
Rocket 1608A	PCIe 5.0 x16	8	2242 /2260/ 2280	FH-FL
Rocket 1604A	PCIe 5.0 x16	4	2242 /2260 /2280	FH-HL

PCIe Gen4 Solutions

Product	PCIe	Ports	M2 FF	AIC FF
Rocket 1508	PCIe 4.0 x16	8	2242 /2260/ 2280	FH-FL
Rocket 1504	PCIe 4.0 x16	4	2242 /2260/ 2280 / 22110	FH-FL

PCIe Gen3 Solutions

Product	Ports	M.2 FF	AIC FF	PCIe
Rocket 1108A	8	2242 /2260/ 2280	FH-FL	PCIe 3.0 x16
Rocket 1104	4	2242 /2260/ 2280 / 22110	FH-FL	PCIe 3.0 x16
Rocket 1204	4	2242 /2260/ 2280 / 22110	FH-FL	PCIe 3.0 x8