HighPoint External CopprLink PCIe Architecture: The New Breakthrough for Disaggregated AI & HPC Overview Resources Partners Products HighPoint External CopprLink PCIe Architecture: The New Breakthrough for Disaggregated AI & HPC Native Gen5 x16 Performance. Standardized CopprLink Connectivity. Scalable 2-Meter Reach. Uncompromising Native Performance HighPoint External CopprLink PCIe Architecture is built upon the PCI-SIG CopprLink (CDFP) specification (SFF-TA-1032), providing a truly vendor-neutral hardware environment for the next generation of data center infrastructure.This architecture provides a seamless, high-performance bridge between three critical points: The Host: Intelligent Switching/Retimer Adapters The Pathway: Gen5 x16 CopprLink Cabling The Node: Active, Retimer/ Switching-equipped Expansion Enclosures. By adhering to this open industry standard, our architecture effectively addresses the most stringent requirements of high-TDP accelerators. For the first time, architects can confidently configure external PCIe devices—from NVIDIA H200 GPUs to massive NVMe arrays—without the performance compromises of proprietary or "tunneled" protocols. HighPoint’s active signal management ensures that even at a 2-meter cable length , you receive dedicated, uncompromised PCIe Gen5 x16 bandwidth (64GB/s) to ensure your external resources operate as if they were seated directly on the host motherboard. How CopprLink™ Transforms Your Target Applications The shift to disaggregated server nodes is no longer a luxury; it is a thermal and power necessity. CopprLink provides the standardized "Fabric Backbone" required for: AI/ML Training: Offload high-TDP GPUs to external enclosures to optimize thermal management without introducing latency bottlenecks. HPC & Scientific Modeling: Create a direct, high-bandwidth pathway between compute nodes and massive external datasets. Media & Entertainment: Deliver sustained 64GB/s throughput for real-time 8K/12K uncompressed video production and rendering. Disaggregated Storage: Connect external NVMe JBOF arrays with native driver support and zero protocol overhead. Introducing HighPoint External CopprLink PCIe Gen5 Adapters Engineered as the "Host Anchor" for your external fabric, the Rocket 7 series provides industry-leading switching and connectivity. Rack-Scale Compute Expansion: Extend Your PCIe Fabric with High-Fidelity, External Gen5 Connectivity As AI and HPC workloads scale, they often outgrow the physical, thermal, and power limitations of a single server chassis. HighPoint’s Gen5 External and Hybrid CopprLink™ Adapters are engineered to bridge this gap, extending your high-speed switching fabric beyond the box without sacrificing a single nanosecond of performance. RocketStor 763x Series Adapters utilize the industry-standard CopprLink™ (SFF-TA-1016/CDFP) interface, and are capable of delivering the fastest external connectivity available in today’s marketplace. By maintaining a pure PCIe Gen5 signal at 32 GT/s, they allow for "Chassis-Agnostic" compute—enabling external GPU racks and FPGA clusters to operate as if they were seated directly on the host motherboard. The Advantage of External Switching: Composable Infrastructure Traditional external PCIe expansion often relies on complex, high-latency bridging protocols. HighPoint’s approach is different; our proven 48-lane PCIe Gen5 switching architecture ensures that the external connection is a transparent extension of the PCIe bus. Dedicated Gen5 x16 Per Port: Unlike standard expanders that share bandwidth across multiple outputs, each CDFP/CopprLink port provides a dedicated x16 bus. This ensures maximum throughput for every connected accelerator, even when all ports are under 100% load. Seamless Direct P2P: Maintain Point-to-Point I/O between internal accelerators and external expansion units, bypassing the host CPU to eliminate latency. Industry-Leading Signal Integrity: Designed specifically for the rigorous electrical demands of Gen5, our adapters use premium CDFP/CopprLink connectors to prevent signal degradation over distance. Unified Management: Manage both internal and external compute resources as a single, cohesive fabric through our integrated switching logic. Seamless Plug & Play Deployment - supported by Native PCIe Bus Drivers: due to strict adherence to industry-standard PCIe protocols, these adapters are inherently Plug & Play across all mainstream operating systems (Windows, Linux, and macOS). This support is not limited to storage; any PCIe device—from GPUs and FPGAs to high-speed NICs—will be recognized and managed by the OS immediately, ensuring seamless integration into any professional environment. The Product Lineup: External & Hybrid Specialization Rocket 7638D – The Versatile Hybrid Bridge Interface: 1x x16 External CopprLink™ + 2x x8 Internal MCIO Ports Throughput: A flexible 48-lane distribution for simultaneous internal and external I/O. Target Application: The ideal solution for architects who need to manage an internal boot array or accelerator while simultaneously connecting to an external Gen5 compute enclosure from a single PCIe slot. Rocket 7634D – Precision External Gateway Interface: 1x x16 External CopprLink™ (CDFP) Port Throughput: Dedicated Gen5 x16 path to a single external node. Target Application: Optimized for professional workstations and mobile HPC rigs requiring a high-integrity link to a single external eGPU or FPGA enclosure. Feature Rocket 7634D Rocket 7638D Connectivity Pure External Host Link Hybrid Internal/External Link Interface PCIe Gen5 x16 PCIe Gen5 x16 Connectors 1x External CDFP (CopprLink™) 1x External CDFP + 2x Internal MCIO Throughput Dedicated 64GB/s Dedicated 64GB/s (CDFP) + Scalable NVMe Best For External GPU/Accelerator Nodes Direct GPU-to-NVMe Fabric Solutions Compatibility x86 (Intel/AMD) & ARM x86 (Intel/AMD) & ARM NVMe-over-Fabric (Ethernet: RoCE & TCP) Why Choose CopprLink for AI and HPC? For today's enterprise grade PCIe devices and accelerators, connection is critical. HighPoint’s adoption of the CopprLink standard provides several key advantages for IT experts: Low Insertion Loss: Engineered for the 32 GT/s requirements of Gen5, ensuring the PCIe clock signal remains stable without the need for expensive, high-latency active cabling in most standard rack distances. High-Retention Connectivity: CDFP/CopprLink connectors are designed for enterprise environments, offering secure, vibration-resistant latching that prevents accidental disconnects in dense rack configurations. Future-Proof Standardization: As an industry-standard interface (SNIA SFF-TA-1016), CopprLink ensures compatibility with a growing ecosystem of Gen5 enclosures and devices, and is future-proofed for the advent of PCIe Gen 6. Versatile Cable Design - the Robust CDFP/CopprLink cables are available in lenghts up to 2M to ease deployment and integration The HighPoint CopprLink Ecosystem A standard is only as strong as its ecosystem. HighPoint provides a "whole-body" solution to ensure your Gen5 signal remains clean from the CPU to the Device. The Brain (Adapter): Rocket 7600 Series Host Links with Broadcom switching technology to isolate and manage I/O. The Nervous System (Cabling): Certified Gen5 x16 CopprLink-CDFP) cables ensure signal integrity up to 2 meters. The Muscle (Expansion Chassis): RocketStor 8631D Enclosures featuring integrated Astera Labs active retimers to regenerate the signal at the endpoint. Open for OEM & Custom Enclosure Projects HighPoint is more than a vendor; we are a strategic partner. Our External Active PCIe Architecture is designed for rapid integration into specialized OEM platforms. We provide: Verified Hardware: Pre-validated Switching and Retimer configurations. Firmware Customization: Tailored BIOS/Firmware to meet unique system handshake and timing requirements. Expert Technical Support: Direct access to our engineering teams to accelerate your time-to-market. Learn More: Contact Us Directly CopprLink™: The New Standardized Language of Gen5 Connectivity PCIe Disaggregation 101: Why the Server Chassis is Shrinking The 3 Pillars of HighPoint’s External CopprLink™ Architecture Passive vs. Active: Why Signal Integrity is the Silent Performance Killer Resources News Introduction: The Gen5 Power Gap HighPoint Accelerates the Post-VMware Era: Dual-Track NVMe Solutions Optimized for Microsoft Hyper-V, S2D, and Proxmox Enterprise Clusters Passive vs. Active: Why Signal Integrity is the Silent Performance Killer PCIe Disaggregation 101: Why the Server Chassis is Shrinking CopprLink: The New Standardized Language of Gen5 Connectivity The 3 Pillars of HighPoint’s External CopprLink™ Architecture HighPoint Pioneers the Future of Composable Computing with the Industry’s First PCIe® 5.0 External Fabric Powered by PCI-SIG® CopprLink™ Technology Breaking the PCIe Bottleneck: HighPoint’s PCIe Switch Adapters Redefine System Scalability Why HighPoint PCIe Switch Adapters Require No Device Driver: The Transparent Bridge Advantage Breaking the Server Chassis Barrier: The Rise of Composable GPU Infrastructure Breaking the Box: Why Your Gen5 Performance Benchmark Must Now consider your platforms External PCIe Fabric Rocket 7638D – The Foundational Platform for GPU-Direct NVMe Dataflow Signal Integrity Solved: Why Astera Labs Gen5 Retimers are Mandatory for External x16 Bandwidth HighPoint Launches Rocket 7634D — Industry’s First Independent PCIe Gen5 External CDFP Host Interface Card Why HighPoint NVMe RAID Technology Focuses on 0, 1 and 10 Why Your Gen5 HIC Must Be PCI-SIG CopprLink: The Rocket 7634D's Ecosystem Advantage The Essential Host Bridge: The Rocket 7634D's Value Proposition for Composable AI and HPC Infrastructure Why HighPoint NVMe RAID Technology Focuses on 0, 1 and 10 HighPoint and Graid Technology Announce Breakthrough Gen5 Parity Storage Benchmark for AI, HPC, and Data-Intensive Workloads Shared PCIe Bandwidth Bottlenecks: Why More Lanes Don’t Always Mean More Performance Introduction Unleashing AI Performance with HighPoint’s Rocket 7638D: Direct GPU-to-NVMe Data Pathways mean Faster Training and Inference Exploring PCIe Expansion Technology: What External PCIe Expansion Solutions are available in today’s marketplace? HighPoint Unlocks NVIDIA GPU Power: Introduces Industry’s First Hardware Architecture for GPU-Direct NVMe Storage HighPoint NVMe Switch Adapters and Systems from our Partners PCIe Switch Adapter Product Lines Product Image PCle Ports of Devices Hot-Swap SSD FF Rocket 7634D PCIe 5.0 x16 1x CDFP 1x CopprLink Device n/a Supports CopprLink compliant NVMe enclosures Rocket 7638D PCIe 5.0 x16 1 x CDFP; 2 x MCIO 8x Up to 16x NVMe SSDs / 1x eGPU Yes (MCIO ports) Direct Connect U.2/U.3/E3.S; Backplane Connection: ESDFF devices such as U.2/U.3/E1.S/E3.S

HighPoint PCIe Gen5 Retimer AIC solutions deliver lossless signal integrity, enabling high-density AI accelerators and NVMe storage for enterprise and edge servers. Overview Resources Product PCIe Gen5 Retimer AIC Solutions for AI & Enterprise The Backbone for High-Performance AI Accelerators & Mission-Critical Storage For workflows that depend on PCIe Gen5 connectivity, speed is no longer the only challenge—Signal Integrity is the new frontier. As AI architects push for higher densities and remote storage architectures, standard passive expansion solutions are hitting a physical wall. HighPoint’s new breed of Retimer-based PCIe Expansion solutions are engineered to bridge the gap between raw CPU power and high-density AI accelerators or NVMe storage. The Gold Standard for Gen5 Signal Integrity: Why Retimer Technology is Mandatory At PCIe Gen5 speeds of 32GT/s, signal integrity is the heartbeat of AI performance. As data travel distances increase, the margin for error disappears. HighPoint’s Retimer-based AICs move beyond simple "pass-through" connectivity by providing Active Signal Conditioning. This ensures that Gen5 devices—whether mounted directly on the board or situated remotely via MCIO/SlimSAS cabling—receive a pristine, full-bandwidth link. Rocket 1604L - 4x M.2 HighPoint Gen5x16 Active Retimer Arhitecture Direct Gen5 x16 CPU Connectivity Leverages a full PCIe Gen5 x16 host interface with required x4/x4/x4/x4 CPU bifurcation. Direct Lane Mapping: Each onboard M.2 device receives a dedicated Gen5 x4 lane. True Parallel Architecture: Eliminates shared-bandwidth bottlenecks and nearly Zero PHY-Level latency Near-Zero-Latency Execution: Native CPU-driven connectivity for maximum throughput. Active Signal Conditioning – Retimer Engine At 32GT/s speeds, signal integrity is critical. The integrated Advanced Retimer Engine ensures stable Gen5 performance. Signal Regeneration: Re-clocks and restores weakened I/O signals. Jitter & Loss Compensation: Eliminates insertion loss from PCB traces or cabling. Bit-Perfect Distribution: Delivers clean Gen5 signals to all 4x M.2 ports — including remote MCIO-connected devices. Smart Firmware Intelligence Layer Unlike passive adapters, the Rocket 1604L features onboard management firmware providing real-time system insight: Power Monitoring: Per-device wattage visibility for rack-level optimization. Lane Verification: Confirms each device negotiates full Gen5 x4 speed. Thermal Telemetry: Real-time board and slot temperature monitoring to prevent throttling. FRU Module (Field Replaceable Unit) The Roxket 1604L feature an FRU Module to streamline maintenance and service workflows. It stores Vital Product Data (VPD), including the AICs hardware revision and firmware history to ensure seamless replacement while minimizing dowtime for the host server. The Core Advantages for AI & Enterprise Architects Zero-Loss Signal Integrity: Unlike passive cards, our Retimer series re-clocks the data. This allows for stable performance even when using MCIO/SlimSAS cables to connect to remote PCIe slots. Thermal Headroom for AI Workloads: AI accelerators and Gen5 NVMe drives generate immense heat. Our "Pro-Class" cooling architecture prevents thermal throttling, maintaining peak IOPS during heavy training cycles. Dense Form Factor (The 40% Advantage): By optimizing the PCB layout, we’ve achieved a board length 40% shorter than the industry average, fitting into compact 2U AI Edge servers where others cannot. Autonomous Monitoring: Integrated smart firmware provides real-time telemetry on lane status, power draw, and thermal health—essential for server-class uptime. AI and Storage Applications Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 (The Primary Target) Zero-Latency Vision Inspection for High-Speed Production In factory settings, space is expensive, and vibrations/heat are constant. Focus: Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and Defect Detection. Why opt for the Rocket 1604L: High-speed assembly lines move too fast for cloud processing. Manufacturers need 4x M.2 accelerators (like Axelera) in a single short-depth server. The Retimer ensures that the high-resolution image data from cameras reaches the AI modules without a single dropped frame, even in "noisy" electrical environments. Intelligent Transportation & Smart Cities Compact Intelligence for Urban Mobility Infrastructure. This involves processing hundreds of data streams at the "Far Edge" (roadside cabinets or inside vehicles). Focus: Real-time Traffic Management and Autonomous Fleet Operations. Why opt for the Rocket 1604L: Roadside enclosures are tiny and reach high temperatures. A standard 4-port AIC is too long to fit. Your 167mm card fits perfectly, and the active cooling ensures the AI modules don't throttle while analyzing 4K traffic feeds for accident detection. Healthcare & Digital Pathology Sovereign AI Infrastructure for Real-Time Clinical Insights. Modern medical imaging generates massive files that require instant AI analysis at the bedside or in a local clinic. Focus: AI-Assisted Diagnostics (Radiology/Pathology). Why opt for the Rocket 1604L: Privacy laws (HIPAA/GDPR) often prevent sending medical images to the cloud. Hospitals need "Mini-Datacenters" in the closet. The Rocket 1604L allows them to pack high-TOPS AI modules into quiet, 1U/2U short-depth servers that sit right next to the MRI or CT scanner. High-Security Surveillance & Public Safety High-Integrity Signal Paths for Mission-Critical Security Large-scale venues (airports, stadiums) need to scan for threats across dozens of cameras simultaneously. Focus: Multi-Channel Video Analytics (Behavioral & Facial Recognition). Why opt for the Rocket 1604L: Feeding 16+ camera streams into AI requires a massive "Data Feeder." The 1604L's Retimer technology ensures that even if the AI modules are cabled via MCIO to a cooler part of the rack, the signal integrity is preserved, preventing the "stuttering" that can cause a security system to miss a critical event. Energy & Remote Infrastructure (Oil, Gas, Wind) Self-Aware Connectivity for Unattended Edge AI Deployment. Monitoring remote assets for "Predictive Maintenance" using vibration and thermal sensors Focus: Anomaly Detection at the Far Edge. Why opt for the Rocket 1604L: These systems are often "headless" and located in harsh environments. HighPoint’s Smart Firmware Telemetry is the selling point here—allowing remote engineers to check the "Health and Lane Status" of the AI accelerators from thousands of miles away. Resources News Architectural Flexibility: High-Density Integration Without Limits HighPoint Unveils High-Performance Gen5 AI Compute Platform for Ultra-High Inference Throughput Empowered by Hailo HighPoint Rocket 1604L has earned PCMasters Gold Award earing high marks for its excellent performance, professional design & sophisticated cooling system. Disaggregating the Data Center: Designing Remote Gen5 NVMe Arrays with MCIO The “Gen5 M.2 Slot deficit” in AI & HPC: Why Retimer-Based Expansion is the New Standard HighPoint Announces Rocket 1604L: The World’s Most Compact PCIe Gen5 x16 Retimer AIC for AI and Industrial Edge 40% Smaller, 2x Longer Reach: Optimizing 1U Edge Servers for Gen5 AI The Signal Integrity Revolution: Inside HighPoint’s Gen5 x16 Retimer Architecture Building the "Swiss Army Knife" of Edge AI: Modular Compute with M.2 AIPUs HighPoint NVMe Switch Adapters and Systems from our Partners M.2 NVMe Retimer AIC Product Lines NVMe Retimer AIC Product Image PCIe Ports M2 FF Rocket 1604L PCIe 5.0 x16 4 2242 /2260/ 2280

Redefining Server Density: HighPoint MCIO PCIe Gen5 Expansion Solutions Overview Resources Partners Products Redefining Server Density: HighPoint MCIO PCIe Gen5 Expansion Solutions Unleash the Full Potential of GPUs and FPGAs with an Intelligent Internal Fabric For modern AI training and High-Performance Computing (HPC) platforms, the internal PCIe architecture is often a "silent killer" of application performance, especially for demanding AI, HPC and real-time edge computing workflows Standard motherboard designs force data through the CPU root complex, creating bottlenecks that starve high-speed accelerators. HighPoint’s MCIO PCIe Gen5 x16 Expansion Adapters are designed for IT architects who refuse to compromize I/O performance in space-constrained environments. By leveraging Mini Cool Edge IO (MCIO) cabling and sophisticated PCIe switching, we’ve decoupled the physical PCIe slot from the motherboard, enabling a modular, high-performance approach to system design. The HighPoint Advantage: Intelligent PCIe Switching Architecture At the heart of our solution is a sophisticated 48-Lane PCIe Gen5 Switching Architecture . This isn't just a physical bridge; it's an intelligent management layer that optimizes data flow at the hardware level. Integrated ARM Processing Unit: The switch architecture utilizes a dedicated onboard ARM processor to independently manage Gen5 lanes and resource control. By offloading these management tasks from the host platform, the adapter eliminates CPU overhead, ensuring the system's processors can focus entirely on your primary application logic. Native PCIe OS Support (Plug & Play): A critical advantage for IT deployment is that HighPoint switching architecture is supported by Native PCIe Bus Drivers. Because it adheres to industry-standard PCIe protocols, it is inherently Plug & Play across all mainstream operating system platforms (Windows, Linux, and macOS). This support is not limited to storage; any PCIe device—from GPUs and FPGAs to high-speed NICs—will be automatically recognized and managed by the OS, ensuring seamless integration into any professional environment. Intelligent Resource Allocation: The internal switching fabric allows for configurable lane allocation for each MCIO port, ensuring your most bandwidth-hungry devices receive a dedicated, non-blocking path. Three Pillar Configurations for Industrial Mastery HighPoint's MCIO ecosystem is engineered to solve the three most critical challenges in modern system design: 1. Unmatched PCIe Expansion Connectivity Server chassis are getting smaller while performance demands are getting larger. HighPoint MCIO adapters allow a single PCIe x16 slot to be broken out into multiple high-density MCIO links. This enables IT architects to build high-density I/O nodes—supporting multiple accelerators or massive NVMe storage clusters—that would normally require a much larger, more expensive server footprint. 2. Direct P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Communication In traditional architectures, data moving between two PCIe devices (e.g., multiple GPUs) must often "bounce" through the CPU, increasing latency and taxing system memory. HighPoint’s switching fabric enables Direct P2P connectivity , allowing devices to communicate directly across the adapter's internal switch. This bypasses the CPU entirely, slashing latency for time-sensitive applications like HFT or real-time signal processing. 3. Horizontal Mounting & Spatial Optimization Vertical space is at a premium in 1U and 2U industrial servers. Standard riser cards are often rigid and obstruct airflow. HighPoint’s MCIO-PCIEX16-G5 Bridge Cards allow PCIe cards to be mounted horizontally . By using flexible MCIO cabling (supporting lengths up to 1 meter), you can position full-height PCIe devices anywhere within the chassis, optimizing thermal management and fitting high-performance hardware into slimline enclosures. The Product Spotlight: The Internal Powerhouses Our internal adapters utilize high-density MCIO (Mini Cool Edge IO) and SlimSAS interconnects to provide the cleanest signal path possible for Gen5 and Gen4 speeds. Rocket 1628A – The Gen5 Internal Flagship Interface: 4x Gen5 x8 MCIO Ports Throughput: Supports up to 64GB/s of aggregate bandwidth Target Application: Designed for high-density AI servers/workstations that require multilpe Gen5 paths for top-teir GPUs and FGPAs Rocket 1624A – Balanced Gen5 Compute Interface: 2x Gen5 x8 MCIO Ports Throughput: OPtimized for dual accelerator configurations Target Application: Ideal for compact 2U server nodes or specialized compute modules where dual-device synchronization is critical Rocket 1528D – Proven High-Speed, High-Density Soluton for Gen4 Platforms Interface: 2x Gen4 x8 SlimSAS Ports Throughput: Delivers up to 32GB/s for legacy and mid-tier clusters. Target: The industry standard for FPGA signal processing clusters and high-performance PCIe Gen4 expansion environments. The HighPoint MCIO Series: Technical Specifications Model Host Interface Downstream Ports Max Transfer Rate Best For Rocket 1628A PCIe 5.0 x16 4x MCIO x8 64GB/s Maximum I/O density & Storage Rocket 1624A PCIe 5.0 x16 2x MCIO x8 64GB/s High-speed P2P Networking Rocket 1528D PCIe 4.0 x16 4x MCIO x8 32GB/s Cost-effective Gen4 expansion MCIO-PCIEX16-G5 N/A (Bridge) 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 64GB/s Horizontal card mounting The MCIO-PCIEX16-G5 Expansion Bridge Card is the "missing link" for custom chassis designers. It transforms two MCIO x8 links back into a physical PCIe x16 slot, providing the freedom to place high-power peripherals anywhere in the enclosure where cooling is most efficient. Why IT Experts Recommend HighPoint PCIe Switching Adapters? Expert Insight: The move to Gen5 is not just about the port speed; it's about the switching logic behind the port. HighPoint's 48-lane architecture ensures that the host interface never starves the downstream accelerators, which is the single most common failure point in DIY AI server builds. Platform Agnostic: Works with Intel, AMD, and ARM-based platforms without requiring complex BIOS bifurcation settings. Signal Integrity: Every adapter is engineered to meet strict PCIe Gen5 electrical specifications, ensuring 100% link stability under full load. Ecosystem Ready: Designed to work seamlessly with HighPoint MCIO to PCIe Modular Boards for flexible physical placement of accelerators within the chassis. 05-50164-02, Broadcom 9700W-32I , 9700W-32I Resources News Inside Gen5 Switch Fabric - How to Solve PCIe Gen5 Host Bottlenecks with Autonomous Switch Architecture Architecture of the Edge: Redefining Connectivity with HighPoint Gen5 PCIe Switching HighPoint Accelerates the Post-VMware Era: Dual-Track NVMe Solutions Optimized for Microsoft Hyper-V, S2D, and Proxmox Enterprise Clusters The Latency War The Edge Computing Puzzle The PCIe Bottleneck Crisis The PCIe Bottleneck Crisis Why HighPoint PCIe Switch Adapters Require No Device Driver: The Transparent Bridge Advantage Breaking the PCIe Bottleneck: HighPoint’s PCIe Switch Adapters Redefine System Scalability HighPoint Announces Full Validation of PCIe Gen5 NVMe Storage Expansion Adapters with ScaleFlux CSD5310 Series Enterprise SSDs HighPoint Launches Rocket 1624A – PCIe Gen5 Switch Adapter Delivering Unmatched Flexibility for PCIe & NVMe Expansion HighPoint MCIO Connectivity Solutions: Engineered for High-Speed, Scalable PCIe Gen5 NVMe and GPU Expansion HighPoint Rocket 1628A & Rocket 1528D Adapters Deliver Single-Slot NVMe + PCIe Expansion! HighPoint PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Switch Adapters Unlocks True PCIe Scalability to Revolutionize AI, GPU, and Edge Server Storage HighPoint Announces Comprehensive UBM/VPP Support for PCIe Gen5 and 2nd-Gen Gen4 NVMe Adapter Families in Enterprise Server Environments HighPoint Unveils NVMe Boot RAID AIC Family: The Ultimate Alternative to Intel VROC HighPoint PCIe Switching Solutions: Revolutionizing PCIe Expansion & M.2 Acceleration Unlock GPU Scalability for AI & ADAS—Expand Beyond PCIe Limits with HighPoint HighPoint and Xinnor Unite to Deliver Gen5Enterprise-Class RAID 5 & 6 StoragePerformance Excellence Introducing HighPoint's Gen5 NVMe Switch & RAID AICs and Adapters Exploring the Powerhouse: A Deep Dive into PCIe Lane Values of PCIe... Mastering NVMe Hot-plug: Navigating Challenges and Ensuring Safe Removal Unlock true Gen5 performance with Gen4 NVMe Drives – Save Big while Doubling Your Performance Potential Introducing HighPoint’s NVMe Switch Gen5 & Gen4 x16 AIC and Adapter Series: Unleashing Native NVMe Connectivity for Modern Workstations and Servers Technologies is set to Unveil a Series of Industry’ Firsts with the Launch of their PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Storage Solutions at FMS 2024 HighPoint NVMe Switch Adapters and Systems from our Partners MCIO & CopprLink Adapter Product Lines PCIe Gen5 Solutions Product Image PCle Ports # of Devices Cabling Rocket 7634D PCIe 5.0 x16 1x CDFP 1x CopprLink Device n/a Rocket 7638D PCIe 5.0 x16 1 x CDFP; 2 x MCIO 8x Up to 16x NVMe SSDs / 1x eGPU Yes (MCIO ports) Rocket 1624A PCIe 5.0 x16 2x MCIO 8x Up to 16 Yes Rocket 1628A PCIe 5.0 x16 4x MCIO 8x Up to 32 Yes

An Architectural Deep-Dive into Autonomous PCIe Management In our previous post, we discussed how Standard Motherboard Architecture can impose severe bottlenecks on high-end PCIe Gen5 device configurations, crippling their performance potential and reducing your ROI. However, even if you are able to solve the physical layout conundrum, you’re still left with a logical problem: How do you manage the I/O traffic? In a traditional system, the host CPU acts as the "Traffic Cop" for every single PCIe transaction. Every time a GPU requests data or an NVMe drive flushes a cache, the CPU has to intervene. In the world of Gen5, where data moves at 32GT/s, this "CPU-centric" model creates a massive logical bottleneck. The solution isn't just a bigger pipeline; it’s a smarter pipeline. The Core Hardware: PCIe Switching Architecture HighPoint’s Rocket 1600 Series Switch Adapters utilize Broadcom’s proven PEX89048, a 48-lane PCIe Gen5 switch IC. This combination represents far more than a passive splitter. This switch introduces a novel concept known as Synthetic Hierarchy. 1. The Onboard ARM "Traffic Director" Unlike standard expansion cards, HighPoint Rocket 1600 adapters feature a dedicated ARM Processing Unit, integrated directly into the PCIe switching fabric. Autonomous Management: The ARM core handles lane training, link equalization, and power states independently of the host CPU. The Key Benefit: Offloading these low-level handshakes to the switch hardware means the host CPU (the "Brain" of your server) is never interrupted by I/O maintenance. You get more compute cycles for your AI models or databases because the hardware is managing itself. 2. "Synthetic Hierarchy" – The Secret to Stability In a conventional server architecture, if a PCIe link fluctuates or a drive is hot-swapped, the host OS can "panic" or hang as it tries to re-enumerate the entire bus. HighPoint’s Synthetic Hierarchy acts as a logical shield. The host OS only sees a single, stable "Transparent Bridge." The switch adapter handles all the complex downstream mapping internally. Whether you are working with NVMe drives or PCIe devices, this approach ensures that the system remains rock-solid and deterministic. Use Case Summary Feature Conventional Architecture Synthetic Hierarchy Drive Failure Can trigger System Hang/BSOD Isolated; System stays online Hot-Swap Risky; Requires OS "Quiescing" Safe; Managed by Switch hardware Signal Jitter Causes Application Errors Filtered by Autonomous Switch management OS Support Requires complex bifurcation BIOS Plug-and-Play (Native Driver) Non-Blocking Performance: The 16:32 Advantage One of the most common questions architects ask is: "How do you handle 32 lanes of devices on a 16-lane host slot?" The Rocket 1600 series adapters feature an internal 16-lane Upstream / 32-lane Downstream architecture. Conventional Adapters usually rely on simple motherboard "bifurcation," which hard-wires lanes (e.g., splitting x16 into four x4 slots). If one slot is idle, those lanes are wasted. In contrast, HighPoint’s 48-lane switching fabric is non-blocking. It dynamically allocates the 16 lanes of host bandwidth to whichever downstream devices need it most in real-time. It’s the difference between a four-lane highway with rigid barriers and a smart-managed expressway that opens extra lanes during peak traffic. The "IT Admin's Dream": Native Driver Support One of the the most significant architectural benefits for IT departments is HighPoint’s Driver Transparency. Proprietary drivers are the "silent killer" of data center uptime. They break during OS updates, create kernel conflicts, and complicate security audits. However, HighPoint’s switching architecture adheres strictly to industry-standard PCIe protocols; Rocket 1600 series adapters are recognized natively by Windows, Linux, and macOS. Zero Software Installation: The switch adapter speaks the "native language" of the OS – this means no additional device driver or software application is required. Universal Compatibility: Whether you are running a Proxmox cluster, a Windows Server 2025 instance, or a specialized RHEL build, the Rocket 1600 series works right out of the box. The Bottom Line: Intelligence Equals Scalability By moving from "Dumb Passthrough" to Autonomous PCIe Management, you are aren’t simply just adding PCIe slots—you are injecting an intelligent layer of hardware infrastructure that alleviates the host CPU and ensures maximum data throughput. Does your current infrastructure have the "brains" to handle Gen5 data rates? Is your current server layout choking your Gen5 hardware? Next Up: The Latency War

For Composable Disaggregated Infrastructure (CDI), software orchestration effectively serves as the "Brain” of the solution. However, the underlying hardware infrastructure still operates as the "Muscle." For software-defined storage (SDS) and orchestration providers, adding support for new hardware platforms often comes with a steep engineering tax. The RocketStor 4243AS changes that equation. By delivering a 24-bay, NVMe-over-Fabrics target built on industry-standard RoCE and Redfish, HighPoint provides software partners a 'Plug-and-Play' pathway to expand hardware compatibility while delivering deterministic enterprise-grade performance to their end-users The Integration Shortcut: Native Standards, Zero-Driver Development The most significant barrier to software integration is often the driver stack. The RocketStor 4243AS eliminates this hurdle entirely. · Fabric-Agnostic Support: The platform is recognized natively by Linux and Windows environments through standard NVMe-oF initiators. · Universal Redfish API: Integration is seamless whether your software operates in a local high-speed cluster or a distributed cloud environment. By supporting the Redfish API, the RS4243AS allows for secure, automated orchestration of hardware resources over standard RESTful network protocols. · Zero-Driver Engineering Overhead: Because the WD RapidFlex™ C2000 controller handles the translation of Ethernet packets back to PCIe commands in silicon, your software management layer does not have to rely on complex proprietary drivers to interface with the RocketStor 4243AS. Architectural Performance: Why Your Customers Will Win When your software manages a RocketStor 4243AS, you are offering a deterministic, high-performance asset rather than just a passive storage box: · Petabytes Scalability: Scale without boundaries. The RS4243AS architecture is limited only by the density of the industry-standard U.2 NVMe SSDs you choose to deploy. · Deterministic P2P Latency: The hardware-accelerated Peer-to-Peer data path ensures that your application encounters no CPU-related jitter, providing consistent microsecond-level latency for AI and HPC workloads. · 1:1 Drive Saturation: Our internal Rocket 1528D switch ensures that every drive has a dedicated x1 PCIe lane, eliminating internal contention and allowing your software to deliver full 200Gbps throughput to the compute layer. A Win-Win Business Opportunity Partnering with HighPoint Technologies to certify the RS4243AS with your orchestration platform offers a high-ROI opportunity with minimal engineering investment and maximum market reach: Industry-Leading Cost-Performance: Gain a competitive edge by certifying your software on the market’s most cost-effective Composable Storage platform. Lowering the hardware barrier allows you to capture more of the customer’s budget for software-defined features and services. Universal BYOD Foundation: Offer your customers total freedom. The RocketStor 4243AS supports all industry-standard U.2 NVMe SSDs, allowing you to position your software as a hardware-neutral solution that works with the customer's preferred media vendors. Rapid Qualification via Remote Lab: Accelerate your development cycle. We offer remote access to RocketStor 4243AS hardware clusters, allowing your engineering team to qualify your software and API integrations instantly—no shipping or physical lab setup required. Low-Lift Integration: Leverage native OS drivers and the Redfish API to add full hardware orchestration to your portfolio in weeks, not months. Uncapped Future-Proofing: Provide your customers with a platform that delivers Petabytes Scalability, growing seamlessly as NAND densities evolve without requiring software re-architecture. Final Outcome: Any Compute. Any Application. Any Partner. The RocketStor 4243AS is designed to be the most "integration-friendly" 24-bay NVMe-oF target on the market. We invite software partners to join us in redefining the data center—delivering fluid, composable storage that is as easy to manage as it is to deploy. Are you ready to add a high-performance CDI asset to your orchestration suite? Let’s connect and explore a certified partnership today. Learn More

HighPoint offers a comprehensive ecosystem of NVMe storage and connectivity solutions that enable AI Architects to overcome the physical and thermal constraints of modern server chassis. Our M.2 AIC solutions were designed to operate as Versatile Integration Hub, enabling the consolidation of up to 16 NVMe devices or AI Accelerator modules into a single PCIe slot. This high-density architecture is purpose-built for compute and GPU servers, streamlining high-bandwidth data paths to reduce GPU idle time and maximize inference performance. Solving Installation & Server Constraints HighPoint provides three distinct hardware architectures to address specific system limitations: 1. Universal Switch-Based AICs (No Bifurcation Required) Ideal for systems where the motherboard lacks bifurcation support or where maximum device density is required. · Technology: The integrated Broadcom 48-lane PCIe Switch engine manages resource allocation independently. · Benefit: Intelligent "Synthetic Hierarchy" manages x4 lanes for each M.2 port and enables enterprise-class storage features. · Recommended Models: Product Host PCIe Interface Port Type/Count Device Support Rocket 1608A PCIe 5.0 x16 8x M.2 Gen5 x4 NVMe SSD / AI Modules Rocket 7608A PCIe 5.0 x16 8x M.2 Gen5 x4 NVMe SSD / RAID Rocket 1604A PCIe 5.0 x16 4x M.2 Gen5 x4 NVMe SSD / AI Modules Rocket 7604A PCIe 5.0 x16 4x M.2 Gen5 x4 NVMe SSD / RAID SSD7749M2 (dual-width) PCIe 4.0 x16 16x M.2 Gen4 x2 NVMe SSDs / RAID SSD7540 PCIe 4.0 x16 8x M.2 Gen4 x2 NVMe SSDs / RAID SSD7505 PCIe 4.0 x16 4x M.2 Gen4 x2 NVMe SSDs / RAID 2. Performance-First Retimer AICs (Bifurcation Required) Designed for AI Edge architects who prioritize deterministic, near-zero latency for dense accelerator clusters. · Technology: Active Retimer technology re-clocks and regenerates signals to ensure bit-perfect Gen5 32GT/s transmission. · Benefit: Essential for both High-TOPS AI Accelerator modules and Gen5 NVMe SSDs. The retimer ensures "clean" signal integrity, eliminating data drop-outs and ensuring a stable, high-speed data feeder for power-hungry GPUs. · Recommended Model: Product Host PCIe Interface Port Type/Count Device Support Rocket 1604L PCIe 5.0 x16 4x M.2 Gen5 x4 NVMe SSD / AI Modules 3. MCIO Bridge Expansion (Mechanical & Thermal Flexibility) For dense servers facing thermal bottlenecks or "slot starvation," HighPoint offers remote integration via their MCIO Bridge card; the MCIO-PCIEX16-G5. · Technology: Translates PCIe Switch or Host MCIO ports into a remote PCIe x16 slot. Benefit: o Mechanical Freedom: Position M.2 AICs or GPUs in available chassis bays or high-airflow zones, away from the crowded CPU/RAM area. o Massive Scalability: Using a HighPoint PCIe Switch Adapter with 4x MCIO expansion ports, users can scale up to 32 M.2 devices (NVMe or AI Accelerators) or up to 4x x16/x8 GPU cards from a single host slot. The Modular Integration Blueprint To implement remote expansion, the solution utilizes a high-signal-integrity “Host-to-Bridge” pathway: 1. The Host Source: Connects directly to native Motherboard MCIO/SlimSAS ports or HighPoint’s Rocket 1600 and Rocket 1528D expansion adapters. 2. High-Speed Fabric Cabling: Maintains Gen5 signal integrity using dedicated cables: a. HighPoint CIO8-CIO8-110: For native Host MCIO to Bridge connections. b. HighPoint 8654-CIO8-110: For SlimSAS Host Port to Bridge connections. 3. The Remote PCIe x16 Slot: The bridge card provides a native PCIe Gen4/Gen5 x16 slot, supporting full-height GPUs, FPGA cards, or HighPoint NVMe RAID AICs. a. HighPoint MCIO-PCIEX16-G5: Bridge card that enables MCIO ports to function as a native PCIe Gen5/Gen5 x16 slot. Advanced Integration Modes: Accelerating the GPU Ecosystem Traditional architectures often leave powerful GPUs "starving" for data due to PCIe congestion and CPU overhead. HighPoint’s M.2 AIC architecture allows for three distinct deployment strategies on a single physical fabric: · High-Speed GPU Feeder (NVMe Storage): Fully populate the AIC with high-performance NVMe SSDs to form a massive, localized storage pool. This configuration maximizes throughput to feed the GPU at Gen5 speeds, effectively eliminating the "starvation" delays that hinder processing. · High-Density Inference Cluster (AI Accelerators): Fully populate the AIC with AI Accelerator modules (such as Hailo-8) to create a high-speed inference cluster within a single PCIe slot. This is ideal for edge compute servers where space is limited but high TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) performance is required. · Hybrid Compute & Storage Hub: Mix AI Accelerators and NVMe SSDs on a single physical card. By localizing the data (NVMe) next to the compute (AI modules), architects create a "Direct-In-Fabric" data pool that streamlines bandwidth and significantly reduces latency for real-time AI workloads. Tailored Storage Configurations HighPoint provides the flexibility for architects to choose the RAID, Switch or Expansion solution that best fits their specific environment: Requirement Product Series Optimized For High-Performance RAID Rocket 7600 / 7000 / 7100 Maximum transfer potential (up to 56GB/s) for NVMe-only storage arrays. Connectivity & IT-Managed RAID Rocket 1600L / 1600A / 1500 Supports OS-based RAID (ZFS, mdadm) or 3rd-party RAID solutions; ideal for boot drives and AI accelerators. Extreme Density SSD7749M2 Maximize a single slot with up to 16 industry-mainstream M.2 devices. Designed for Industrial SIs and Architects Whether you are building a dedicated AI inference cluster, a fast NVMe storage array to feed power-hungry GPUs, or a hybrid compute-storage hub, HighPoint’s extensive M.2 AIC portfolio will meet the demands of your unique industrial server platform. Our comprehensive PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 product lines provide the electrical "muscle" and mechanical flexibility to push high-performance storage and compute performance to their absolute limit without compromising on reliability.