Networks and IT Security
Sciences and Exploration Directorate - NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

2010 Significant Efforts

New Throughput Performance Transmissions Achieved Via A Single Workstation With a Single 6x10-Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card


As part of plans to assess the throughput performance of wide-area file transfer applications, GSFC�s High End Computer Network (HECN) Team tested a HotLava six-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet network interface card (NIC) in a HECN Team-assembled workstation that costs less than $6,800 with the NIC and achieved aggregate 55+ Gbps transmits, 52+ Gbps receives and 75+ Gbps bi-directional memory-to-memory data transmissions. The workstation consists of a 3.2-GHz single-processor (quad core) Intel Core i7 (Nehalem) with one HotLava NIC in one PCIe Gen2 x16 slot of an Asus P6T6 WS Revolution motherboard. Transmissions between the above workstation and two other HECN Team-assembled Intel Core i7 workstations with other NICs were measured using the nuttcp (www.nuttcp.net) network-performance testing tool. Demonstrations of similar workstations supporting 100 Gbps network testing and near-40 Gbps file transfer applications are planned in the NASA research exhibit at the SC10 conference, New Orleans, LA, Nov. 15�18. Further information about these assessments is available here.