2. IPU-POD DA systems
In addition to the IPU-M2000s, you will also need a host server, a mounting rack, two PDUs, and cables to build an IPU-POD DA system. These are described in the following sections.
2.1. IPU-M2000 overview
The IPU-M2000 front panel contains (from left to right in Fig. 2.1):
2 RNIC ports for connection to the server
8 Sync-Link ports for connection between IPU-M2000s
2 management GbE ports for connection to the server
2 GW-Link ports – not currently used in IPU-POD DA systems
8 IPU-Link ports for connection between IPU-M2000s
The IPU-M2000 back panel contains:
2 power connectors per IPU-M2000
5 fans (n+1 redundant and removable)
QR code
The QR code contains the following information for each IPU-M2000:
Company name (Graphcore)
Serial number
Part number
BMC Ethernet MAC address
IPU-Gateway Ethernet MAC address
Graphcore support web URL (https://www.graphcore.ai/support)
2.2. Host server
You will need one host server with an installed 100GbE RoCEv2 NIC.
This document describes the use of a Dell PowerEdge R6525 server. Other servers are supported – see the Approved server list or contact Graphcore support for details of other supported server types.
2.3. Mounting rack
The IPU-M2000 is an Open Compute compliant 1U 19-inch chassis so the mounting rack needs to support this standard.
The IPU-M2000 mounting system requires a rail-to-rail distance of 720mm. Additional height may be required for any horizontal PDUs and ToR datacentre switches.
You will also need one IPU-M2000 slider kit per IPU-M2000, for installation in the rack.
2.4. PDUs
For power feed redundancy the IPU-POD DA system will require two PDUs supporting output voltage in the range 115-230Vac.
Each IPU-M2000 connects to both PDUs with C15-to-C14 cables. The recommended PowerEdge server connects to both PDUs with two C13-to-C14 cables.
PDU examples:
Horizontal mounting (1U Rackmount): Tripp Lite PDUH32HV (supports one IPU‑POD16 system)
Vertical mounting (zero U): AP8886 PDU (supports multiple IPU‑POD16 systems)
2.5. Cables
You will need the following cables for each IPU-M2000:
2x 1.45m IEC60320 AC power cables for the IPU-M2000
1x 1.5m QSFP cable to connect the IPU-M2000 to the server (black)
1x 1.5m Cat5e cable to connect the IPU-M2000 to the server (blue)
1x 0.6m Cat5e cable to connect management ports between IPU-M2000s (blue)
4x 0.3m OSFP cables to connect IPU-Link ports between IPU-M2000s (black)
2x 0.15m Cat5e cables to connect Sync-Link ports between IPU-M2000s (red)
You will also need one IPU-M2000 slider kit per IPU-M2000 for installation in the rack.
The standard IPU-M2000 provides only the power cables, the IPU-M2000 Founders Edition contains all the cables required.
Note that you may not need all of the supplied cables - it will depend on the IPU-POD DA configuration that you choose.
2.6. Other system pre-requisites
2.6.1. Power delivery
Power requirement IPU‑POD4 DA: 2500W per PDU for redundancy
Power requirement IPU‑POD16 DA: 7kW per PDU for redundancy
2.6.2. Cooling delivery
Airflow requirements IPU‑POD4 DA: 150 CFM or higher at 35C maximum
Airflow requirements IPU‑POD16 DA: 465 CFM or higher at 35C maximum
2.6.3. Management and data connectivity
Suitable management and data connectivity into the server to service the workload requirements of the completed system.