BlueField-3 DPU technical selection Q&A
Owner-confirmed and documentation-backed questions with explicit variant applicability and source boundaries.
These questions were prepared for technical evaluation from cited documentation. They are not a measured list of frequently asked customer questions. The applicability line belongs to each answer; do not transfer a statement between order-code, firmware, cooling, length, form-factor or crypto variants.
The products listed below are the applicable catalog references. Answers use owner-confirmed manufacturer-origin product data, scoped public documentation, or explicitly stated engineering guidance. Genuine conflicting values are qualified individually.
Is B3220L a DPU or a SuperNIC, and why does the suffix matter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0.
This order code is a SuperNIC: E-Series, 8 Arm cores and 16 GB DDR5. Keep the entire order code when matching a server configuration; another BlueField-3 variant can differ in memory, crypto, networking speed and cooling.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which network protocol does this variant use by default?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0, 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
It defaults to Ethernet. Its documented upper rates are 200GbE and NDR200 InfiniBand. Changing link type requires the supported configuration procedure and matching network equipment.
Public references: Setting High-Speed-Port Link Type | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0.
Crypto is disabled on 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
What power and cooling checks are needed before installation?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
The server must supply at least 75 W through the PCIe x16 interface. Verify the server-specific airflow and power specifications before installation.
Public references: Specifications | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Hardware Installation | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Can an auxiliary kit automatically enable Socket Direct?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
The official ordering table does not list an x16 extension option for this SuperNIC. Do not assume a DPU auxiliary kit is compatible.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SV-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3220L configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000001094.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00CV-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3220L configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000001093.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is B3210E a DPU or a SuperNIC, and why does the suffix matter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0.
This order code is a DPU: E-Series, 16 Arm cores and 32 GB DDR5. Keep the entire order code when matching a server configuration; another BlueField-3 variant can differ in memory, crypto, networking speed and cooling.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which network protocol does this variant use by default?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
It defaults to Ethernet. Its documented upper rates are 100GbE and HDR100 InfiniBand. Changing link type requires the supported configuration procedure and matching network equipment.
Public references: Setting High-Speed-Port Link Type | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
What power and cooling checks are needed before installation?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0, 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
Supplementary 8-pin PCIe ATX power cable is required and is not included. Verify the server-specific airflow and power specifications before installation.
Public references: Specifications | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Hardware Installation | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Can an auxiliary kit automatically enable Socket Direct?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0, 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0, 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0, 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
This model has an x16 PCIe extension hardware option. However, the current BlueField-3 introduction explicitly says Socket-Direct is not supported by firmware. Confirm firmware and deployment-mode support before ordering; a kit alone is not proof of working Socket Direct.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CC-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3210E configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000001115.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0.
Crypto is disabled on 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SC-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3210E configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000001117.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is B3220 a DPU or a SuperNIC, and why does the suffix matter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0, 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
This order code is a DPU: P-Series, 16 Arm cores and 32 GB DDR5. Keep the entire order code when matching a server configuration; another BlueField-3 variant can differ in memory, crypto, networking speed and cooling.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CV-AA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3220 configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000884.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is B3240 a DPU or a SuperNIC, and why does the suffix matter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0.
This order code is a DPU: P-Series, 16 Arm cores and 32 GB DDR5. Keep the entire order code when matching a server configuration; another BlueField-3 variant can differ in memory, crypto, networking speed and cooling.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which network protocol does this variant use by default?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0, 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0.
It defaults to InfiniBand NDR. Its documented upper rates are 400GbE and NDR InfiniBand. Changing link type requires the supported configuration procedure and matching network equipment.
Public references: Setting High-Speed-Port Link Type | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0.
Crypto is disabled on 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SN-AB0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3240 configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000964.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is B3210L a DPU or a SuperNIC, and why does the suffix matter?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0, 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
This order code is a SuperNIC: E-Series, 8 Arm cores and 16 GB DDR5. Keep the entire order code when matching a server configuration; another BlueField-3 variant can differ in memory, crypto, networking speed and cooling.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00CC-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3210L configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000966.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
Crypto is disabled on 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B4-00SC-EA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3210L configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000967.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CN-AB0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3240 configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000883.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0.
Crypto is enabled on 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
What power and cooling checks are needed before installation?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0.
Supplementary 8-pin PCIe ATX power cable is required and is not included. Use the cold-aisle-qualified server configuration for this PA0 version.
Public references: Specifications | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Hardware Installation | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00CN-PA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3240 configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000001188.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Is hardware crypto enabled on this exact variant?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
Crypto is disabled on 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0. A shared family name or physically similar board does not establish crypto capability.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Which image and firmware evidence should be used to identify delivered units?
Applicable catalog candidates: 900-9D3B6-00SV-AA0.
The official illustration represents the listed B3220 configuration group, not your delivered batch. Obtain the actual label, hardware revision and PSID, then match firmware to the exact device. The reference PSID is MT_0000000965.
Public references: NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide, Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide.
Availability is on request. Sales provides the USD quotation after the exact configuration is confirmed. No stock, condition or delivery promise is made here.
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