Macnica Provides Technical Support for Sakura Internet's Construction of Large-Scale HPC Cluster "SAKURA ONE" - Japan's First Large-Scale HPC Cluster Built in a Short Period Using Open Network Technologies, Including Edgecore's 800GbE White Box Switch -

Macnica (Head office: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter Macnica) announced today that it has provided technical support for the construction of Sakura ONE ^*1, a large-scale HPC cluster provided by Sakura Internet Inc. (hereinafter Sakura Internet), providing Edgecore Networks Corp.'s (hereinafter Edgecore) 800GbE white Box switches and open source network OS "Enterprise SONiC" for the first time in Japan ^*2 to such a large-scale HPC cluster. By providing these products and technical support, Macnica contributed to the rapid launch of Sakura ONE.

■Background
In recent years, against the backdrop of rapid developments in generative AI technology, there has been a growing demand for high-performance supercomputers (hereinafter referred to as "supercomputers"), which play a central role in AI-based research and development in a variety of industrial sectors, including manufacturing, medicine, and finance.
In response to this growing demand for supercomputers, the adoption of white-Box switches and open-source network operating systems is accelerating in the network infrastructure that supports them, due to technological innovation, cost reductions, and flexibility in construction and operation.

■Reasons for adopting white Box and SONiC
Sakura Internet launched the project in August 2024 to launch a large-scale HPC cluster using 800 GPUs. In order to quickly meet the strong demand for GPUs, construction was completed in just four months, making this an exceptional project that began full-scale operation in December of the same year. The cluster built through this project has earned international acclaim, ranking 49th in the world ^*3 in the TOP500, an international supercomputer performance ranking.
In this project, the communication requirements for connecting GPUs placed emphasis on network openness and multi-tenant support, resulting in the adoption of highly versatile Ethernet. While considering multiple manufacturers for this important infrastructure development, Macnica was highly praised for its ability to meet the required specifications, price, and exceptionally short delivery time of just four months, leading to the adoption of the 800GbE white Box switch "AIS800-64O." Furthermore, the deciding factor for the network OS was the adoption of "Enterprise SONiC," which is supported by Edgecore, as it is Linux-based and well-suited for automated operations.

■Joint verification and implementation by Macnica and Edgecore
In this project, Macnica not only supported the introduction of 800GbE white Box switches and "Enterprise SONiC," but also worked with Edgecore to verify performance and troubleshoot issues, making a significant contribution to the rapid construction and stable operation of the system.
We also proposed a configuration to optimize the parameter settings of PFC (Priority Flow Control) and ECN (Congestion Notification), which are important for realizing a "lossless network" essential for AI learning clusters on Ethernet (RoCEv2).
In addition to supporting the rapid resolution of network issues, such as functional enhancements, we also utilized our deep knowledge of the Broadcom Tomahawk5 chip installed inside the switch to assist with chip-level troubleshooting and configuration optimization.

<Edgecore 800GbE white Box switch "AIS800-64O" (equipped with Tomahawk 5)>

■ Future outlook
The rapid growth of AI workloads is driving demands for improved monitoring accuracy, more sophisticated automation tools, and stronger observability in network operations. Furthermore, support for 1.6TbE is gaining industry-wide importance as the next generation of high-bandwidth networks.
To continue meeting these needs, Macnica will continue to quickly adopt cutting-edge examples and technology trends from both Japan and abroad, and will support the further practical application of open networking by not only providing products but also providing consistent support from technology verification, construction support, and operational design.By expanding the choices and freedom of our customers' network infrastructure and supporting the construction of sustainable and flexible IT platforms, we will contribute to the evolution of Japan's digital society.

*1: https://www.sakura.ad.jp/corporate/information/newsreleases/2025/06/11/1968219771/
*2: According to Macnica, this is the first case in Japan where an Edgecore 800GbE white Box switch has been adopted for an HPC cluster with over 500 GPUs.
*3: Announced at ISC2025 on June 10, 2025 (Japan time)

[About Macnica 's Open Networking]
Macnica offers pre-verified configuration proposals that combine white Box switch products, network OS, optical modules, etc. from multiple manufacturers, and has a one-stop support system in place. This saves customers the trouble of checking compatibility between devices and dealing with multiple contact points, minimizing implementation risks.
While open networking offers significant advantages in terms of cost, flexibility, and performance, it also requires careful design and reliable support during implementation and operation. Macnica values not only technology but also ease of use and peace of mind for customers, and will continue to provide and support optimal solutions.
For more information, please visit: https://www.macnica.co.jp/go/OpenNetworking.html

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TEL: 045-470-9831
E-mail: projectmonstar@macnica.co.jp

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*The information published in the news release (including product price, specifications, etc.) is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.