What are the primary performance specifications of the Mellanox MCX455A-FCAT? +
The MCX455A-FCAT is a ConnectX-4 VPI adapter card that supports up to 100Gb/s throughput. It utilizes a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, providing high-bandwidth connectivity for data-intensive enterprise environments. This card is engineered to deliver low latency and high message rates, making it an ideal choice for high-performance computing, cloud-native applications, and enterprise data centers requiring robust networking performance.
Does the MCX455A-FCAT support both Ethernet and InfiniBand connectivity? +
Yes, this card features Virtual Protocol Interconnect (VPI) technology. This capability allows the adapter to operate in either InfiniBand or Ethernet mode, depending on your network fabric requirements. This flexibility ensures that you can adapt your hardware to changing infrastructure needs without needing to swap out interface cards, providing a future-proof networking solution for your server environment.
What type of optical transceiver or cable is required for the MCX455A-FCAT? +
This model is equipped with a QSFP28 port. To ensure compatibility, you must use QSFP28 transceivers or compatible Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables that match your specific network fabric. It is important to verify that your chosen optics support the required distance and wavelength specifications for your data center architecture to maintain optimal signal integrity and throughput across your fiber connections.
How does the MCX455A-FCAT optimize CPU utilization during data transmission? +
The adapter incorporates hardware offloading engines, including RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE). By offloading transport layer processing from the server CPU directly to the NIC, the card significantly reduces CPU overhead and latency. This enables the server to dedicate more resources to actual application processing, which is critical for maintaining high efficiency in virtualized environments and heavy-duty storage networking tasks.
Is the MCX455A-FCAT compatible with standard PCIe slots in enterprise servers? +
This card utilizes a PCIe 3.0 x16 mechanical and electrical interface. It is physically designed to fit into standard full-height PCIe expansion slots commonly found in high-end rack servers. Before deployment, confirm that your server chassis has an available PCIe 3.0 x16 slot that provides sufficient power and cooling to support the thermal profile of a 100Gb/s networking adapter.
What management software is used to configure this Mellanox NIC? +
Mellanox adapters are typically managed using the Mellanox Firmware Tools (MFT) suite, which allows for firmware updates, configuration, and monitoring of card parameters. Additionally, the card integrates seamlessly with standard OS-level networking stacks and drivers available for Linux, Windows Server, and major hypervisors. You can monitor the device performance using standard industry tools like SNMP or through the Mellanox NEO management platform.
Can the MCX455A-FCAT be used in a virtualized server environment? +
Absolutely. The MCX455A-FCAT supports SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization), which allows a single physical PCIe device to appear as multiple virtual devices. This is essential for modern data centers running high-density virtual machines or containers, as it provides each virtual instance with near-native performance while maintaining hardware-level isolation and security across your virtualized infrastructure.
What is the typical use case for a 100Gb/s ConnectX-4 VPI adapter? +
This adapter is purpose-built for high-speed connectivity in demanding environments such as big data clusters, financial modeling, machine learning, and large-scale cloud storage arrays. Because of its high throughput and low-latency architecture, it is the standard choice for IT architects who need to eliminate networking bottlenecks between compute nodes and storage clusters within the data center fabric.
Why should I choose BuyRouterSwitch.com for my Mellanox hardware needs? +
BuyRouterSwitch.com is a dedicated partner for enterprise networking equipment, providing deep expertise and reliable supply chain access for high-end components like the MCX455A-FCAT. We focus on delivering verified hardware to ensure your network infrastructure remains stable and efficient. Our streamlined procurement process is designed to help IT departments secure the specific hardware they need without the unnecessary friction found in larger, impersonal retail platforms.
How do I request a bulk quote for the MCX455A-FCAT? +
For large volume orders or project-based infrastructure refreshes, we encourage you to contact our sales team directly through our website. We provide tailored pricing for bulk requirements to help keep your deployment within budget. Reach out to us with your specific quantity requirements and project timeline, and our team will provide a competitive, formal quote that reflects current availability and enterprise-level pricing structures.