MCX556A-ECAT - Mellanox Network Cards
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MCX556A-ECAT
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MCX556A-ECAT Overview
Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card, EDR IB (100Gb/s) and 100GbE, dual-port QSFP28, PCIe3.0 x16, tall bracket MCX556A-ECAT
Overview
MCX556A-ECAT Overview
Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card, EDR IB (100Gb/s) and 100GbE, dual-port QSFP28, PCIe3.0 x16, tall bracket MCX556A-ECAT
Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card, EDR IB (100Gb/s) and 100GbE, dual-port QSFP28, PCIe3.0 x16, tall bracket
ConnectX-5 with Virtual Protocol Interconnect® supports two ports of 100Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet connectivity, sub-600 ns latency, and very high message rate, plus PCIe switch and NVMe over Fabric offloads, providing the highest performance and most flexible solution for the most demanding applications and markets: Machine Learning, Data Analytics, and more.
Benefits:
Tag Matching and Rendezvous Offloads
Adaptive Routing on Reliable Transport
Burst Buffer Offloads for Background Checkpointing
NVMe over Fabric (NVMf) Offloads
Back-End Switch Elimination by Host Chaining
Embedded PCIe Switch
Enhanced vSwitch/vRouter Offloads
Flexible Pipeline
RoCE for Overlay Networks
PCIe Gen 4 Support
Tag Matching and Rendezvous Offloads
Adaptive Routing on Reliable Transport
Burst Buffer Offloads for Background Checkpointing
NVMe over Fabric (NVMf) Offloads
Back-End Switch Elimination by Host Chaining
Embedded PCIe Switch
Enhanced vSwitch/vRouter Offloads
Flexible Pipeline
RoCE for Overlay Networks
PCIe Gen 4 Support
Key Features:
Up to 100 Gb/s connectivity per port
Industry-leading throughput, low latency, low CPU utllization and high message rate
Maximizes data center ROI with Multi-Host technology
Innovative rack design for storage and Machine Learning based on Host Chaining technology
Smart interconnect for x86, Power, ARM, and GPU-based compute and storage platforms
Advanced storage capabilities including NVMe over Fabric offloads
Intelligent network adapter supporting flexible pipeline programmability
Cutting-edge performance in virtualized networks including Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
Enabler for efficient service chaining capabilities
Efficient I/O consolidation, lowering data center costs and complexity
Quick Spec
| Model | MCX556A-ECAT |
Physical | Size: 2.71 in. x 5.6 in. (68.90mm x 142.24 mm) – low profile Connector: Dual QSFP28 InfiniBand and Ethernet (copper and optical) |
|---|---|
| Protocol Support | InfiniBand: IBTA v1.3 a Auto-Negotiation: 1X/2X/4X SDR (2.5Gb/s per lane), DDR (5Gb/s per lane), QDR (10Gb/s per lane), FDR10 (10.3125Gb/s per lane), FDR (14.0625Gb/s per lane), EDR (25Gb/s per lane) port |
| Ethernet | 100GBASE-CR4, 100GBASE-KR4, 100GBASE-SR4, 50GBASE-R2, 50GBASE-R4, 40GBASE-CR4, 40GBASE-KR4, 40GBASE-SR4, 40GBASE-LR4, 40GBASE-ER4, 40GBASE-R2, 25GBASE-R, 20GBASE-KR2, 10GBASE-LR,10GBASE-ER, 10GBASE-CX4, 10GBASE-CR, 10GBASE-KR, SGMII, 1000BASE-CX, 1000BASE-KX, 10GBASE-SR |
Data Rate | InfiniBand:SDR/DDR/QDR/FDR/EDR Ethernet:1/10/25/40/50/100 Gb/s |
ConnectX-5 VPI Adapter Card EDR IB and 100GbE Dual-Port QSFP28 PCIe3.0 x16
- Wired
- PCI Express 3.0 Fiber
- 100000 Mbit/s
- Internal
Summary Description
Mellanox Technologies MCX556A-ECAT, Internal, Wired, PCI Express, Fiber, 100000 Mbit/s
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Specification
MCX556A-ECAT Specification
| MCX556A-ECAT Specification | |
| Model | MCX556A-ECAT |
Physical | Size: 2.71 in. x 5.6 in. (68.90mm x 142.24 mm) – low profile Connector: Dual QSFP28 InfiniBand and Ethernet (copper and optical) |
|---|---|
| Protocol Support | InfiniBand: IBTA v1.3 a Auto-Negotiation: 1X/2X/4X SDR (2.5Gb/s per lane), DDR (5Gb/s per lane), QDR (10Gb/s per lane), FDR10 (10.3125Gb/s per lane), FDR (14.0625Gb/s per lane), EDR (25Gb/s per lane) port |
| Ethernet | 100GBASE-CR4, 100GBASE-KR4, 100GBASE-SR4, 50GBASE-R2, 50GBASE-R4, 40GBASE-CR4, 40GBASE-KR4, 40GBASE-SR4, 40GBASE-LR4, 40GBASE-ER4, 40GBASE-R2, 25GBASE-R, 20GBASE-KR2, 10GBASE-LR,10GBASE-ER, 10GBASE-CX4, 10GBASE-CR, 10GBASE-KR, SGMII, 1000BASE-CX, 1000BASE-KX, 10GBASE-SR |
Data Rate | InfiniBand:SDR/DDR/QDR/FDR/EDR Ethernet:1/10/25/40/50/100 Gb/s |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary interface capabilities of the Mellanox MCX556A-ECAT? +
The MCX556A-ECAT is a versatile Virtual Protocol Interconnect (VPI) adapter. It supports both 100Gb/s InfiniBand (EDR) and 100GbE Ethernet connectivity. This dual-port QSFP28 architecture provides the flexibility to transition between high-performance computing clusters and standard Ethernet data center fabrics using a single hardware platform.
Which bus architecture does the MCX556A-ECAT utilize for host connectivity? +
This adapter utilizes the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. By leveraging sixteen lanes of PCIe 3.0, the card ensures sufficient bandwidth to handle full-duplex 100Gb/s throughput without creating a bottleneck at the host bus, making it an ideal choice for high-throughput server deployments.
Is the MCX556A-ECAT compatible with standard rack-mount server chassis? +
Yes, this model comes equipped with a tall bracket, also known as a full-height bracket. It is designed to fit standard 2U or larger rack-mount server enclosures. Ensure your server chassis supports full-height PCIe cards before installation to guarantee a proper physical fit.
How does the ConnectX-5 architecture benefit high-performance computing (HPC) workloads? +
The ConnectX-5 silicon excels in HPC by offering advanced offloading capabilities. It features hardware-based MPI tag matching, adaptive routing, and GPUDirect RDMA. These features significantly reduce CPU overhead and latency, allowing for faster data exchange between compute nodes and accelerators in complex research or AI training environments.
What type of physical cabling is required for the dual QSFP28 ports? +
The QSFP28 ports support a variety of 100Gb/s transceivers and direct-attach copper (DAC) cables. Depending on your distance requirements, you can utilize MPO-based multi-mode fiber, LC-based single-mode fiber with appropriate optics, or passive/active copper cables for short-reach, top-of-rack connectivity within your data center cabinet.
Can the MCX556A-ECAT be managed through standard Mellanox software tools? +
Absolutely. This card is fully compatible with the Mellanox NEO management platform and standard firmware update utilities. Network administrators can utilize these tools to configure port types, update firmware versions, and monitor real-time port statistics to ensure optimal performance across your server fabric.
Does this NIC support virtualization and overlay network protocols? +
Yes, the ConnectX-5 series is optimized for cloud-scale virtualization. It includes hardware offloads for overlay networks such as VXLAN, NVGRE, and GENEVE. By offloading the encapsulation and decapsulation processes from the host processor, the NIC preserves CPU cycles for virtual machine application processing.
What is the physical port configuration of the MCX556A-ECAT? +
The card features two independent QSFP28 ports. This dual-port design allows for high availability through port teaming or link aggregation (LACP), as well as the ability to connect to two separate network switches for redundancy or to increase total aggregate bandwidth per server node.
How can I obtain a volume pricing quote for the MCX556A-ECAT? +
BuyRouterSwitch.com makes procurement easy for large-scale infrastructure projects. Simply reach out to our dedicated sales team via our website’s contact form or live chat feature. We provide competitive bulk quotes tailored to your specific project size, helping you stay within budget while scaling your data center operations.
Why should I choose BuyRouterSwitch.com for my Mellanox hardware needs? +
We prioritize supply chain integrity and operational efficiency. By choosing BuyRouterSwitch.com, you are partnering with a specialist provider committed to delivering authentic Mellanox components with streamlined procurement processes. Our focus is on providing reliable hardware through a secure, professional ordering environment that meets the rigorous demands of enterprise IT procurement teams.
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