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Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN MCX512A-ACAT Network Card - Dual-Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe Adapter with RDMA & NVMe over Fabrics
Product Details:
| Brand Name: | Mellanox |
| Model Number: | MCX512A-ACAT |
| Document: | connectx-5-en-card.pdf |
Payment & Shipping Terms:
| Minimum Order Quantity: | 1pcs |
|---|---|
| Price: | Negotiate |
| Packaging Details: | outer box |
| Delivery Time: | Based on inventory |
| Payment Terms: | T/T |
| Supply Ability: | Supply by project/batch |
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Detail Information |
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| Application: | Server | Interface Type:: | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ports: | Dual | Max Speed: | 25GbE |
| Connector Type: | SFP28 | Type: | Wired |
| Condition: | New And Original | Model: | MCX512A-ACAT |
| Name: | Mellanox Network Card MCX512A-ACAT ConnectX-5 EN Adapter Card 10/25GbE Dual-Port SFP28 PCIe 3.0 X8 | Keyword: | Mellanox Network Card |
Product Description
Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN Network Card MCX512A-ACAT
High-Value Features
- Dual-port 100Gb/s Ethernet connectivity
- Ultra-low latency of 750 nanoseconds
- RDMA-enabled for high-performance computing
- NVMe over Fabrics target offloads
- Advanced Open vSwitch offload capabilities
Product Overview
The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN network card (model MCX512A-ACAT) represents a significant advancement in Ethernet adapter technology, delivering exceptional performance for demanding enterprise and data center environments. This intelligent network interface card provides up to 100Gb/s per port connectivity with comprehensive offload capabilities that optimize server performance across cloud, storage, and telecommunications platforms.
As a high-performance nic card solution, the ConnectX-5 adapter reduces CPU overhead while maximizing throughput, making it ideal for software-defined infrastructure and network function virtualization deployments. The mq9700 equivalent delivers industry-leading message rates of up to 200 million messages per second while maintaining extremely low latency.
Key Characteristics
Performance
- Up to 100Gb/s per port bandwidth
- 750ns end-to-end latency
- 200 million messages per second
- PCIe Gen 3.0 and 4.0 support
Virtualization
- SR-IOV with up to 512 virtual functions
- Open vSwitch hardware offloads
- Network Function Virtualization support
- Quality of Service guarantees for VMs
Storage
- NVMe over Fabrics target offloads
- T10-DIF signature handover at wire speed
- RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)
- Embedded PCIe switch technology
Core Technologies
The ConnectX-5 network card incorporates several groundbreaking technologies that set it apart from conventional Ethernet adapters. The innovative network card design features ASAP² (Accelerated Switching and Packet Processing) technology, which offloads the entire vSwitch/vRouter data plane to the NIC hardware while maintaining the existing control plane.
This advanced nic card solution supports multiple industry standards including RoCE v2 for low-latency RDMA communications, comprehensive NVMe over Fabrics offloads for storage acceleration, and sophisticated overlay network protocols including VXLAN, NVGRE, and GENEVE. The adapter's flexible pipeline with programmable parser and match-action tables enables hardware offloads for emerging protocols.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Model | MCX512A-ACAT |
| Interface Type | Dual-port SFP28 |
| Supported Speeds | 25, 10, 1 GbE |
| Host Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 |
| Form Factor | Low-profile PCIe HHL |
| RDMA Support | RoCE v2 |
| Virtualization | SR-IOV, 512 VFs |
Application Scenarios
Cloud Data Centers
Enables higher VM density with SR-IOV virtualization and Open vSwitch offloads, reducing CPU utilization by up to 50% while maintaining line-rate performance.
Storage Infrastructure
Accelerates NVMe over Fabrics implementations with target offloads, delivering near-local storage performance for remote NVMe devices with minimal CPU intervention.
Telecommunications NFV
Provides the high packet processing rates and deterministic latency required for 5G infrastructure and virtualized network functions deployment.
High-Performance Computing
Delivers ultra-low latency and high message rates for MPI applications, machine learning workloads, and financial trading systems.
Competitive Advantages
The Mellanox ConnectX-5 network card establishes new benchmarks for Ethernet adapter performance. Compared to previous generation adapters and competing solutions, this advanced nic card delivers up to 2x higher message rates and 40% lower latency while reducing CPU utilization by offloading critical networking functions to hardware.
The innovative Host Chaining technology enables direct server-to-server connectivity without involving top-of-rack switches, significantly reducing infrastructure costs. The embedded PCIe switch allows building standalone storage or machine learning appliances with consolidated compute and storage networks.
For organizations requiring high-performance networking, this network card solution provides exceptional value through its comprehensive feature set, including the mq9700 compatibility for legacy systems, making it suitable for heterogeneous data center environments.
Service & Support
All our network hardware products include comprehensive manufacturer warranty with flexible extension options. We maintain substantial inventory of the MCX512A-ACAT network card to ensure prompt delivery, typically within 3-5 business days for standard orders.
Our technical support team provides 24/7 assistance for installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. We offer custom integration services for large-scale deployments and specialized environments, ensuring optimal performance of your Mellanox ConnectX-5 infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What server operating systems are compatible with the ConnectX-5 MCX512A-ACAT?
This network card supports a wide range of operating systems including RHEL/CentOS, Windows Server, VMware ESXi, FreeBSD, and various Linux distributions through OFED drivers.
Does this adapter support both Ethernet and InfiniBand?
The MCX512A-ACAT is an Ethernet-only version (EN series). For environments requiring dual-protocol support, consider the ConnectX-5 VPI series adapters.
What are the power requirements for this network interface card?
The typical power consumption is under 15W, with maximum power not exceeding 25W. The card draws power directly from the PCIe slot without requiring auxiliary power connectors.
Can I use existing SFP28 transceivers and cables with this nic card?
Yes, the adapter is compatible with standard SFP28 DAC cables, AOC cables, and optical transceivers from various manufacturers, though Mellanox-branded optics are recommended for optimal performance.
Installation & Compatibility Notes
Before installation, ensure your server has an available PCIe x8 slot (or larger) supporting PCIe 3.0 or higher. Verify that your system firmware is updated to the latest version to ensure proper compatibility with advanced features.
For optimal performance with this network card, we recommend using the latest Mellanox OFED drivers or vendor-specific drivers from your server manufacturer. When deploying in virtualization environments, consult the hypervisor documentation for SR-IOV configuration guidelines.
The MCX512A-ACAT nic card operates in standard data center environments with temperatures between 0°C to 55°C and relative humidity of 5% to 90% non-condensing. Proper airflow should be maintained to ensure optimal thermal performance.
Company Introduction
With over a decade of industry experience, we have established ourselves as a leading provider of enterprise networking solutions. Our extensive manufacturing capabilities and strong technical team support enable us to deliver high-quality products at competitive prices.
We represent premier brands including Mellanox, Ruckus, Aruba, and Extreme Networks, offering a comprehensive portfolio of networking equipment. Our inventory exceeds 10 million units, ensuring reliable supply for projects of any scale.