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Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI dual-port QSFP28 PCIe card with tall bracket

Mellanox Technologies

Mellanox MCX556A-ECAT ConnectX-5 VPI network card

SKU CH-QQSY-DYW4G

Dual-port QSFP28 adapter delivering 100 Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet over PCIe 3.0 x16

  • Dual-port QSFP28 delivers 100 Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet
  • PCIe 3.0 x16 interface provides high-throughput host connectivity
  • VPI technology supports both EDR InfiniBand and 100GbE networks
  • NVMe over Fabric offloads accelerate storage workloads
  • Tall bracket fits standard server chassis configurations

Dual-Port 100GbE VPI Adapter

The Mellanox MCX556A-ECAT ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card delivers dual-port 100Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet connectivity through a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. It uses QSFP28 cages for high-density cabling in data-centre racks and supports NVMe over Fabric offloads for storage acceleration. The tall bracket fits standard server chassis.

Suits HPC clusters and storage fabrics

This card targets high-performance computing, cloud, data-analytics and database platforms that require low-latency RDMA and adaptive routing. It also fits environments deploying NVMe-oF or burst-buffer checkpointing. Buyers needing single-port 10GbE uplinks or legacy FDR InfiniBand only should evaluate lower-speed alternatives.

Handles 100Gb/s dual-stream workloads

Each QSFP28 port sustains 100Gb/s for InfiniBand EDR or 100GbE traffic with tag-matching and rendezvous offloads in hardware. The embedded PCIe switch balances bandwidth across both ports without host-bus contention. Throughput drops when cables exceed reach limits or when switch ports negotiate down to 40GbE or 56GbE speeds.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Ethernet Cards & NICs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $492.99
Pricier than about 87% of the 1,505 comparable items (median $90.99).

Specifications

No published specifications for this item yet.

Questions about this item

Which PCIe generation and lane width does the ConnectX-5 VPI card require to run at full speed?

The card installs in a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and uses that bandwidth for 100 Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet traffic.

Can the dual QSFP28 ports negotiate down to 40 Gb/s or 56 Gb/s links for older switches?

Yes, the VPI ports support 40 Gb/s and 56 Gb/s Ethernet as well as FDR InfiniBand speeds alongside the native 100 Gb/s rates.

How do I confirm the adapter is passing 100 Gb/s traffic after installation?

Check the link status LEDs on the QSFP28 cages and verify 100 Gb/s negotiated speed in the OS network tool or switch management console.

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