Mellanox ConnectX-5 MCX516A-BDAT 100GbE Network Interface Card

1. Product Overview

The Mellanox ConnectX-5 MCX516A-BDAT is a high-performance dual-port network card designed for next-generation data centers. It delivers up to 100Gb/s per port Ethernet connectivity with ultra-low latency (750ns) and advanced offload capabilities for cloud, storage, and telecommunications workloads. This NIC card supports PCIe 4.0 and is available in OCP 3.0 form factor, making it ideal for hyperscale and enterprise deployments.

2. Key Features

• Dual-port 100GbE connectivity (also supports 50/40/25/10/1 GbE)
• PCIe 4.0 x16 host interface
• RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v2)
• NVMe over Fabrics offloads
• Open vSwitch (OvS) hardware offload via ASAP²
• SR-IOV support with up to 512 virtual functions
• Embedded PCIe switch for multi-host configurations
• Hardware-based T10-DIF signature handover

3. Core Technologies

The ConnectX-5 leverages cutting-edge technologies including:

• RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access)
• RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)
• NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-of)
• SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization)
• ASAP² (Accelerated Switching and Packet Processing)
• PCIe 4.0 with embedded switch capability

4. How It Works

The ConnectX-5 network card offloads network, storage, and virtualization processing from the CPU to the adapter itself. It uses hardware-based encapsulation/decapsulation for overlay networks (VXLAN, GENEVE), processes NVMe-of commands without host intervention, and enables direct memory access between servers and storage via RDMA. This significantly reduces latency and CPU overhead.

5. Applications

• Cloud and Web 2.0 Data Centers
• High-Performance Storage (NVMe-of, iSER, SRP)
• Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
• AI and Machine Learning Clusters
• Telecommunications and 5G Infrastructure

6. Specifications

7. Advantages

• Industry-leading message rate: 200M messages/sec
• Hardware offloads reduce CPU utilization by up to 50%
• Supports future protocols via programmable pipeline
• Enhanced virtualization with SR-IOV and ASAP²
• Lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) with Host Chaining technology

8. Service & Support

We provide:

• 1–3 year hardware warranty
• Global shipping (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
• 24/7 technical support
• Driver and firmware updates
• Custom configuration and integration services

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this NIC card compatible with VMware?
A: Yes, the ConnectX-5 supports VMware ESXi with full driver support and SR-IOV capabilities.

Q: What cables are supported?
A: It supports DAC, AOC, and optical modules via SFP28 and QSFP28 interfaces.

Q: Can I use this in a PCIe 3.0 slot?
A: Yes, it is backward compatible with PCIe 3.0.

Q: Does it support RoCE?
A: Yes, RoCE v2 is fully supported for low-latency RDMA operations.

Q: What is the difference between ConnectX-5 and ConnectX-6?
A: The ConnectX-6 offers higher throughput (200G) and enhanced security features, while the ConnectX-5 is optimized for 100G environments with robust offloads.

10. Precautions

• Ensure proper cooling in high-density deployments
• Use certified cables and transceivers for optimal performance
• Verify BIOS and firmware compatibility with your server platform
• Follow ESD safety procedures during installation

11. Company Introduction

With over 10 years of industry experience, we operate a large factory and maintain a strong technical team. We have served a wide range of global clients and offer competitive pricing and high-quality service. Our product portfolio includes top-tier brands such as Mellanox, Ruckus, Aruba, and Extreme. We supply original new network switches, NIC cards, wireless access points, controllers, and cables. Our inventory exceeds $10M, enabling us to support bulk orders and diverse product needs. We provide 24/7 customer service and technical support, backed by a professional sales and engineering team trusted worldwide.