Mellanox MCX556A-ECAT 2-Port Connectx-5 VPI Ethernet Adapter Card

Mellanox

MCX556A-ECAT 2-Port ConnectX-5 VPI Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

The MellanoxMCX556A-ECAT ConnectX-5 VPI Gigabit Ethernet Adapter provides dual-port 100Gb/s networking for high-performance data centers, cloud, storage, and HPC environments. With Virtual Protocol Interconnect® (VPI) technology, it seamlessly supports both 100GbE Ethernet and EDR InfiniBand, offering superior flexibility, low latency, and unmatched scalability for modern IT infrastructures.

Features

The MCX556A-ECAT is engineered for next-generation workloads that demand ultra-low latency, high throughput, and advanced offload capabilities. Designed with dual 100Gb/s ports, it delivers outstanding network performance across both InfiniBand and Ethernet fabrics.

Advanced Options

This Gigabit Ethernet Adapteris optimized for AI/ML clusters, big data analytics, cloud service providers, and enterprise IT. With support for RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), GPUDirect® RDMA, and advanced virtualization features, the MCX556A-ECAT significantly improves application responsiveness while reducing CPU overhead. Its PCIe 3.0/4.0 x16 interface ensures maximum throughput, while its full-height form factor guarantees compatibility with most enterprise servers.

Product Key Features

• Dual 100Gb/s network ports for maximum throughput

• Virtual Protocol Interconnect® (VPI) for InfiniBand & Ethernet support

• PCIe 3.0/4.0 x16 interface for high bandwidth efficiency

• Ultra-low latency with RoCE and InfiniBand acceleration

• NVIDIA GPUDirect® RDMA for AI/ML workloads

• Advanced stateless offload technologies reduce CPU utilization

• Optimized for hyperscale cloud, HPC, and enterprise environments

• Full-height Gigabit Ethernet Adaptercard design

• High reliability and performance for mission-critical deployments

• Backed by Mellanox/NVIDIA Networking enterprise-grade design

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Reliability & Performance

With dual 100Gb/s VPI-enabled ports, the MCX556A-ECAT ensures maximum flexibility and performance in demanding enterprise and HPC environments. Its ability to switch between InfiniBand and Ethernet protocols enables seamless deployment across multiple infrastructures. Advanced RDMA, GPUDirect®, and virtualization technologies provide accelerated application performance, low latency, and improved scalability across modern workloads.

Key Features

• Model: MCX556A-ECAT

• Ports: 2x Network Ports

• Speed: 100Gb/s per port

• Protocols: InfiniBand EDR & 100GbE Ethernet (VPI)

• Interface: PCIe 3.0/4.0 x16

• RDMA Support: Yes, RoCE and InfiniBand acceleration

• GPU Optimization: NVIDIA GPUDirect® RDMA supported

• Offloads: Advanced stateless offloads

• Form Factor: Full-height Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

• Reliability: Enterprise/HPC-grade performance

• Warranty: Manufacturer Warranty Included

Specifications :

Specification	Details
Model Number	MCX556A-ECAT
Brand	Mellanox(NVIDIA Networking)
Ports	2x Ports
Port Speed	100Gb/s
Protocols	InfiniBand EDR & 100GbE Ethernet (VPI)
Interface	PCIe 3.0/4.0 x16
RDMA Support	Yes, RoCE and InfiniBand
GPU Optimization	NVIDIA GPUDirect® RDMA
Offloads	Stateless offloads
Form Factor	Full-height Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Applications	Cloud, HPC, AI, Storage, Enterprise
Warranty	Manufacturer Warranty