Mellanox ConnectX-6 MCX631102AN-ADAT Dual-Port 25GbE Adapter

Overview

The Mellanox ConnectX-6 MCX631102AN-ADAT is a dual-port 25GbE Ethernet SmartNIC from the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX series, designed for modern enterprise servers, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance networking environments. With PCIe 4.0 connectivity, RDMA support, and flexible SFP28 cabling, it delivers low latency, high throughput, and efficient network acceleration for demanding workloads.

Key Features & Detailed Analysis

1. Dual-Port 25GbE SFP28 Connectivity

• Two SFP28 ports supporting 25 / 10 / 1 GbE
• Backward compatible with 10GbE and 1GbE networks
• Works with SFP28 fiber-optic modules or DAC cables
• Ideal for gradual network upgrades

2. PCIe 4.0 ×8 Host Interface

• High-speed PCI Express Gen4 interface with 16.0 GT/s link rate
• Ensures sufficient bandwidth for dual-port 25GbE operation
• Optimized for modern server platforms

3. NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX Architecture

• Built on the ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC platform
• Provides advanced acceleration, efficient packet processing, and low latency
• Designed for cloud, enterprise, and scale-out environments

4. RDMA & Low-Latency Networking

• Supports RDMA (RoCE / RoCE v2)
• Enables ultra-low latency and high-throughput data transfer
• Ideal for storage networks, virtualization, and clustered workloads

5. Broad OS Compatibility

• Supports Linux distributions, Windows Server, and VMware ESXi
• Uses standard Mellanox ConnectX-6 driver family for easy deployment

6. Flexible Cabling Options

• Compatible with SFP28 fiber optics or SFP28 DAC cables
• Suitable for short-range and long-range network connections

Target Use Cases

1. Enterprise Server Networking

• High-speed connectivity for application and database servers

2. Virtualization & Cloud Platforms

• RDMA and SmartNIC features optimize VM and container traffic

3. High-Speed Storage Networks

• Excellent choice for iSCSI, NVMe-oF, and distributed storage

4. Data Center Network Upgrades

• Smooth migration from 10GbE to 25GbE infrastructure

5. HPC & Cluster Computing

• Low-latency networking for compute clusters and parallel workloads

Summary

Strengths

1. Dual-port 25GbE with backward compatibility to 10/1GbE
2. PCIe 4.0 ×8 interface ensures high throughput
3. ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC architecture with RDMA support
4. Low latency and high efficiency for storage and compute workloads
5. Broad OS support (Linux, Windows Server, VMware ESXi)
6. Flexible SFP28 fiber and DAC cabling

Considerations

1. Requires SFP28 modules or DAC cables (not included)
2. PCIe Gen4 x8 slot required for optimal performance
3. Designed for enterprise and data center use rather than small office setups

Conclusion

The Mellanox ConnectX-6 MCX631102AN-ADAT is a powerful and flexible dual-port 25GbE SmartNIC that delivers low latency, high throughput, and RDMA acceleration. It is an excellent choice for enterprises and data centers upgrading from 10GbE to 25GbE, as well as for storage, virtualization, and high-performance computing environments.