Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card PCIe 1-Port Fiber Optic

Interface: PCI Express

The Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card is equipped with a PCI Express interface, which offers numerous benefits and plays a crucial role in delivering high-performance networking capabilities. In this section, we will explore the importance of the PCI Express interface and how it enhances the overall functionality of the adapter card.

Main Features of Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT

• Manufacturer: Mellanox
• Part Number (SKU): MCX515A-GCAT
• Device Type: Single-port Network Adapter
• Product Name: 50 Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter

Technical Specifications

• PCIe Version: 3.0
• Port Type: QSFP28
• Number of Ports: 1
• Maximum Data Rate: 50 Gbps
• Connectivity Technology: Wired

Data Link Protocol Support

• GigE
• 10 GigE
• 25 Gigabit Ethernet
• 40 Gigabit LAN
• 50 Gigabit LAN

Supported Network Protocols

• TCP/IP
• UDP/IP
• iSCSI

Compliance with Industry Standards

• IEEE 802.1Q - VLAN Tagging
• IEEE 802.1P - Traffic Prioritization
• IEEE 802.3AD - Link Aggregation (LACP)
• IEEE 802.3AE - 10Gb Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3AP - Backplane Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3AZ - Energy Efficient Ethernet
• IEEE 802.3BA - 40Gb and 100Gb Ethernet
• IEEE 802.1AX - Link Aggregation
• IEEE 802.1QBB - Priority-based Flow Control
• IEEE 802.1QAZ - Enhanced Transmission Selection
• IEEE 1588v2 - Precision Time Protocol (PTP)
• IEEE 802.3BY - 25Gb Ethernet

Network Protocol Standards

• IEEE 802.3BJ - Backplane Ethernet for 100Gb/s Operation
• IEEE 802.3BM - 40 and 100Gb/s Ethernet

Additional Information

• Provides ultra-high-performance connectivity for data-intensive environments
• Designed for optimized server utilization with PCI Express 3.0
• Ideal for high-speed data transfer in data centers and enterprise networking environments

High-Speed Data Transfer

With a PCI Express interface, the Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card can achieve lightning-fast data transfer rates. The PCI Express technology utilizes serial communication lanes, allowing for simultaneous data transmission in both directions. This bidirectional communication enables efficient and speedy data transfers between the network and the adapter card.

The high-speed data transfer capability of the PCI Express interface is particularly advantageous for bandwidth-intensive applications such as data centers, cloud computing, and high-performance computing environments. Users can experience seamless data flow, reduced latency, and increased network efficiency.

Scalability and Flexibility

Another significant benefit of the PCI Express interface is its scalability and flexibility. The Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card supports different generations of PCI Express, ensuring compatibility with various server architectures and expansion requirements.

As technology evolves, new generations of PCI Express are introduced to provide faster data transfer speeds. By offering backward compatibility, the MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card ensures that users can seamlessly upgrade their server infrastructure without replacing the entire network adapter. This scalability allows for future-proofing and helps organizations optimize their investments by extending the lifespan of their hardware.

Multi-Port Capability

The PCI Express interface also enables multi-port capability, allowing users to connect multiple devices to a single adapter card. This feature is particularly useful in environments where space is limited or when there is a need to consolidate network connections. With multiple ports on a single adapter card, users can reduce the number of PCIe slots required, freeing up valuable space for other expansion cards or components.

The Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card supports multiple ports, which can be beneficial in scenarios where high network availability or redundancy is required. Users can create link aggregation groups or configure the ports for failover purposes, ensuring uninterrupted network connectivity and minimizing downtime.

Enhanced Performance and Reliability

The PCI Express interface enhances the overall performance and reliability of the Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card. The direct communication between the adapter card and the server's CPU ensures minimal latency and maximizes data throughput. This direct connection eliminates potential bottlenecks and improves overall system responsiveness.

Furthermore, the reliability of the PCI Express interface is unmatched. Its point-to-point connection architecture provides dedicated communication channels for each device, minimizing interference and maximizing data integrity. Users can rely on a stable and consistent network connection, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission even under heavy workloads.

Ports: 1

The Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card features a single port, which offers several benefits and is essential for various networking scenarios. In this section, we will delve into the importance of having a single port on the adapter card and how it caters to different user requirements.

Cost-Effective Solution

For users with limited networking needs or those on a budget, a single-port Ethernet adapter card like the Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT can be a cost-effective solution. By offering a single port, this adapter card eliminates the need for additional ports that may not be utilized or required in specific use cases.

The single-port design allows users to optimize their investment by purchasing only what they need. It is an ideal choice for small businesses, home offices, or personal setups where a single network connection is sufficient.

Space-Saving Design

The compact form factor of the Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card with a single port makes it a space-saving solution. In environments where physical space is limited, such as small-scale data centers or crowded server racks, having a single-port adapter card can be advantageous.

The space-saving design of the MCX515A-GCAT ensures that users can maximize their server infrastructure without compromising on performance. It allows for efficient utilization of available space and enables better airflow within the server chassis, which contributes to improved overall system cooling.

Targeted Network Connectivity

In certain networking scenarios, a single-port Ethernet adapter card can be highly beneficial. For example, in point-to-point connections or dedicated network setups, having a single port ensures targeted connectivity between specific devices or systems. This targeted network connectivity offers enhanced security and minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.

Additionally, a single-port adapter card can be used for specialized applications that require dedicated network resources. Users can allocate the entire bandwidth and resources of the adapter card to a single device or application, ensuring optimal performance and eliminating potential bottlenecks caused by shared resources.

Ease of Configuration and Management

Managing and configuring a single-port Ethernet adapter card like the Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT is generally simpler compared to multi-port cards. With fewer ports to configure and manage, users can streamline their network setup and reduce complexity.

The simplified configuration process allows for faster deployment and easier maintenance. Users can focus on optimizing the performance of the single port, fine-tuning settings, and monitoring network traffic without the added complexity of managing multiple ports.

Media: Optical Fiber

The Mellanox MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card supports optical fiber media, which offers numerous benefits and is a crucial feature for users seeking high-speed, long-distance network connectivity. In this section, we will explore the advantages and importance of optical fiber media in the context of the MCX515A-GCAT adapter card.

High-Speed and Long-Distance Connectivity

Optical fiber media is renowned for its ability to provide high-speed and long-distance connectivity. Compared to traditional copper-based Ethernet cables, optical fiber cables can transmit data at significantly higher speeds and over longer distances without degradation.

With the support for optical fiber media, the MCX515A-GCAT adapter card enables users to establish high-speed connections capable of meeting the demands of modern networking applications. Whether it's connecting servers in a data center or extending network connectivity between buildings, optical fiber media ensures reliable and efficient data transmission.

Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference

One of the key advantages of using optical fiber media is its immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI). Copper-based Ethernet cables are susceptible to EMI, which can degrade signal quality and result in poor performance or intermittent connectivity.

The MCX515A-GCAT Ethernet Adapter Card's compatibility with optical fiber media eliminates the risk of EMI. Optical fiber cables are immune to external electromagnetic fields, ensuring consistent and reliable data transmission even in electrically noisy environments. This immunity makes optical fiber media an ideal choice for deployments in industrial settings or areas with high levels of electrical interference.

Enhanced Security

Security is a critical concern for any network infrastructure, and optical fiber media offers inherent security advantages. Unlike copper cables, which emit electromagnetic signals that can be intercepted or tapped into, optical fiber cables do not radiate signals that can be easily intercepted.

The MCX515A-GCAT adapter card's support for optical fiber media ensures that network communications remain secure from potential eavesdropping or data interception attempts. This enhanced security is particularly important for organizations dealing with sensitive data, such as financial institutions, government agencies, or healthcare providers.

Future-Proofing and Scalability

Optical fiber media provides a future-proof solution for network infrastructure. As technology advances and demands for higher bandwidth increase, optical fiber can support these requirements without the need for costly upgrades or infrastructure changes.

By supporting optical fiber media, the MCX515A-GCAT adapter card allows users to scale their network infrastructure without limitations imposed by physical cable lengths or bandwidth constraints. It provides a flexible and scalable solution that can adapt to evolving networking needs, ensuring long-term investment protection.