Dell DN78C Nvidia ConnectX-6 Lx 2Port 10/25GbE SFP28, OCP NIC 3.0.

Overview of Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx

The Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx is a high-performance network interface card (NIC) designed to deliver exceptional data transfer speeds and enhanced connectivity for modern data centers, cloud infrastructures, and enterprise applications. This cutting-edge NIC supports 10/25GbE SFP28 connectivity, ensuring optimal performance in demanding environments that require low-latency and high-bandwidth solutions.

Key Features of the Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC

• Dual Port Design: Equipped with two ports, this NIC offers redundancy and increased throughput, ensuring reliability and high availability for critical applications.
• 10/25GbE SFP28 Connectivity: Provides versatile compatibility and future-ready networking options, accommodating a range of configurations.
• OCP NIC 3.0 Lx Form Factor: Compact and standardized, it integrates seamlessly with OCP-compatible systems, enhancing deployment flexibility.
• Advanced Offloading Capabilities: Offloads key networking functions to reduce CPU overhead and improve overall system performance.
• Security Enhancements: Features hardware-level security to safeguard data integrity and prevent unauthorized access.
• Support for SR-IOV: Streamlines virtualization by enabling efficient resource allocation for virtual machines.

Applications and Use Cases

The Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx is tailored for environments requiring high-speed, low-latency connections. Common applications include:

Data Centers

Essential for scaling modern data center operations, this NIC supports hyperscale networking and ensures seamless connectivity for rack servers and storage systems.

Cloud Computing

Ideal for cloud service providers, the NIC enhances data transfer rates and minimizes latency, ensuring smooth operations for distributed computing and storage solutions.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Critical for HPC applications, the NIC supports demanding workloads, such as scientific simulations and AI/ML training, by providing superior bandwidth and low-latency communication.

Virtualization

Facilitates efficient virtualization by enabling optimal VM-to-VM communication and resource sharing through SR-IOV and other advanced features.

Benefits of Using the Dell DN78C NIC

• Improved Performance: Reduces latency and increases throughput for seamless data handling.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Optimizes CPU usage through advanced offloading features.
• Scalability: Adapts to various networking environments, supporting current and future needs.
• Security: Protects critical data and systems with hardware-embedded security.
• Reliability: Dual port design ensures redundancy and fault tolerance.

Understanding SFP28 Connectivity

What is SFP28?

SFP28 (Small Form-Factor Pluggable 28) is a transceiver module standard used for high-speed network connections. It supports up to 25Gbps per lane and is compatible with SFP+ modules for backward compatibility.

Advantages of SFP28

• High Bandwidth: Supports up to 25Gbps, ideal for modern applications.
• Low Power Consumption: Offers efficiency with reduced power usage compared to other transceiver types.
• Backward Compatibility: Works with SFP+ ports for flexible deployment.

OCP NIC 3.0 Lx Form Factor Explained

Advanced Offloading Capabilities

TCP/IP and RDMA Offloading

By offloading TCP/IP and RDMA tasks, the Dell DN78C NIC reduces CPU usage, improving application performance and enabling more efficient data processing.

NVGRE and VXLAN Support

These tunneling protocols are crucial for virtualized environments, enabling efficient encapsulation and transport of virtual network traffic across physical infrastructures.

Hardware-Level Security

Hardware Root of Trust

The Dell DN78C NIC includes a hardware root of trust, which ensures secure boot processes and protects against firmware tampering.

Data Encryption

Supports encryption standards to secure sensitive data during transmission, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

SR-IOV for Virtualization

Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SR-IOV) allows the NIC to efficiently allocate resources to virtual machines (VMs). This improves performance and reduces latency in virtualized environments, making it an excellent choice for cloud-based workloads.

Compatibility and System Integration

The Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx is fully compatible with OCP-compliant systems and integrates seamlessly into Dell servers. Its plug-and-play functionality ensures quick installation and deployment.

Supported Operating Systems

The NIC is compatible with various operating systems, including major Linux distributions and Windows Server, ensuring broad deployment versatility.

Supported Server Models

This NIC is optimized for Dell PowerEdge servers and other OCP-compliant platforms, ensuring reliability and consistent performance.