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

Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia 10/25GbE SFP28 Network Adapter

The Dell DN78C is a high-performance dual-port OCP NIC 3.0 network adapter designed to support demanding enterprise, cloud, and data center networking environments. Powered by the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC architecture, this adapter provides outstanding throughput, intelligent networking capabilities, and advanced hardware security while maintaining exceptional efficiency. It is an ideal networking solution for organizations planning scalable 10GbE and 25GbE infrastructures.

Product Details

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Dell Part Number: DN78C
• Device Type: Network Adapter
• Form Factor: OCP NIC 3.0
• Port Configuration: Dual Port
• Interface: SFP28
• Supported Speeds: 10GbE and 25GbE
• Chipset: NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx

Advanced Networking Performance

Built for modern workloads, the Dell DN78C enables low-latency, high-bandwidth communication across virtualized infrastructures and enterprise networks. The NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Lx controller improves packet processing efficiency while reducing CPU utilization, allowing servers to dedicate more resources to mission-critical applications.

Performance Highlights

• Supports high-speed 10GbE and 25GbE network connectivity.
• Optimized for virtualization, cloud computing, and software-defined networking.
• Provides exceptional throughput for storage, AI, and database workloads.
• Minimizes latency for real-time data transmission.
• Improves server responsiveness under heavy traffic loads.

NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC Technology

The integrated NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC delivers intelligent networking acceleration with enterprise-grade reliability. It enhances overall infrastructure performance while simplifying deployment in large-scale data centers.

Key SmartNIC Advantages

• Hardware-based network acceleration.
• Advanced security capabilities for modern infrastructures.
• Improved network efficiency with reduced overhead.
• Scalable architecture for expanding business environments.
• Optimized traffic management across virtualized workloads.

Dual SFP28 Port Configuration

The two SFP28 interfaces offer flexible deployment options for redundant networking, failover protection, and increased aggregate bandwidth. Businesses can easily integrate the adapter into existing fiber-based infrastructures while preparing for future network expansion.

Benefits of Dual-Port Connectivity

• Higher network availability.
• Improved load balancing.
• Support for redundant network paths.
• Greater flexibility for enterprise deployments.
• Enhanced bandwidth utilization.

Enterprise Security Features

Security is a major component of the Dell DN78C network adapter. The ConnectX-6 Lx platform incorporates intelligent hardware security technologies that help safeguard data traffic, reduce vulnerabilities, and strengthen overall network protection in enterprise and cloud environments.

Security Capabilities

• Hardware-assisted security functions.
• Reliable protection for sensitive workloads.
• Enhanced data integrity.
• Support for secure enterprise networking.
• Designed for modern cloud security requirements.

Designed for Cloud, Enterprise, and Telecom Networks

The Dell DN78C is engineered to meet the networking demands of large organizations operating cloud platforms, telecommunications infrastructure, virtualization clusters, and enterprise data centers. Its balance of speed, scalability, and reliability makes it suitable for both current and future networking requirements.

Ideal Deployment Environments

• Private cloud infrastructure.
• Public cloud platforms.
• Enterprise data centers.
• Hyper-converged infrastructure.
• Telecommunication service providers.
• Virtual machine clusters.
• Software-defined networking environments.

Compatible Dell PowerEdge Servers

The Dell DN78C network adapter has been validated for use with numerous Dell PowerEdge server platforms, ensuring dependable compatibility and seamless integration.

Supported PowerEdge Models

• PowerEdge C6520
• PowerEdge C6525
• PowerEdge R450
• PowerEdge R550
• PowerEdge R650
• PowerEdge R650xs
• PowerEdge R6525
• PowerEdge R660
• PowerEdge R6615
• PowerEdge R6625
• PowerEdge R750
• PowerEdge R750xa
• PowerEdge R750xs
• PowerEdge R7525
• PowerEdge R760
• PowerEdge R760xa
• PowerEdge R7615
• PowerEdge R7625
• PowerEdge XE9640

Key Advantages

• Enterprise-grade networking reliability.
• High-speed fiber connectivity.
• Reduced processor overhead.
• Excellent scalability for expanding infrastructures.
• Advanced SmartNIC acceleration.
• Lower total cost of ownership for 25GbE deployments.

Applications

• Data center networking.
• Enterprise virtualization.
• Cloud computing platforms.
• Storage networking.
• High-performance computing (HPC).
• Artificial intelligence infrastructure.
• Mission-critical enterprise workloads.

Dell DN78C Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 Adapters

Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx 10/25GbE SFP28 Network Adapters are engineered for modern enterprise networking environments that demand exceptional throughput, ultra-low latency, advanced virtualization support, and outstanding reliability. Designed around the NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Lx controller and built in the OCP NIC 3.0 form factor, these adapters provide organizations with an efficient solution for upgrading servers to high-performance 10GbE and 25GbE networking. Businesses deploying virtualization clusters, software-defined storage, cloud infrastructure, high-performance computing environments, AI workloads, and enterprise applications benefit from the advanced networking capabilities offered by these adapters.

The Dell DN78C adapter integrates seamlessly into compatible Dell PowerEdge servers equipped with OCP NIC 3.0 slots, helping maximize PCIe expansion capacity while delivering enterprise-grade Ethernet connectivity. With dual SFP28 ports, organizations gain deployment flexibility by supporting both 10GbE and 25GbE network speeds, allowing gradual infrastructure upgrades without requiring immediate replacement of existing networking equipment. This flexibility helps reduce long-term capital expenditures while ensuring compatibility with evolving data center requirements.

Designed for continuous enterprise operation, the Dell DN78C combines hardware acceleration, intelligent packet processing, advanced security capabilities, and optimized power efficiency into a compact networking solution. Its enterprise-ready architecture minimizes CPU overhead while improving application responsiveness across virtualization hosts, storage clusters, distributed databases, and cloud-native environments.

Enterprise-Class Network Performance

Network performance directly impacts application responsiveness, storage efficiency, virtualization density, and overall data center productivity. The Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx adapter delivers consistent high-bandwidth connectivity capable of supporting demanding enterprise workloads operating around the clock.

Each adapter provides dual independent Ethernet interfaces capable of operating at either 10GbE or 25GbE depending on network infrastructure and transceiver selection. This flexibility enables organizations to deploy the adapter across mixed-speed environments while maintaining investment protection for future upgrades.

High-Speed Connectivity

The dual SFP28 interfaces support high-performance Ethernet connectivity for modern server environments where bandwidth-intensive applications require rapid data transmission. Whether supporting storage traffic, virtualization migration, cloud networking, or database synchronization, the adapter provides stable and predictable performance under heavy workloads.

Consistent Low Latency

Low latency is essential for enterprise applications requiring immediate packet delivery. Financial services, database clusters, AI processing, software-defined storage, and virtualization platforms all benefit from the efficient packet handling capabilities built into the ConnectX-6 Lx architecture. Hardware optimizations reduce delays while improving responsiveness across distributed workloads.

High Throughput for Modern Applications

Modern enterprise applications continuously exchange large amounts of data between servers, storage arrays, backup systems, and cloud platforms. The Dell DN78C adapter supports sustained high-throughput communication that helps reduce bottlenecks while maintaining reliable network performance during peak utilization.

NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Lx Architecture

The NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Lx Ethernet controller serves as the foundation for the Dell DN78C network adapter. This controller incorporates numerous enterprise networking technologies that improve scalability, efficiency, virtualization performance, and hardware acceleration.

Intelligent Packet Processing

Hardware-based packet processing minimizes CPU utilization by offloading repetitive networking tasks from the host processor. This allows server CPUs to dedicate more resources toward application execution, database operations, virtualization workloads, and cloud services.

Hardware Offloading Technologies

The adapter supports numerous hardware offloading capabilities that reduce operating system overhead while increasing overall server efficiency. These technologies accelerate checksum calculations, segmentation tasks, receive processing, and packet aggregation to improve networking performance under demanding workloads.

Scalable Ethernet Capabilities

The scalable architecture supports growing enterprise environments where increasing network traffic requires adapters capable of handling large numbers of simultaneous connections without performance degradation. This scalability makes the adapter suitable for expanding cloud infrastructures and growing virtualization clusters.

OCP NIC 3.0 Form Factor Advantages

The Open Compute Project (OCP) NIC 3.0 specification was developed to standardize server networking interfaces while maximizing internal server expansion capabilities. The Dell DN78C follows this specification, allowing compatible Dell PowerEdge servers to dedicate PCIe slots for storage controllers, GPU accelerators, RAID controllers, or additional expansion devices.

Optimized Server Design

By utilizing a dedicated OCP networking slot, the adapter helps create cleaner server layouts while simplifying cable routing and airflow management. This contributes to improved thermal efficiency and easier maintenance within enterprise data centers.

Efficient Expansion

Organizations deploying multiple storage controllers, NVMe expansion cards, FPGA accelerators, or GPU computing resources benefit from preserving traditional PCIe slots while maintaining high-speed networking through the dedicated OCP interface.

Reduced Installation Complexity

OCP NIC modules simplify deployment by providing standardized installation procedures across compatible server platforms. This reduces deployment time while improving serviceability throughout the server lifecycle.

Dual Port SFP28 Connectivity

The Dell DN78C features two independent SFP28 network interfaces, providing deployment flexibility for enterprise networking architectures.

Redundant Network Paths

Dual ports enable redundant network connectivity that improves availability for mission-critical applications. Administrators can configure network redundancy using active-passive or active-active configurations depending on infrastructure requirements.

Load Balancing Support

Organizations can distribute traffic across both Ethernet ports to maximize available bandwidth while improving application responsiveness during heavy network utilization.

Storage Network Separation

One interface may be dedicated to storage traffic while the second interface supports production network communication. This logical separation improves overall infrastructure organization and performance.

Flexible Infrastructure Design

The independent ports support various network topologies including virtualization clusters, hyper-converged infrastructure, backup networks, management networks, and software-defined storage deployments.

Support for 10GbE and 25GbE Networks

The ability to operate at multiple Ethernet speeds provides valuable flexibility for organizations transitioning between networking generations.

Migration Without Immediate Replacement

Many organizations continue operating mixed 10GbE and 25GbE environments during infrastructure upgrades. The Dell DN78C allows servers to integrate into either network speed without requiring separate adapter models.

Investment Protection

Supporting multiple Ethernet speeds extends the useful service life of networking hardware while enabling gradual migration strategies aligned with budget planning.

Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure

Organizations can continue utilizing existing fiber cabling, switches, and transceivers while upgrading servers incrementally as business needs evolve.

Virtualization Optimization

Virtualization remains one of the primary deployment scenarios for the Dell DN78C Dual Port Nvidia ConnectX-6 OCP NIC 3.0 Lx adapter. Enterprise hypervisors require reliable networking capable of supporting numerous virtual machines simultaneously while minimizing CPU overhead.

VM Density Improvements

Efficient packet processing enables servers to host larger numbers of virtual machines while maintaining responsive network performance. This contributes to improved hardware utilization and infrastructure consolidation.

Virtual Machine Migration

High-bandwidth Ethernet connectivity accelerates live migration processes, reducing migration windows while minimizing application disruption.

Network Virtualization Support

Modern virtualized environments rely heavily on virtual networking technologies. The adapter supports advanced networking features that integrate with software-defined networking platforms.

Reduced Hypervisor Overhead

Hardware acceleration technologies decrease hypervisor networking overhead, allowing processors to allocate more resources toward guest operating systems and business applications.

Cloud Infrastructure Deployments

Cloud service providers and enterprise private cloud deployments require scalable networking capable of supporting dynamic workloads across distributed infrastructure.

Private Cloud Environments

The adapter provides reliable networking for enterprise private cloud deployments supporting virtual machines, containers, and software-defined services.

Hybrid Cloud Integration

Organizations extending workloads between on-premises infrastructure and cloud providers benefit from predictable high-speed connectivity supporting synchronization and workload migration.

Multi-Tenant Infrastructure

Cloud environments serving multiple users simultaneously require network adapters capable of maintaining consistent performance across varying workload demands.

Software-Defined Storage Performance

Software-defined storage platforms depend heavily on high-speed networking for replication, synchronization, distributed file systems, and storage clustering.

Storage Replication

Large storage environments frequently replicate data between nodes to improve availability and disaster recovery readiness. The Dell DN78C provides sufficient bandwidth to support continuous replication operations efficiently.

Cluster Communication

Storage clusters exchange metadata, synchronization traffic, and data blocks continuously. Reliable low-latency Ethernet connectivity contributes to improved storage responsiveness.

Backup Infrastructure

Enterprise backup operations generate significant network traffic during scheduled protection windows. High-speed Ethernet connectivity shortens backup durations while reducing production impact.