YRKJW Dell Nvidia Connectx-6 Network Adapter Lx Dual Port 10/25GBE SFP28 Pcie Low Profile

Dell YRKJW Nvidia ConnectX-6 Network Adapter Overview

The Dell YRKJW Nvidia ConnectX-6 Network Adapter is engineered for enterprise environments that demand high-speed, low-latency, and secure data transmission. With dual-port 10/25GbE SFP28 interfaces and PCIe compatibility in a low-profile form factor, this network adapter is a powerful asset in data centers, high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise networks. By combining Dell's hardware reliability with Nvidia’s leading-edge networking technologies, this adapter facilitates robust data throughput and system scalability.

Advanced Features of the Dell YRKJW ConnectX-6 Network Adapter

The Nvidia ConnectX-6 adapter line introduces a host of advanced features designed to meet the stringent requirements of modern IT infrastructures. It supports dual ports with speeds up to 25GbE, using the versatile SFP28 interface that allows backward compatibility with 10GbE environments. Additionally, the Dell YRKJW model includes a low-profile bracket, making it ideal for space-constrained servers and networking appliances.

High-Bandwidth Capabilities

One of the standout aspects of the Dell YRKJW ConnectX-6 is its exceptional bandwidth potential. With each port capable of delivering up to 25Gbps throughput, and an aggregate of 50Gbps, it ensures that network bottlenecks are minimized. This is particularly critical in applications such as virtualization, high-speed storage access (e.g., NVMe over Fabrics), and large-scale data processing.

Low-Latency Performance

In latency-sensitive environments such as financial trading platforms, telecommunications networks, and scientific computing, the adapter’s low-latency architecture ensures that data packets are transferred with minimal delay. The ConnectX-6’s support for RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) enables direct memory access from one server to another, bypassing the CPU and thus significantly reducing data transfer latency.

Secure Hardware with Enhanced Data Protection

The Dell YRKJW includes advanced encryption engines and secure boot support to enhance data integrity and network trust. With integrated hardware offloading for cryptographic functions such as IPsec and TLS, it ensures that data-in-motion remains protected without sacrificing CPU performance or throughput.

Interface and Compatibility Features

The Dell YRKJW is designed with a dual-port SFP28 interface, which supports both 10GbE and 25GbE speeds. This backward compatibility is particularly beneficial for organizations undergoing incremental upgrades to their networking infrastructure. Whether connecting to legacy 10GbE switches or newer 25GbE backbones, this network adapter integrates seamlessly.

PCI Express Gen4 x8 Interface

The network adapter leverages a PCIe Gen4 x8 host interface, which offers improved bandwidth over Gen3 solutions. This enhanced interface supports high-speed data transfers between the adapter and system memory, ensuring that full line-rate throughput is maintained even under heavy network loads.

Form Factor and Installation Flexibility

With a low-profile bracket included, the Dell YRKJW is ideal for 1U or 2U servers where space is at a premium. Its compact footprint allows it to be deployed in blade servers, rack-mounted systems, and small form factor (SFF) enclosures without compromise. The plug-and-play installation makes deployment straightforward in both Linux and Windows environments.

Use Cases for the Dell YRKJW Nvidia ConnectX-6 Adapter

This network adapter is suitable for a wide array of high-demand environments. Its design optimally serves enterprise applications ranging from virtualization and container orchestration to big data analytics and cloud-native workloads.

Data Center Networking

In large-scale data centers, the Dell YRKJW adapter plays a critical role in maintaining seamless communication between compute nodes and storage systems. Its ability to support large numbers of virtual machines (VMs) per host while ensuring high-speed throughput makes it ideal for cloud providers and SaaS platforms.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

HPC environments require high-speed, low-latency interconnects to ensure accurate and timely processing. The Dell YRKJW’s RoCE and RDMA capabilities facilitate faster inter-node communication, critical for tasks such as scientific simulations, genomic sequencing, and AI model training.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Telecom and edge service providers benefit from this adapter’s ability to offload workloads and reduce CPU utilization. The built-in support for offloading LSO, GSO, TSO, and checksum calculations further enhances network efficiency in NFV deployments.

Technological Advantages of Nvidia’s ConnectX-6 Architecture

The ConnectX-6 architecture builds upon years of innovation in network interface technology. Nvidia’s expertise in GPU-accelerated networking and data movement enhances the value of this Dell OEM solution. With native support for remote direct memory access (RDMA), GPU direct RDMA, and NVMe-oF, this network adapter meets the performance demands of next-generation IT frameworks.

SmartNIC Capabilities

While not a full DPU (Data Processing Unit), the Dell YRKJW ConnectX-6 incorporates elements of SmartNIC architecture, including programmable pipeline, telemetry, and traffic steering. These capabilities allow administrators to manage data flows, monitor performance metrics, and enforce security policies at the hardware level.

Multi-Host and Multi-Function Support

The adapter supports virtualization features such as SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization), allowing multiple virtual functions to be assigned directly to VMs or containers. Multi-host support is another key advantage, enabling a single adapter to serve multiple host systems, which reduces hardware costs and simplifies cabling.

Support for Open Networking Standards

Nvidia’s commitment to open standards is evident in the ConnectX-6 family. The Dell YRKJW model supports various open networking protocols including VXLAN, NVGRE, Geneve, and more. This broad compatibility ensures smooth integration with SDN environments and network automation platforms.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge and Other Enterprise Systems

The Dell YRKJW adapter is tested and certified for use with a wide range of Dell PowerEdge servers, including R640, R740, R750, and C-series platforms. Its robust firmware compatibility and Dell lifecycle assurance mean that IT departments can deploy with confidence, knowing it meets Dell's stringent reliability and support standards.

Operating System and Hypervisor Support

Broad OS support ensures wide applicability across diverse IT environments. The adapter is compatible with major Linux distributions (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu), Windows Server editions, and hypervisors such as VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM. This cross-platform versatility simplifies deployment and reduces administrative overhead.

Driver and Firmware Update Tools

Dell offers lifecycle management tools such as Dell Update Packages (DUPs) and Lifecycle Controller integration, making driver and firmware updates straightforward. Nvidia’s support for MLNX_OFED and WinOF2 driver stacks ensures maximum performance tuning and customization in advanced networking setups.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Design

Energy-efficient design is a critical consideration in modern data centers. The Dell YRKJW features power management functions that dynamically adjust power consumption based on workload demand. The thermal design ensures optimal heat dissipation, supported by the airflow design of Dell servers.

Low Profile, Low Power

With a power draw under 10 watts and a compact footprint, this network adapter fits seamlessly into space- and energy-conscious environments. It is optimized for front-to-back airflow systems, ensuring that it remains cool even under sustained traffic loads.

Network Adapter Management and Monitoring Tools

Advanced manageability features are essential for large deployments. The Dell YRKJW adapter supports a wide array of monitoring tools, including SNMP, telemetry streams, and PCIe error logging. With support for Nvidia’s NEO platform and compatibility with Dell OpenManage, administrators have full visibility into network performance and health.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Prioritization

Built-in QoS mechanisms allow administrators to define traffic shaping policies, ensure bandwidth allocation for critical services, and prioritize data flows in congested networks. These features are especially useful in multi-tenant or application-diverse environments.

Security Management and Offloads

Enhanced security capabilities include support for secure boot, firmware attestation, and TLS/IPsec offloads. These allow secure packet transmission with minimal impact on host CPU resources. With these features, organizations can meet compliance requirements without compromising on network throughput.

Subcategories and Alternative Configurations

The Dell YRKJW is part of a broader category of enterprise-grade network interface cards (NICs). These include various configurations based on speed (10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 100GbE), port types (SFP28, QSFP28, RJ45), and physical form factors (full-height, low-profile, OCP).

Alternative Nvidia Network Adapters

While the ConnectX-6 offers balanced performance and scalability, higher-end models such as the ConnectX-6 Dx and ConnectX-7 provide advanced DPU capabilities, 100GbE+ bandwidth, and deeper telemetry. These are suited for AI and ML workloads with greater data movement requirements.

Use of SFP28 Transceivers

The SFP28 interface used by the Dell YRKJW is compatible with a range of transceivers and DAC (Direct Attach Copper) cables. Depending on the deployment need, administrators can opt for SR, LR, or AOC modules to suit short or long-range connectivity.

Longevity and Support in Enterprise Environments

Dell’s enterprise NICs like the YRKJW are built for long-term operation. Backed by Dell’s ProSupport and Nvidia’s long-term driver support, businesses can depend on multi-year lifecycle support, timely firmware updates, and global RMA services.

Firmware Stability and Reliability

Enterprise-grade firmware undergoes rigorous validation, ensuring stable operation in mission-critical environments. The Dell YRKJW is no exception, providing error-correcting code (ECC) support, watchdog timers, and auto-recovery features that enhance reliability under stress.