MCX542A-ACAN Mellanox En NIC for OCP2.0 Type 1, 25GBE Dual-Port SFP28 PCIe 3.0 x16

Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN Dual-Port 25GbE Interface Card

Product Overview

The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN is a high-performance dual-port 25 Gigabit Ethernet network interface card (NIC) engineered for modern enterprise servers, cloud infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, virtualization platforms, and high-performance computing (HPC) environments. Designed in the OCP 2.0 Type 1 form factor, this advanced Ethernet adapter provides exceptional bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and reliable connectivity while supporting both copper and fiber networking solutions through dual SFP28 interfaces.

Featuring PCI Express 3.0 x16 connectivity, comprehensive host management capabilities, and compatibility with multiple Ethernet speeds, the MCX542A-ACAN delivers flexible deployment options for organizations seeking to upgrade their networking infrastructure without sacrificing performance, scalability, or efficiency.

General Product Information

• Manufacturer: Mellanox
• Part Number: MCX542A-ACAN
• Product Category: Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Form Factor: OCP 2.0 Type 1

Key Benefits of Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN

Performance Advantages

• High-speed 25GbE connectivity
• Dual-port network redundancy
• Ultra-fast PCIe Gen3 x16 interface
• Low-latency packet transmission
• Excellent bandwidth utilization

Deployment Benefits

• OCP 2.0 Type 1 compatibility
• Supports optical and copper networking
• Broad Ethernet protocol compatibility
• Easy integration into existing infrastructures
• Flexible migration from 10GbE to 25GbE

Operational Benefits

• Efficient power consumption
• Enterprise-grade reliability
• Integrated host management functionality
• Stable thermal performance
• Long-term operational durability

Dual SFP28 Interface Benefits

• Supports optical transceivers
• Compatible with passive copper DAC cables
• Supports active copper cables
• Ideal for short and long-distance networking
• Enables redundant network paths
• Provides high availability and failover capabilities

Multiple Ethernet Speed Compatibility

• 1 Gigabit Ethernet
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• 25 Gigabit Ethernet

Comprehensive Ethernet Protocol Support

• 25GBASE-CR
• 25GBASE-CR-S
• 25GBASE-SR
• 25GBASE-LR
• 25 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium standards
• 10GBASE-SR
• 10GBASE-LR
• 10GBASE-ER
• SGMII
• 1000BASE-X

PCI Express 3.0 x16 Interface

• PCI Express Gen 3.0 technology
• 8.0 GT/s signaling speed
• 16 PCIe lanes
• Backward compatibility with PCIe Gen 2.0
• Backward compatibility with PCIe Gen 1.1
• Optimized data throughput

Advanced Host Management Features

• Centralized hardware monitoring
• Simplified server administration
• Enhanced infrastructure visibility
• Reliable system management
• Improved operational efficiency

Power Consumption and Energy Efficiency

Typical Power Usage

• Passive cables: 12.95 Watts
• Active 1.5W cables: 15.95 Watts

Maximum Power Consumption

• Passive cables: 15.55 Watts
• Active 1.5W cables: 18.55 Watts
• Standby (5V AUX / 12V): 4 Watts
• Standby (3.3V AUX): 0.94 Watts

Cooling and Airflow Requirements

Recommended Cooling Specifications

• Passive cable airflow: 350 LFM (Heatsink to Port)
• Passive cable airflow: 400 LFM (Port to Heatsink)
• Active cable airflow: 350 LFM (Heatsink to Port)
• Active cable airflow: 400 LFM (Port to Heatsink)

Supported Voltage Inputs

• 3.3V PCI
• 3.3V AUX
• 5V AUX
• 12V

Environmental Specifications

Operating Temperature Range

• Operating: 0°C to 55°C
• Storage: -40°C to 70°C

Humidity Tolerance

• Operating humidity: 10% to 85% relative humidity
• Storage humidity: 10% to 90% relative humidity

Product Highlights

• Original Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN Network Adapter
• OCP 2.0 Type 1 compliant design
• Dual-port SFP28 Ethernet interfaces
• Supports 1GbE, 10GbE, and 25GbE networking
• PCI Express 3.0 x16 host interface
• Integrated Host Management support
• Compatible with copper DAC and optical transceivers
• Designed for cloud, enterprise, and HPC deployments
• Optimized power efficiency
• Reliable thermal and environmental performance

Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN Network Interface Card

The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN En Network Interface Card for OCP2.0 Type 1 with Host Management, 25GbE Dual-Port SFP28 PCIe 3.0 x16 is engineered to deliver enterprise-grade networking performance for modern data centers, cloud computing platforms, virtualization environments, and high-performance enterprise infrastructures. Designed around Mellanox's renowned ConnectX family of Ethernet adapters, this advanced network interface card provides exceptional throughput, low latency, superior scalability, and intelligent hardware acceleration to satisfy the growing demands of contemporary IT infrastructures. Organizations that require reliable 25 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity can leverage this network adapter to improve application responsiveness, reduce CPU overhead, optimize virtualization performance, and simplify large-scale deployments.

Supporting dual-port 25GbE SFP28 connectivity, the MCX542A-ACAN offers significant bandwidth improvements compared to traditional 10 Gigabit Ethernet adapters while maintaining efficient power consumption and outstanding compatibility with existing enterprise networking equipment. The adapter is specifically designed for OCP2.0 Type 1 environments, making it suitable for hyperscale servers, cloud-native infrastructures, edge computing deployments, storage networking, and software-defined data centers.

Enterprise-Class 25 Gigabit Ethernet Performance

As organizations transition toward faster networking technologies, the need for reliable and scalable 25 Gigabit Ethernet solutions continues to grow. The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN En Network Interface Card addresses this demand by providing dual independent 25GbE ports capable of delivering high-speed data transmission while maintaining consistent network reliability.

The increase from legacy 10GbE to 25GbE enables businesses to handle larger workloads, increasing numbers of virtual machines, expanding storage requirements, AI workloads, containerized applications, and cloud-native services without creating network bottlenecks. Higher throughput also contributes to faster data synchronization, reduced backup windows, and improved responsiveness for business-critical applications.

The advanced architecture minimizes packet loss while maintaining extremely low latency, making the adapter ideal for environments where predictable network performance is essential. Enterprise databases, virtualization clusters, storage systems, and distributed computing frameworks all benefit from the increased bandwidth available through dual-port 25GbE connectivity.

Dual-Port SFP28 Connectivity

Dual SFP28 interfaces provide flexible deployment options for redundant networking, link aggregation, storage traffic separation, virtualization traffic isolation, and high-availability network architectures. Organizations can utilize both ports simultaneously to maximize bandwidth or configure them independently for improved fault tolerance.

SFP28 technology enables the use of various compatible optical transceivers and direct attach copper cables depending on deployment requirements. This flexibility simplifies network expansion while allowing businesses to optimize infrastructure investments according to distance, cost, and performance objectives.

PCI Express 3.0 x16 High-Speed Interface

The PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface supplies sufficient host bandwidth to fully utilize dual-port 25GbE networking capabilities. High-speed PCIe communication minimizes internal bottlenecks between the network adapter and server processor, ensuring efficient movement of network traffic throughout the entire computing platform.

The wide PCIe interface supports demanding enterprise workloads involving virtualization, storage access, cloud computing, analytics, backup operations, and large-scale distributed applications. This architecture allows servers to process millions of packets while maintaining consistently high throughput.

Designed for OCP2.0 Type 1 Server Platforms

The Open Compute Project has introduced standardized hardware designs that improve efficiency, interoperability, and scalability across modern data centers. The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN is specifically engineered for OCP2.0 Type 1 server implementations, allowing seamless integration into compatible enterprise and hyperscale hardware platforms.

OCP-compliant adapters reduce deployment complexity by following standardized mechanical and electrical specifications. Data center operators can rapidly install, replace, and manage network adapters without requiring proprietary hardware designs or customized integration procedures.

Optimized Mechanical Design

The compact OCP2.0 Type 1 form factor enables efficient airflow inside high-density server chassis while simplifying cable management and maintenance operations. Efficient thermal characteristics contribute to improved hardware longevity and stable performance under continuous enterprise workloads.

Hyperscale Deployment Advantages

Cloud providers and hyperscale data centers frequently standardize on OCP hardware because it simplifies inventory management and accelerates hardware deployment. The MCX542A-ACAN aligns with these operational goals by providing consistent networking performance across thousands of server installations.

Integrated Host Management Capabilities

One of the distinguishing features of the Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN is its integrated Host Management functionality. Host Management enables administrators to perform monitoring, provisioning, diagnostics, firmware updates, and remote management tasks more efficiently while improving infrastructure visibility.

Enterprise administrators increasingly require centralized management capabilities as server deployments continue expanding across multiple locations. Integrated Host Management reduces administrative complexity while supporting automated infrastructure management strategies used in modern software-defined data centers.

Enhanced Remote Administration

Remote management capabilities minimize the need for physical intervention when troubleshooting or maintaining networking infrastructure. IT teams can monitor adapter health, collect diagnostic information, perform firmware maintenance, and manage networking resources using centralized management platforms.

Improved Operational Efficiency

By integrating management functions directly into the adapter, organizations can reduce downtime, accelerate issue resolution, improve maintenance scheduling, and enhance overall infrastructure reliability.

Advanced Virtualization Acceleration

Virtualization continues to serve as a foundational technology for enterprise IT environments. The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN incorporates advanced hardware acceleration technologies that significantly improve virtual machine networking performance while minimizing CPU utilization.

As virtualization density increases, network adapters must efficiently distribute workloads without overwhelming host processors. Hardware offloading features allow networking tasks to be processed directly by the adapter, leaving more CPU resources available for applications and virtual machines.

SR-IOV Support

Single Root I/O Virtualization enables multiple virtual machines to directly access physical network resources with minimal software overhead. This significantly reduces latency while increasing throughput for demanding enterprise applications.

Virtual Switching Acceleration

The adapter accelerates virtual switching operations by reducing software processing requirements, improving packet forwarding efficiency, and enabling faster communication between virtual workloads.

Cloud Computing and Software-Defined Infrastructure

Cloud computing environments require network adapters capable of supporting dynamic workloads, automated provisioning, and elastic resource allocation. The MCX542A-ACAN provides the networking foundation necessary for public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud deployments.

Software-defined infrastructure relies heavily on programmable networking components capable of integrating with orchestration platforms and virtualization frameworks. The adapter supports scalable cloud architectures while maintaining predictable network performance under varying workload conditions.

Containerized Workloads

Container orchestration platforms generate significant east-west network traffic between microservices. The adapter delivers sufficient bandwidth and low latency to ensure responsive communication between distributed application components.

Hybrid Cloud Integration

Organizations operating hybrid cloud environments benefit from reliable high-speed connectivity between on-premises infrastructure and cloud services. Dual-port 25GbE networking supports efficient workload migration, replication, synchronization, and disaster recovery operations.

Storage Networking Performance

Modern enterprise storage infrastructures increasingly depend on high-speed Ethernet networking for SAN, NAS, distributed storage, and software-defined storage platforms. The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN provides excellent performance for storage traffic while minimizing latency during intensive read and write operations.

Large databases, backup systems, virtualization storage, analytics platforms, and distributed file systems all benefit from the adapter's high throughput capabilities. Faster network communication contributes directly to reduced application response times and improved storage efficiency.

Efficient Storage Access

The adapter enables rapid movement of large datasets between servers and storage resources. This capability becomes particularly valuable during backup windows, storage replication, data migration projects, and high-volume transactional processing.

Reduced Storage Latency

Low-latency networking improves application responsiveness by decreasing the time required to retrieve or store information across enterprise storage infrastructures.

Comprehensive Hardware Offload Technologies

One of the primary strengths of the Mellanox ConnectX architecture is its extensive hardware acceleration engine. The MCX542A-ACAN incorporates multiple offload technologies that reduce processor utilization while improving networking efficiency.

Hardware offloading allows networking operations to execute directly on the adapter instead of consuming valuable CPU resources. This results in improved application performance, increased virtualization density, and more efficient server utilization.

Checksum Offloading

Checksum calculations are handled directly by the network interface card, reducing processor workload while ensuring reliable packet integrity throughout network communications.

Segmentation Offloading

Large data transfers are automatically segmented by the adapter before transmission, reducing CPU overhead and improving overall network throughput.

Receive Side Scaling

Receive Side Scaling distributes incoming network traffic across multiple processor cores, balancing workloads more effectively and improving performance on multi-core server platforms.

Security and Reliability

Enterprise networking requires consistent reliability alongside robust security capabilities. The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN incorporates enterprise-quality engineering practices that contribute to stable long-term operation across demanding environments.

Reliable networking infrastructure supports continuous business operations, minimizes unexpected downtime, and maintains application availability during heavy network utilization.

Reliable Enterprise Operation

The adapter is designed for continuous operation within enterprise servers that remain active around the clock. High manufacturing standards and extensive validation contribute to dependable long-term deployment.

Network Stability

Advanced packet processing algorithms, intelligent buffering, efficient traffic management, and optimized firmware work together to maintain stable network communications even during periods of sustained high utilization.

Compatibility Across Enterprise Operating Systems

The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN supports broad compatibility with leading enterprise operating systems, virtualization platforms, and cloud infrastructure software. This flexibility enables organizations to deploy the adapter within heterogeneous computing environments while maintaining centralized management and consistent performance.

Compatibility with Linux distributions, enterprise virtualization platforms, cloud orchestration frameworks, and various networking stacks simplifies deployment while reducing administrative complexity. Organizations can integrate the adapter into existing infrastructures without requiring major architectural changes.

Virtualization Platform Integration

The network interface card integrates efficiently with enterprise virtualization technologies, allowing administrators to deploy high-density virtualized workloads while maintaining excellent network responsiveness and predictable throughput.

Cloud Platform Compatibility

The adapter supports the networking requirements of cloud orchestration systems, container platforms, software-defined networking environments, and automated infrastructure management solutions used by modern enterprise IT departments.

Ideal Enterprise Deployment Scenarios

The Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN En Network Interface Card serves a wide variety of enterprise applications that require dependable, high-performance networking. Financial institutions, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, telecommunications providers, research laboratories, managed service providers, cloud operators, and enterprise data centers all benefit from the adapter's combination of bandwidth, scalability, reliability, and intelligent hardware acceleration.

Its dual-port 25GbE architecture enables organizations to consolidate networking infrastructure while supporting future expansion. Whether deployed for virtualization clusters, storage networking, software-defined infrastructure, high-performance computing, cloud services, AI platforms, or enterprise application hosting, the adapter delivers consistent performance that aligns with modern data center requirements. The combination of OCP2.0 Type 1 compatibility, Host Management functionality, PCIe 3.0 x16 bandwidth, advanced hardware offloads, virtualization acceleration, and enterprise-grade reliability makes the Mellanox MCX542A-ACAN an excellent networking solution for organizations seeking scalable and future-ready Ethernet connectivity.