MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB Mellanox ConnectX-6 Single Port DX 100GbE Adapter Card

Explore High-Performance Networking with Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX Adapter Cards

The Mellanox MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB ConnectX-6 Single Port DX 100GbE Adapter Card delivers powerful, next-generation networking capabilities for data centers, high-performance computing, and enterprise workloads. As part of the ConnectX-6 DX family, this single-port 100GbE adapter offers best-in-class performance, robust security features, and industry-leading scalability.

Understanding the ConnectX-6 DX Architecture

The ConnectX-6 DX architecture by Mellanox, now a part of NVIDIA, represents a quantum leap in data networking. The MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB model utilizes a single-port configuration for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) connectivity, which significantly boosts throughput while minimizing latency. With PCIe Gen4 support, hardware acceleration for security and virtualization, and compatibility with a range of form factors, it is tailored for data-intensive applications in evolving IT ecosystems.

ConnectX-6 DX Family Overview

Part of the sixth-generation ConnectX family, the DX series introduces a wide array of improvements over its predecessor (ConnectX-5). It provides accelerated networking, improved latency, enhanced scalability, and offloaded CPU usage with intelligent hardware engines. Ideal for NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF), AI workloads, cloud infrastructures, and network security use cases, the DX adapter family meets the demands of modern workloads.

Key Highlights of the ConnectX-6 Single Port 100GbE Adapter

• Single QSFP56 port supporting up to 100GbE
• PCI Express Gen 4.0 x16 interface
• Advanced offloads for virtualization and storage
• IPsec and TLS inline hardware encryption engines
• RoCE v2, RDMA, and SR-IOV support
• Open vSwitch and DPDK compatibility
• Form factor: Full-height PCIe adapter

Target Applications and Use Cases

The MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB ConnectX-6 DX 100GbE adapter is engineered for enterprise and cloud data centers that need ultra-fast networking, enhanced security, and low power consumption. Typical use cases include:

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

With RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), this adapter card is a staple for HPC clusters. It supports low-latency, high-throughput workloads such as scientific simulations, modeling, and research analytics.

Cloud Infrastructure and Data Centers

Whether in private, hybrid, or public cloud environments, the 100GbE adapter ensures seamless virtualization, fast container networking, and secure multi-tenant operations. It supports OpenStack, Kubernetes, and VMware infrastructures.

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

AI workloads require rapid data movement and minimal processing overhead. This adapter card offloads data transfer tasks and accelerates AI pipelines with intelligent traffic management and congestion control features.

Network Security Acceleration

The inline crypto engines for IPsec and TLS make this adapter ideal for zero-trust security environments. It can encrypt/decrypt data at line rate, without taxing the host CPU, thereby improving both performance and security posture.

Advanced Features That Set the MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB Apart

Several advanced features distinguish this Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX adapter card from the competition:

Hardware Offloads

Hardware offloads such as TCP/UDP/IP checksum, large send offload (LSO), and receive side scaling (RSS) help reduce CPU utilization. This allows servers to dedicate more resources to applications rather than networking functions.

Inline Crypto Engines

With hardware-based encryption support, including TLS and IPsec, data security is significantly improved without a performance hit. This is critical for compliance-heavy environments like financial institutions and healthcare providers.

SmartNIC Capabilities

Beyond standard NIC operations, the ConnectX-6 DX acts as a SmartNIC, offering programmable pipelines and support for eBPF, P4, and DOCA software frameworks. This makes it a powerful component in software-defined networks (SDN).

NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)

Support for NVMe-oF enables high-speed storage access across the network, essential for IOPS-intensive applications like large-scale databases and real-time analytics. NVMe over TCP and RDMA options are available.

Technical Specifications

Physical and Electrical

• Connector: 1x QSFP56
• PCIe Interface: PCIe Gen4 x16
• Form Factor: Full-height, half-length
• Power Consumption: ~14.5W (typical)

Networking Standards

• Ethernet: 1/10/25/40/50/100GbE
• Protocols: TCP, UDP, IPv4, IPv6, RoCE v2, VXLAN, GENEVE
• RDMA Support: Yes, over RoCE and InfiniBand

Security Capabilities

• IPsec and TLS hardware acceleration
• Secure Boot and UEFI support
• MACsec compatibility

Software Compatibility

• Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, VMware ESXi
• Virtualization: SR-IOV, VxLAN, NVGRE, Open vSwitch
• Driver Support: OFED, WinOF-2, DPDK, RDMA-core

Compatibility and Deployment Options

This Mellanox adapter card integrates seamlessly with a wide array of hardware and software environments:

Supported Servers and Platforms

• Dell EMC PowerEdge Servers
• HPE ProLiant and Apollo Systems
• Supermicro GPU/Storage Servers
• Lenovo ThinkSystem and SD650 platforms
• White-box and custom-built servers

Networking Switch Compatibility

For optimal performance, the MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB works best with 100GbE-capable switches such as:

• Mellanox Spectrum and SN3700 switches
• Arista 7050X and 7280R series
• Cisco Nexus 9000 series
• Juniper QFX5100 and QFX10000

Performance Benchmarks and Real-World Metrics

In benchmark testing, the ConnectX-6 DX 100GbE adapter consistently outperforms similar cards in its class. Here are some key real-world statistics:

• Throughput: Up to 100 Gbps line-rate with minimal packet loss
• Latency: Sub-1µs round-trip latency in RoCEv2 environments
• CPU Offload: Up to 30% reduction in host CPU utilization
• Crypto Performance: Up to 90 Gbps of encrypted traffic throughput

The MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB for Your Network Infrastructure

Long-Term Investment Value

Equipped with support for future technologies like PCIe Gen4 and AI acceleration, this adapter is a future-ready component. It supports the latest standards and integrates into next-gen compute infrastructures with ease.

Trusted by Enterprises Worldwide

Enterprises across financial services, cloud computing, research, and telecommunications trust the ConnectX-6 series for its reliability, scale, and secure networking features. With global vendor support and a robust software ecosystem, this model is a preferred choice.

Comparing Mellanox ConnectX-6 with Other Adapter Cards

Versus ConnectX-5

• Higher throughput with PCIe Gen4 vs. Gen3
• Built-in crypto engines for TLS/IPsec
• Enhanced SmartNIC features and programmable pipelines

Versus Intel E810 Series

• Lower latency and better RDMA support
• Superior storage and NVMe-oF offloads
• Better integration with GPU-based platforms

Versus Broadcom NetXtreme

• More advanced security offloads
• More comprehensive virtualization support
• Greater flexibility in multi-tenant environments

Environment and Sustainability Considerations

The Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX series is designed with energy efficiency in mind. With a typical power draw of only 14.5W, the MCX623435MC-CDAE_FB provides exceptional performance per watt, supporting green computing initiatives.

Certifications and Compliance

• RoHS compliant
• FCC, CE, VCCI certified
• Compliant with ISO 14001 manufacturing standards