MCX713104AS-ADAT Mellanox Quad-Port SFP56 50 25GbE PCIe 4.0 x16 Ethernet Adapter Without Crypto.

Overview of Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Ethernet Adapte

Manufacturer Details

Brand: Mellanox 
Part Number: MCX713104AS-ADAT 
Product Type: Quad-Port SFP56 Ethernet Adapter

Key Features 

• Supports both InfiniBand and Ethernet interfaces for versatile networking solutions
• InfiniBand Trade Association Spec 1.5 compliant, ensuring industry-standard performance
• Advanced RDMA capabilities for high-efficiency data transmission
• Scalable transmission units ranging from 256 bytes to 4 kilobytes, supporting up to 2GB messages
• Features up to 16 million input/output channels, providing extensive data handling capacity

InfiniBand Interface

• Fully compliant with InfiniBand specifications for seamless integration
• Supports efficient send/receive semantics for improved network operations
• Capable of handling up to 2GB message sizes with maximum flexibility

Ethernet Interface

• Up to four configurable network ports, offering both NRZ and PAM4 modulation schemes
• Supports data rates of 50GbE, 100GbE, 200GbE, and 400GbE, ensuring future-proof connectivity
• RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) support for improved data transfer efficiency

Comprehensive Product Specifications

Network Protocols

• InfiniBand and Ethernet compatibility, offering flexible networking options
• InfiniBand speeds include NDR (400Gb/s), HDR (200Gb/s), and EDR (100Gb/s)
• Ethernet speeds range from 400GbE to 10GbE, covering a wide range of bandwidth requirements

Physical and Host Interface Details

• Available in multiple form factors: PCIe HHHL (Half-Height Half-Length), FHHL (Full-Height Half-Length), and OCP3.0 TSFF/SFF
• PCIe Gen5 host interface with up to x32 lanes, providing ultra-fast data transmission capabilities
• Utilizes NRZ (Non-Return to Zero) and PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) technologies for enhanced signal integrity and bandwidth

Network Port Configurations

• Supports 1, 2, or 4 network ports, customizable to your networking needs
• Maximum bandwidth of 400Gb/s for high-performance data centers and applications

Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Quad-Port Adapter 

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Ethernet Adapter delivers top-tier performance, flexibility, and efficiency for data centers and cloud environments. Built on the robust ConnectX-7 architecture, this quad-port SFP56 adapter offers both 50GbE and 25GbE connectivity options, making it an ideal choice for high-performance computing, storage platforms, and virtualized environments. The adapter supports PCIe 4.0, providing superior bandwidth and reducing latency for demanding data workloads.

High-Speed Connectivity with SFP56 Ports

This Mellanox adapter is equipped with four SFP56 ports, offering seamless support for both 50GbE and 25GbE networking speeds. The flexibility to operate across various speeds ensures that your infrastructure can adapt to evolving network demands. SFP56 transceivers provide enhanced signal integrity and longer distances between connected devices, allowing for efficient data transfer even in larger data center architectures.

50GbE and 25GbE Networking Benefits

The combination of 50GbE and 25GbE speeds allows businesses to strike a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. While 50GbE is ideal for environments requiring high-throughput applications such as AI and machine learning, 25GbE offers a more cost-efficient solution for organizations looking to scale their networks without sacrificing performance. The dual-speed capability of the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT makes it versatile enough to support diverse workloads.

PCIe 4.0 x16 Interface for Enhanced Bandwidth

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT utilizes the latest PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, which doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, offering up to 32 GT/s. This high-bandwidth interface ensures that the adapter can handle large volumes of data without bottlenecking, making it ideal for high-performance applications such as distributed storage, big data analytics, and cloud-based services. Additionally, PCIe 4.0 provides lower latency and more reliable performance for time-sensitive data transmissions.

Advantages of PCIe 4.0 in Modern Data Centers

The shift to PCIe 4.0 is essential for modern data centers that require faster data transfer rates and improved scalability. With the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT adapter, users can benefit from the higher throughput provided by PCIe 4.0, leading to enhanced performance in virtualization, storage networking, and distributed applications. This interface allows for more efficient utilization of server resources and supports future-proofing for next-generation workloads.

Secure Boot and Encryption Capabilities

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT is designed with security in mind, offering a range of advanced features to protect data integrity and privacy. The adapter is equipped with Secure Boot functionality, ensuring that only authorized firmware and software are executed during the system startup process. While this particular model is without cryptography, its Secure Boot feature is a critical component in preventing unauthorized access and tampering in sensitive environments.

Importance of Secure Boot in Data Center Security

Secure Boot is a fundamental security measure in preventing malicious software from taking control of system processes. By verifying the integrity of the software before it is allowed to run, Secure Boot helps maintain the stability and security of the infrastructure. In data centers where uptime and data protection are critical, having an adapter like the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT with Secure Boot enabled ensures that security is not compromised at any level of operation.

Applications of Secure Boot in Cloud and Enterprise Environments

In cloud computing and enterprise environments, data security is of utmost importance. Secure Boot helps maintain trust between the hardware and software layers, ensuring that sensitive data is not exposed to potential threats. This security feature is especially important for companies that handle proprietary information, intellectual property, or regulated data. The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT provides peace of mind for organizations that prioritize security in their network infrastructure.

Optimized for Virtualization and Cloud Computing

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT is built with virtualization in mind, making it an ideal choice for cloud-based services and virtualized data centers. Its quad-port design allows for multiple virtual machines (VMs) to share the same physical adapter, optimizing resource utilization and reducing costs associated with additional hardware. The adapter supports advanced offloading technologies, which free up CPU resources and improve the overall performance of virtualized workloads.

SR-IOV and Virtualization Efficiency

Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) is a key feature of the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT, allowing multiple VMs to directly access the network adapter’s resources. SR-IOV improves network performance in virtualized environments by reducing overhead and latency. This technology ensures that virtual machines have dedicated resources, improving data flow efficiency and enabling better isolation between virtual instances. For businesses that rely heavily on virtualized infrastructure, SR-IOV helps to enhance overall system performance and scalability.

Offloading Technologies for High Performance

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT includes a range of offloading technologies, such as TCP/UDP/IP checksum offloading and Large Send Offload (LSO), which enhance network efficiency by reducing the load on the CPU. These features are essential in high-performance environments where server workloads can become bottlenecked by network processing tasks. By offloading these tasks to the adapter, the server’s CPU can focus on other critical processes, leading to improved application performance and reduced latency.

Compatibility with Data Center and Cloud Infrastructures

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Ethernet adapter is designed to be highly compatible with a wide range of data center and cloud infrastructures. Its support for various networking protocols, including RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and VXLAN, makes it adaptable to different types of networks and architectures. This flexibility ensures seamless integration into existing systems, reducing the complexity and cost of deployment for IT administrators.

RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) Support

RoCE is a crucial feature for environments that require low-latency, high-throughput networking, such as high-performance computing (HPC) and storage systems. The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT supports RoCE, enabling direct memory access across the network without involving the CPU, which significantly reduces latency and improves performance for demanding applications like real-time data analytics and distributed databases.

Benefits of RoCE in High-Performance Computing

RoCE allows data to be transferred quickly and efficiently between nodes in a network, making it ideal for use in high-performance computing clusters, financial trading platforms, and other latency-sensitive applications. With RoCE support, the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT ensures that your network can handle the most demanding workloads while maintaining low-latency performance. This technology is essential for organizations that need to process large amounts of data in real time.

VXLAN and Network Virtualization

VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) is another key feature supported by the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT. VXLAN allows for the creation of virtualized networks over a physical network infrastructure, making it easier to manage large-scale data centers and cloud environments. By encapsulating Layer 2 frames within Layer 3 packets, VXLAN provides a scalable solution for extending networks across distributed data centers, making it an ideal choice for cloud service providers and large enterprises.

Scalability and Flexibility with VXLAN

The use of VXLAN allows for greater scalability in data center networks by providing more virtual network IDs (VNIDs) than traditional VLANs. This means that data centers can support more tenants or customers, while still maintaining isolation between different virtual networks. The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT’s support for VXLAN ensures that it can meet the needs of modern, large-scale cloud infrastructures, providing the flexibility required for growing businesses.

Energy Efficiency and Reliability

Designed with power efficiency in mind, the Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT minimizes energy consumption without compromising performance. This is particularly important in data centers where power usage and cooling costs can be a significant operational expense. By utilizing energy-efficient components and advanced power management features, this adapter helps reduce the total cost of ownership for IT infrastructure while maintaining high levels of reliability and performance.

Low Power Consumption for Cost Savings

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT features energy-efficient design optimizations that lower power consumption compared to similar network adapters. This reduction in power usage translates to significant cost savings over time, particularly in large-scale data center operations where every watt saved can result in reduced cooling and operational expenses. The adapter’s ability to deliver high performance with minimal energy consumption makes it an attractive choice for organizations seeking to optimize both performance and efficiency.

Reliable Operation in High-Density Environments

In high-density environments, reliability is key to maintaining continuous operation. The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT is built to withstand the demanding conditions of data center environments, with robust components that ensure consistent performance even under heavy workloads. Its tall bracket form factor provides additional stability and ensures a secure connection in rack-mounted systems, minimizing the risk of failures or downtime due to physical disturbances.

Form Factor and Compatibility with Server Systems

This Mellanox Ethernet adapter comes with a tall bracket, making it compatible with a wide range of rack-mounted server systems. The tall bracket provides enhanced stability and fits securely in standard PCIe slots, ensuring that the adapter remains firmly in place during operation. Its form factor is designed to optimize airflow within server racks, contributing to efficient cooling and preventing overheating in densely populated environments.

Benefits of Tall Bracket Design

The tall bracket design offers several advantages for data center environments. It provides a secure fit in server systems, reducing the risk of disconnections or failures due to vibrations or physical disturbances. Additionally, the taller form factor helps improve airflow and cooling within the server rack, preventing the buildup of heat that can lead to reduced performance or hardware failures. The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT’s tall bracket design ensures reliable and stable operation in high-density data center environments.

Compatibility with Leading Server Brands

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Ethernet adapter is compatible with a wide range of server platforms from leading manufacturers. Its PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures that it can be seamlessly integrated into systems from top brands such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Supermicro. This broad compatibility makes it a versatile choice for IT administrators looking to upgrade their network infrastructure without needing to overhaul their existing server hardware.

Conclusion

The Mellanox MCX713104AS-ADAT Quad-Port SFP56 50/25GbE PCIe 4.0 x16 Ethernet Adapter is a powerful and flexible solution for high-performance networking. With its support for multiple speeds, advanced security features, and robust compatibility with modern data center and cloud infrastructures, this adapter is well-suited for a range of applications, from virtualization and cloud computing to high-performance storage and data analytics. Its energy efficiency, reliable operation, and flexible form factor make it an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their network performance while keeping operational costs under control.