Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN ConnectX-5 EN 100GbE 1-port QSFP28 PCI-E NIC

Overview of Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN 100GbE NIC

The MELLANOX MCX545A-CCUN ConnectX-5 EN is a high-performance OCP 2.0 Type 2 network adapter engineered for enterprise-grade networking, cloud infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, and high-bandwidth virtualization environments. Featuring a single-port QSFP28 interface and PCIe Gen3 x16 connectivity, this advanced Ethernet NIC delivers ultra-fast throughput with low latency and optimized power efficiency.

General Specifications

• Brand: Mellanox
• Part Number: MCX545A-CCUN 
• Product Series: ConnectX-5 EN
• Product Type: Network Interface Card

Technical Specification

• Single-port QSFP28 Ethernet interface
• Supports copper and optical connectivity
• 100GbE ultra-high-speed data transmission
• Designed for OCP 2.0 Type 2 platforms
• UEFI enabled architecture
• PCI Express Gen3 x16 host interface
• No bracket design for specialized deployments

PCIe Gen3 High-Speed Interface

• PCIe Gen3 SERDES at 8.0GT/s
• 16-lane interface configuration
• Backward compatibility with PCIe 2.0 and 1.1
• Enhanced packet processing performance
• Reduced network bottlenecks

Broad Ethernet Protocol Compatibility

Supported Ethernet Standards

• 100GBASE-CR4
• 100GBASE-KR4
• 100GBASE-SR4
• 50GBASE-R2 and 50GBASE-R4
• 40GBASE-CR4, KR4, SR4
• 40GBASE-LR4 and ER4
• 25GBASE-R
• 20GBASE-KR2
• 10GBASE-LR, ER, CX4, CR, KR, and SR
• SGMII support
• 1000BASE-CX and 1000BASE-KX

Supported Data Rates

• 1 Gb/s
• 10 Gb/s
• 25 Gb/s
• 40 Gb/s
• 50 Gb/s
• 100 Gb/s

Power Specifications

• Typical power usage: 14.48W with passive cables
• Maximum power consumption: 17.57W using passive cables
• Up to 21.07W with 1.5W active cables
• QSFP28 port power availability up to 3.5W
• Supports 3.3Vaux, 5Vaux, and 12V power inputs

Hardware Dimensions

• Card size: 3.07 inches x 4.33 inches
• Dimensions: 78.00mm x 110.05mm
• Single QSFP28 connector configuration
• Supports passive and active cable deployments

Environmental Specifications

• Operational temperature range: 0°C to 55°C
• Storage temperature range: -40°C to 70°C
• Supports up to 90% relative humidity
• Operational altitude support up to 3050 meters

 Ideal Applications

• Cloud computing infrastructure
• Enterprise virtualization
• High-frequency trading networks
• AI and machine learning workloads
• Hyper-converged environments
• Data center networking
• Storage area networking
• High-performance computing clusters

Outline of Mellanox 1 Port QSFP28 Network Adapter

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN ConnectX-5 EN network interface card is engineered to deliver exceptional Ethernet connectivity for enterprise data centers, cloud computing environments, virtualization platforms, and hyperscale infrastructures. Designed specifically for OCP2.0 Type 2 server architectures, this advanced networking adapter combines ultra-fast 100GbE connectivity with reliable host management functionality and optimized PCIe Gen3 x16 bandwidth efficiency. Organizations seeking low-latency networking, increased throughput, and scalable data transfer capabilities can benefit significantly from the performance enhancements provided by this ConnectX-5 EN adapter.

As modern workloads continue to demand greater network efficiency, the Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN series stands out for its ability to support large-scale deployments with advanced acceleration technologies. The MCX545A-CCUN model integrates a single-port QSFP28 interface capable of delivering 100 Gigabit Ethernet performance while maintaining stable communication across high-density server clusters. Its compatibility with OCP2.0 Type 2 specifications ensures seamless integration into modern open compute environments, helping businesses optimize airflow, reduce power consumption, and streamline rack-level networking architecture.

Advanced 100GbE Ethernet Connectivity

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN adapter is purpose-built for demanding 100GbE networking applications. With a single QSFP28 port delivering ultra-high bandwidth, organizations can support data-intensive workloads including artificial intelligence processing, machine learning, big data analytics, storage networking, and high-frequency transactional environments. The 100 Gigabit Ethernet capability significantly improves network responsiveness while reducing bottlenecks commonly associated with legacy 10GbE and 25GbE infrastructure.

Modern enterprise environments often rely on rapid communication between servers, storage arrays, and virtualized workloads. The ConnectX-5 EN architecture enables consistent throughput and low packet latency, ensuring mission-critical applications receive uninterrupted network access. This network interface card supports advanced Ethernet protocols and data transport enhancements that improve overall network efficiency in high-density computing deployments.

The QSFP28 interface utilized by the MCX545A-CCUN supports high-speed optical and direct attach copper connectivity options. This flexibility allows IT administrators to customize deployments according to distance requirements, performance expectations, and infrastructure budgets. Whether integrated into top-of-rack switching environments or high-speed aggregation layers, the adapter provides scalable networking capabilities suitable for rapidly growing data center infrastructures.

OCP2.0 Type 2 Architecture Compatibility

The Open Compute Project continues to influence modern server and networking hardware design by promoting scalable and efficient infrastructure standards. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN is specifically designed for OCP2.0 Type 2 compatibility, making it an ideal networking solution for hyperscale data centers and enterprise cloud environments built around open hardware architectures.

OCP2.0 Type 2 network adapters are engineered to maximize server efficiency while minimizing unnecessary hardware complexity. This form factor supports improved airflow management, reduced thermal output, and optimized cable organization within densely populated rack deployments. By adopting the OCP standard, organizations can simplify hardware maintenance and improve deployment consistency across multiple server platforms.

The MCX545A-CCUN adapter integrates efficiently into OCP-compliant server systems while maintaining enterprise-grade performance and reliability. Its compact design and optimized power characteristics contribute to improved operational efficiency in large-scale environments where thermal management and energy consumption remain critical concerns.

Benefits of Open Compute Networking Standards

Open Compute networking standards provide numerous operational advantages for modern enterprises. The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN adapter leverages these standards to deliver simplified deployment processes and predictable hardware compatibility across supported systems. Standardized hardware architecture enables faster infrastructure scaling while reducing vendor-specific deployment complications.

Organizations utilizing OCP2.0 Type 2 hardware often experience enhanced rack density and improved cooling efficiency. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN complements these objectives through optimized thermal performance and streamlined physical integration. Data centers focused on maximizing operational scalability benefit from the adapter’s ability to support high-throughput networking without introducing unnecessary infrastructure overhead.

By supporting open infrastructure initiatives, the ConnectX-5 EN platform also enables greater flexibility for cloud providers and enterprise IT teams seeking modular networking architectures. The adapter can be integrated into custom server configurations designed for evolving computational workloads and future network expansion requirements.

PCIe 3.0 x16 High-Bandwidth Interface

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN utilizes a PCIe 3.0 x16 host interface designed to maximize bandwidth efficiency between the network adapter and server platform. PCIe Gen3 x16 connectivity delivers substantial throughput capacity, ensuring the network controller can fully utilize its 100GbE Ethernet capabilities without creating internal communication bottlenecks.

High-performance networking applications demand rapid packet processing and efficient memory access. The PCIe 3.0 x16 interface enables accelerated data movement between CPU, memory, and network resources, helping organizations maintain stable application performance even under heavy network loads. This architecture is especially valuable in environments involving virtualization, software-defined networking, distributed storage, and GPU-based computational workloads.

The combination of ConnectX-5 EN technology and PCIe Gen3 x16 integration ensures balanced system performance across demanding enterprise infrastructures. Applications involving high transaction rates, large-scale data migration, and real-time analytics benefit from the reduced latency and increased throughput provided by this hardware configuration.

Optimized Throughput for Data-Intensive Applications

Modern computing environments frequently involve massive data transfers between servers, storage devices, and distributed applications. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN is optimized for these demanding workloads through intelligent packet acceleration and high-bandwidth PCIe integration. This allows organizations to reduce communication delays and improve overall application responsiveness.

Large virtualization clusters, containerized workloads, and cloud-native applications require stable networking performance to maintain operational consistency. The ConnectX-5 EN platform supports advanced data acceleration features that help minimize CPU overhead and improve packet processing efficiency across high-volume network environments.

By reducing transmission delays and supporting efficient packet handling, the MCX545A-CCUN contributes to improved application scalability and better infrastructure utilization. Enterprises operating latency-sensitive workloads can benefit from the adapter’s high-speed data transfer capabilities and optimized server integration.

UEFI Enabled Networking Capabilities

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN includes UEFI-enabled functionality designed to support modern server initialization and remote management environments. Unified Extensible Firmware Interface compatibility enhances system boot reliability while enabling advanced deployment and provisioning features commonly required in enterprise and hyperscale infrastructures.

UEFI support allows administrators to implement streamlined network boot processes and automated infrastructure deployment workflows. This functionality is particularly valuable in environments utilizing diskless boot configurations, centralized management systems, and large-scale virtualization platforms. The ability to perform network-based provisioning simplifies infrastructure administration and improves operational consistency across multiple server deployments.

Modern enterprise environments increasingly depend on automation and remote configuration capabilities. The UEFI-enabled design of the ConnectX-5 EN adapter supports these operational objectives while ensuring compatibility with contemporary server firmware standards and enterprise deployment methodologies.

Enhanced Deployment Flexibility

Infrastructure administrators often require networking hardware capable of supporting automated deployment procedures and scalable management operations. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN provides this flexibility through advanced firmware integration and UEFI support. Organizations can implement faster deployment cycles while maintaining consistent configuration standards across server fleets.

UEFI-enabled network interfaces also improve compatibility with modern operating systems and enterprise orchestration platforms. This contributes to simplified lifecycle management and reduced deployment complexity for organizations operating large-scale data center environments.

The combination of advanced Ethernet performance and enterprise-ready firmware support positions the ConnectX-5 EN adapter as a practical solution for businesses seeking reliable networking infrastructure with long-term scalability potential.

Host Management Functionality for Enterprise Environments

One of the defining features of the Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN is its integrated host management capability. Enterprise and cloud infrastructures often require advanced remote management functionality to support system monitoring, diagnostics, and maintenance procedures. The ConnectX-5 EN adapter incorporates host management support to improve operational visibility and simplify administrative workflows.

Host management functionality enables administrators to monitor system status, manage firmware operations, and maintain network connectivity even in complex infrastructure environments. This capability enhances reliability and contributes to improved uptime for mission-critical systems operating in enterprise data centers and cloud platforms.

Remote management integration is increasingly important in geographically distributed infrastructure environments where physical hardware access may be limited. The MCX545A-CCUN supports centralized management approaches that help organizations reduce operational overhead while improving response times for maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.

Infrastructure Monitoring and Operational Efficiency

Efficient infrastructure monitoring is essential for maintaining stable network operations. The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN adapter supports enterprise management workflows that provide greater visibility into network performance and hardware health. Administrators can proactively identify potential issues and implement corrective measures before operational disruptions occur.

The ability to integrate advanced host management features into high-speed networking infrastructure improves overall operational resilience. Businesses relying on continuous application availability benefit from the enhanced monitoring capabilities and management flexibility provided by the MCX545A-CCUN.

As enterprise environments continue evolving toward automation and software-defined infrastructure models, intelligent management capabilities become increasingly valuable. The ConnectX-5 EN platform aligns with these operational trends by supporting scalable administration and improved infrastructure oversight.

Low-Latency Performance for Modern Workloads

Low-latency networking is critical for modern enterprise applications including financial trading systems, cloud computing platforms, distributed databases, and real-time analytics environments. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN is engineered to minimize transmission delays and maximize packet processing efficiency, helping organizations maintain responsive application performance under demanding network conditions.

ConnectX-5 EN technology incorporates advanced acceleration capabilities that reduce CPU utilization while improving overall data transfer efficiency. By offloading networking tasks from the primary processor, the adapter enables server resources to remain focused on application workloads rather than packet handling operations.

The reduced latency characteristics of the MCX545A-CCUN contribute to improved responsiveness across distributed applications and virtualized infrastructures. Organizations operating large-scale computational workloads can benefit from the adapter’s ability to support consistent low-latency communication between interconnected systems.

Network Acceleration Technologies

The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN platform integrates multiple acceleration technologies designed to optimize Ethernet communication efficiency. These enhancements improve packet throughput while minimizing processing overhead, resulting in better overall infrastructure performance.

Advanced networking acceleration features support efficient handling of large data streams and complex network traffic patterns. This is especially valuable in environments involving high-performance storage systems, clustered applications, and software-defined networking architectures.

By enabling more efficient communication between servers and network devices, the MCX545A-CCUN helps organizations achieve improved scalability and reduced application response times. The adapter’s acceleration capabilities contribute to better utilization of available compute and networking resources across enterprise environments.

Cloud Computing and Virtualization Optimization

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN is highly suitable for cloud computing infrastructures and virtualization platforms that demand scalable networking performance. Modern virtualized environments often involve extensive east-west traffic between virtual machines, containers, and distributed services. High-speed Ethernet connectivity plays a vital role in maintaining workload responsiveness and infrastructure efficiency.

ConnectX-5 EN technology supports advanced virtualization features that improve network resource allocation and reduce communication overhead within virtualized server environments. The adapter enables efficient data exchange between virtual machines while supporting high-density virtualization deployments.

Cloud service providers and enterprise IT environments benefit from the MCX545A-CCUN’s ability to deliver stable 100GbE performance across dynamic workloads. Its support for scalable networking architectures helps organizations accommodate growing traffic demands while maintaining reliable application performance.

Efficient Resource Utilization in Virtualized Platforms

Virtualization technologies rely heavily on consistent network throughput and low latency. The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN adapter helps optimize virtualized infrastructure performance by supporting efficient packet processing and intelligent workload distribution. This reduces resource contention and enhances operational scalability.

Containerized application environments also benefit from the adapter’s advanced networking capabilities. High-bandwidth communication between orchestration platforms, microservices, and storage systems enables faster application deployment and improved service responsiveness.

As enterprises continue adopting hybrid cloud and multi-cloud deployment strategies, scalable networking solutions become increasingly important. The MCX545A-CCUN provides the Ethernet performance necessary to support evolving infrastructure requirements and high-density computational workloads.

Enterprise Data Center Scalability

Scalable networking infrastructure is essential for modern enterprise data centers facing continuously increasing data processing requirements. The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN provides the performance and reliability needed to support large-scale server environments, storage clusters, and distributed application architectures.

The 100GbE connectivity capabilities of the ConnectX-5 EN platform allow organizations to consolidate workloads while maintaining high-speed communication across infrastructure layers. This contributes to improved resource utilization and simplified network architecture management.

Data centers designed for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing workloads require efficient data movement between processing nodes and storage resources. The MCX545A-CCUN supports these demanding environments through high-throughput Ethernet connectivity and optimized PCIe integration.

Future-Ready Networking Infrastructure

As network traffic volumes continue to grow, organizations require infrastructure capable of supporting future expansion without extensive hardware replacement cycles. The Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN adapter delivers advanced networking performance suitable for long-term scalability and evolving enterprise requirements.

The adoption of 100GbE networking provides businesses with greater flexibility when planning future infrastructure upgrades. Higher bandwidth availability supports emerging technologies and data-intensive applications while helping organizations reduce the complexity associated with maintaining multiple lower-speed network connections.

By integrating advanced Ethernet technology with enterprise-grade management capabilities, the MCX545A-CCUN offers a balanced networking solution for organizations seeking reliable, scalable, and high-performance infrastructure deployment options.

Compatibility with Modern Operating Systems and Platforms

The Mellanox MCX545A-CCUN ConnectX-5 EN adapter is designed to support a broad range of enterprise operating systems and server environments. Compatibility with modern Linux distributions, virtualization platforms, and enterprise infrastructure frameworks ensures seamless integration into diverse IT ecosystems.

Organizations deploying private cloud platforms, hyper-converged infrastructure, or software-defined networking environments benefit from the adapter’s extensive platform support. This compatibility simplifies deployment procedures and reduces integration challenges across mixed hardware environments.

Enterprise IT administrators often prioritize networking hardware capable of supporting long-term software compatibility and firmware updates. The ConnectX-5 EN platform aligns with these operational requirements by providing stable driver support and enterprise-focused firmware management capabilities.

Flexible Deployment Across Multiple Infrastructure Types

The MCX545A-CCUN can be deployed across a wide variety of infrastructure models including enterprise data centers, cloud computing platforms, telecommunications networks, and research computing environments. Its flexible architecture supports both traditional enterprise applications and emerging computational technologies.

Support for high-speed Ethernet standards and modern server architectures allows organizations to implement the adapter within existing infrastructure while preparing for future networking advancements. This deployment flexibility helps reduce infrastructure transition costs and improves long-term hardware investment value.

Whether utilized in virtualization clusters, storage networks, or large-scale cloud environments, the Mellanox ConnectX-5 EN adapter delivers reliable networking performance tailored to modern enterprise computing requirements.