MCX623436AN-CDAB Mellanox Dual-Port Adapter Card

Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB 100GbE OCP Adapter Overview

The Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB ConnectX-6 Dx EN Adapter Card is a high-performance Ethernet networking solution engineered for modern enterprise data centers, cloud computing platforms, virtualization environments, and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructures. Featuring dual-port 100GbE QSFP56 connectivity, OCP 3.0 compatibility, PCI Express technology, and advanced host management capabilities, this adapter delivers exceptional throughput, low latency, intelligent packet processing, and enterprise-grade security. Designed for organizations that demand scalable networking performance, the ConnectX-6 Dx enables efficient data movement while supporting next-generation workloads including AI, machine learning, software-defined networking, storage networking, and large-scale virtualization.

General Information of Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB 

• Manufacturer: Mellanox 
• Part Number: MCX623436AN-CDAB 
• Product Type:  Network Adapter 

High-Speed Ethernet Connectivity

• Dual-port 100GbE QSFP56 interfaces
• Supports 1GbE, 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 50GbE, and 100GbE networking
• Maximum data transfer rate up to 100 Gbps per port
• Optimized for ultra-low latency communication
• Designed for bandwidth-intensive workloads

Flexible Server Integration

• Open Compute Project (OCP) 3.0 compliant
• Compact plug-in card architecture
• Ideal for hyperscale servers
• Supports advanced host management
• Simplifies large-scale infrastructure deployment

PCIe Performance Benefits

• PCI Express 4.0 specification support
• PCI Express 3.0 x8 host interface
• Higher bandwidth for demanding applications
• Reduced processor overhead
• Improved overall server responsiveness

Supported Network Protocols

• TCP/IP
• UDP/IP
• IPsec
• SMB
• NFS
• SRP

Integrated Offload Features

• TCP/IP Offload
• UDP/IP Offloading
• Checksum Offload
• Large Send Offload (LSO)
• Large Receive Offload (LRO)
• Receive Side Scaling (RSS)
• iSCSI Remote Boot
• NVMe over Fabrics Offloads
• Burst Buffer Offload
• iSER Support

Virtualization Technologies

• SR-IOV virtualization
• Multi-host Technology
• Socket Direct Technology
• NVMe-oF support
• DPDK acceleration
• NetQueue optimization
• Software Defined Networking (SDN)
• Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

RDMA and Storage Features

• RoCE support
• PeerDirect RDMA
• Mellanox PeerDirect Technology
• NVMe over Fabrics
• iSER support
• SRP protocol compatibility

Security Features

• Firewall protection
• DoS attack prevention
• Firmware Root of Trust
• IPsec support
• Access Control Services (ACS)
• Address Translation Services (ATS)
• Process Address Space ID (PASID)

Overlay Network Support

• VXLAN acceleration
• NVGRE support
• GENEVE support
• MPLS compatibility
• Tunneling technologies
• VLAN tagging

Traffic Management Technologies

• Quality of Service (QoS)
• Traffic Shaping
• Link Aggregation
• IEEE 802.3ad LACP
• IEEE 802.1AX
• Enhanced Ethernet support

Supported IEEE Standards

• IEEE 802.1Q VLAN
• IEEE 802.1P Priority
• IEEE 802.3AE
• IEEE 802.3BA
• IEEE 802.3BS
• IEEE 802.3CD
• IEEE 802.3BJ
• IEEE 802.3BM
• IEEE 802.3BY
• IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol

Additional Enterprise Features

• Firmware upgradable
• PXE boot support
• UEFI support
• Ethernet Remote Boot
• NC-SI management
• MCTP over SMBus
• MCTP over PCIe VDM

Perfect for High-Demand Enterprise Applications

• Dual-port 100GbE QSFP56 connectivity
• Open Compute Project 3.0 compatibility
• Advanced PCIe architecture
• Comprehensive hardware offload acceleration
• Low-latency RDMA networking
• Enterprise-grade security features
• Virtualization and cloud optimization
• Support for modern network overlays
• Intelligent traffic management
• Reliable performance for mission-critical data centers

Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB ConnectX-6 Dx EN Adapter Card

The Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB ConnectX-6 Dx EN Adapter Card 100GbE OCP3.0 with Host Management Dual-Port QSFP56 PCIe is designed to meet the increasing demands of modern enterprise networking, cloud computing, hyperscale infrastructure, software-defined data centers, and high-performance computing environments. Built on the advanced ConnectX-6 Dx architecture, this Ethernet adapter delivers exceptional throughput, extremely low latency, intelligent packet processing, and enterprise-grade security capabilities. Organizations that require reliable, scalable, and high-speed connectivity can leverage this adapter to optimize network efficiency while supporting bandwidth-intensive workloads across virtualized, containerized, and bare-metal deployments.

As network infrastructures continue evolving toward higher bandwidth and greater operational flexibility, the MCX623436AN-CDAB provides an efficient solution that combines dual-port 100GbE connectivity, PCI Express compatibility, OCP 3.0 compliance, host management functionality, and QSFP56 interfaces within a single networking platform. The result is a highly capable Ethernet adapter that supports next-generation applications while maintaining outstanding reliability and operational efficiency.

Advanced ConnectX-6 Dx Ethernet Controller Architecture

The ConnectX-6 Dx family introduces a powerful Ethernet controller architecture engineered to maximize network performance while minimizing processing overhead. Every component of the controller is optimized to accelerate packet handling, improve data movement, reduce CPU utilization, and enable higher application performance. This architectural design makes the MCX623436AN-CDAB suitable for demanding workloads including cloud storage, distributed databases, virtualization clusters, AI platforms, analytics environments, and enterprise business applications.

The intelligent hardware acceleration incorporated into the ConnectX-6 Dx platform enables significantly improved networking efficiency by offloading many processing tasks from host processors. This allows application servers to dedicate more computational resources toward business workloads instead of network management operations.

Designed for Enterprise-Class Networking

Enterprise data centers require networking hardware capable of supporting continuous operation under heavy workloads. The MCX623436AN-CDAB is engineered with enterprise reliability in mind, enabling organizations to maintain stable network performance across mission-critical environments. Whether deployed inside private cloud infrastructures, financial trading systems, healthcare platforms, research laboratories, or government computing facilities, this adapter consistently delivers dependable Ethernet connectivity.

Dual-Port 100GbE Performance

One of the defining characteristics of the Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB is its dual-port 100 Gigabit Ethernet capability. Each QSFP56 interface supports extremely high bandwidth, allowing organizations to build resilient network topologies while simultaneously increasing aggregate throughput. Multiple high-speed links improve redundancy, simplify traffic segmentation, and enable more efficient workload distribution across enterprise networks.

Dual-port networking is especially valuable in environments requiring continuous availability. Organizations can configure redundant connections to minimize downtime while supporting failover mechanisms and load balancing strategies. This flexibility contributes to improved network resilience and uninterrupted application availability.

Optimized Data Throughput

The adapter is specifically engineered for sustained high-speed Ethernet traffic. Large-scale virtualization clusters, storage networks, AI training environments, machine learning infrastructures, media rendering farms, and scientific computing workloads all benefit from the substantial throughput provided by dual 100GbE connectivity. High bandwidth enables rapid data movement while supporting growing storage capacities and increasingly demanding application requirements.

OCP 3.0 Form Factor Compatibility

The Open Compute Project OCP 3.0 specification has become a preferred standard for modern server platforms because it enables greater deployment flexibility, improved airflow management, simplified maintenance, and optimized hardware integration. The MCX623436AN-CDAB fully supports OCP 3.0 implementations, making it an ideal networking solution for current-generation enterprise servers and cloud infrastructure.

OCP 3.0 compliance allows organizations to deploy networking hardware efficiently while reducing installation complexity. Data center administrators benefit from standardized hardware compatibility, streamlined maintenance procedures, and improved equipment interoperability across large infrastructure deployments.

Modern Server Integration

Contemporary enterprise servers increasingly adopt OCP networking standards to maximize scalability and simplify lifecycle management. The Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx adapter integrates seamlessly into these environments while supporting future infrastructure expansion without requiring significant architectural changes.

PCI Express High-Speed Interface

The PCI Express interface serves as the communication backbone between the adapter and host system. High-bandwidth PCIe connectivity ensures that network traffic flows efficiently between server processors, memory resources, storage devices, and external Ethernet networks. This balanced architecture minimizes bottlenecks and maximizes application responsiveness.

PCI Express technology also enables efficient scaling as processor performance and storage capabilities continue advancing. Organizations investing in next-generation server hardware can confidently deploy the MCX623436AN-CDAB knowing that the adapter complements high-performance computing environments.

Reduced Processing Overhead

Hardware acceleration within the PCIe networking architecture minimizes host processor involvement in networking operations. By transferring networking responsibilities directly to the adapter, servers experience lower CPU utilization and improved application efficiency. This translates into better workload consolidation, higher virtualization density, and improved resource utilization across enterprise infrastructure.

Dual QSFP56 Connectivity

The dual QSFP56 ports provide exceptional flexibility for high-speed Ethernet deployments. QSFP56 technology supports modern optical transceivers and high-speed direct attach cables, allowing organizations to select cabling solutions that best fit their network architecture. Whether connecting top-of-rack switches, spine switches, storage arrays, or high-performance computing clusters, QSFP56 interfaces provide reliable high-bandwidth communication.

These interfaces also support scalable infrastructure growth by allowing administrators to expand network capacity without replacing existing server hardware. As network requirements evolve, organizations can continue utilizing the adapter within increasingly sophisticated Ethernet environments.

Flexible Infrastructure Deployment

Different data centers require different connectivity options. QSFP56 compatibility enables flexible deployment strategies across cloud computing facilities, enterprise campuses, research institutions, and telecommunications infrastructure. This adaptability makes the MCX623436AN-CDAB suitable for diverse networking scenarios.

Integrated Host Management Capabilities

Host management functionality enhances operational visibility while simplifying remote administration of enterprise servers. Modern data centers rely heavily on centralized management platforms, and integrated host management support contributes to improved monitoring, maintenance, diagnostics, and infrastructure automation.

Administrators can efficiently supervise network adapter health, operational status, configuration information, and performance metrics while reducing manual intervention. These capabilities become increasingly valuable within hyperscale deployments where thousands of network devices must be monitored simultaneously.

Enhanced Administrative Efficiency

Automated management functions reduce operational complexity and improve infrastructure consistency. Centralized visibility allows administrators to rapidly identify potential issues, optimize network configurations, and maintain higher service availability throughout the enterprise.

Virtualization Performance Enhancement

Virtualized environments require networking hardware capable of efficiently supporting numerous virtual machines operating simultaneously on shared physical infrastructure. The MCX623436AN-CDAB is optimized for virtualization platforms by providing intelligent traffic management, hardware acceleration, and efficient resource allocation.

High-performance virtualization enables organizations to consolidate workloads while maintaining predictable application responsiveness. Virtual machines handling business applications, databases, web services, and development environments all benefit from accelerated networking performance.

Support for Software-Defined Infrastructure

Software-defined networking and software-defined storage environments demand adapters capable of rapid configuration, intelligent traffic handling, and efficient virtualization support. ConnectX-6 Dx technology aligns well with these modern infrastructure models by providing scalable Ethernet connectivity with advanced offload capabilities.

Cloud Computing Optimization

Cloud service providers continuously seek networking solutions that deliver consistent performance under massive traffic volumes. The MCX623436AN-CDAB helps cloud operators maximize resource utilization while supporting rapid workload provisioning, container orchestration, virtual networking, and distributed computing environments.

Private cloud, hybrid cloud, and public cloud deployments benefit from the adapter's combination of bandwidth, scalability, reliability, and intelligent hardware acceleration. High-speed Ethernet communication allows cloud platforms to efficiently support dynamic workloads without introducing excessive latency.

Containerized Workload Support

Modern applications increasingly rely upon Kubernetes and container technologies. High-performance networking accelerates communication between containers, storage platforms, orchestration systems, and distributed microservices. The ConnectX-6 Dx architecture contributes to consistent application responsiveness within containerized environments.

Security Features for Enterprise Infrastructure

Security remains a primary consideration for enterprise networking. The MCX623436AN-CDAB incorporates hardware technologies that strengthen infrastructure protection while supporting secure communications across data center environments. Hardware-based security mechanisms complement software security frameworks by providing additional protection against evolving cyber threats.

Organizations operating within regulated industries including healthcare, finance, education, telecommunications, and government sectors benefit from enterprise-grade networking components designed with security in mind. Protecting sensitive business information begins with trusted infrastructure components capable of maintaining secure communication pathways.

Reliable Network Integrity

Reliable network infrastructure contributes significantly to overall cybersecurity strategy. Stable packet processing, predictable traffic handling, and dependable hardware operation reduce operational risks while supporting secure enterprise communications.

High-Performance Computing Applications

Scientific computing, engineering simulations, genomic research, weather forecasting, artificial intelligence, and machine learning require networking hardware capable of transferring massive datasets with minimal delay. The MCX623436AN-CDAB delivers the bandwidth and responsiveness required for these demanding computational environments.

High-performance computing clusters rely upon rapid communication between compute nodes. Efficient Ethernet connectivity accelerates distributed processing while supporting parallel computing applications that require frequent data exchange between multiple servers.

Storage Networking Acceleration

Enterprise storage solutions require dependable, high-bandwidth networking capable of supporting backup operations, replication, disaster recovery, and large-scale storage access. The MCX623436AN-CDAB accelerates communication between servers and storage systems while maintaining reliable data transfer performance.

Modern storage architectures including NVMe over Fabrics, distributed storage clusters, object storage, and software-defined storage benefit from the adapter's intelligent networking capabilities. Reduced latency and improved throughput contribute to faster storage access and more efficient application performance.

Business Continuity Support

Organizations implementing disaster recovery strategies require networking hardware capable of sustaining large-scale replication traffic between primary and secondary data centers. High-bandwidth Ethernet connectivity simplifies replication while reducing synchronization times for business-critical information.

Scalable Infrastructure for Future Growth

Enterprise networking investments must support long-term infrastructure expansion without requiring premature hardware replacement. The Mellanox MCX623436AN-CDAB provides a scalable foundation that accommodates increasing bandwidth demands, evolving virtualization technologies, cloud-native applications, and expanding enterprise workloads.

Its combination of ConnectX-6 Dx architecture, dual-port 100GbE Ethernet connectivity, PCI Express performance, OCP 3.0 compatibility, host management functionality, and QSFP56 interfaces makes this adapter suitable for organizations planning future infrastructure modernization initiatives. As businesses continue adopting faster networks, larger storage systems, AI workloads, and distributed computing environments, the MCX623436AN-CDAB remains a valuable networking component capable of delivering sustained enterprise-class Ethernet performance across diverse deployment scenarios.