900-9X662-0053-ST1 Nvidia Connectx-6 Lx En 25GBE Dual Port SFP28 PCIe 4.0 X8 Network Adapter

Overview of the Network Adapter

Designed for modern data centers and high-performance environments, this dual-port 25GbE Ethernet adapter delivers accelerated networking, dependable connectivity, and efficient data processing. Built on advanced PCIe 4.0 technology, the card supports ultra-fast throughput, reduced latency, and reliable integration into enterprise servers, virtualization platforms, and cloud infrastructures.

Main Information

• Part: 900-9X662-0053-ST1
• Brand: Nvidia 
• Product Type: Network Adapter

Key Features

• Dual SFP28 ports supporting copper and optical Ethernet connectivity
• PCI Express Gen 3.0 and Gen 4.0 compatibility with 8-lane architecture
• High-speed networking from 1GbE to 25GbE for flexible deployment
• Compact low-profile design suitable for space-constrained server chassis
• Energy-efficient performance with optimized power consumption

Connectivity and Performance Capabilities

• Supports Ethernet speeds including 1Gb/s, 10Gb/s, and 25Gb/s
• Compatible with standards such as 25GBASE-R, 10GBASE-SR, LR, ER, CX4, CR, and KR
• Backward compatibility with SGMII, 1000BASE-CX, and 1000BASE-KX
• Advanced PCIe SerDes signaling up to 16.0GT/s
• Seamless integration into modern server and storage architectures

Hardware Design and Dimensions

• Form factor dimensions: 96.30mm x 68.90mm
• Dual SFP28 Ethernet connectors for versatile cable options
• Low-profile design ideal for dense server deployments

Power Efficiency and Cooling Requirements

• 12V operating voltage with auxiliary 3.3V support
• Typical power usage around 10–11W depending on PCIe generation
• Maximum consumption under 13W with passive cable connections
• Airflow requirements vary between 300LFM and 400LFM based on cable type
• Designed for hot-aisle airflow direction from heatsink to port

Environmental Specifications

• Operating temperature range from 0°C to 55°C
• Storage temperature tolerance from −40°C to 70°C
• Operational humidity between 10% and 85% relative humidity
• Non-operational humidity up to 90% RH
• Maximum operating altitude up to 3050 meters

Compliance and Advantages

• RoHS compliant manufacturing for environmental safety
• Reliable hardware architecture for enterprise-grade networking
• Crypto functionality disabled for specific compliance requirements
• Ideal for data centers, storage networking, and high-bandwidth workloads

Nvidia 900-9X662-0053-ST1 ConnectX-6 Lx EN Network Adapter

The Nvidia 900-9X662-0053-ST1 ConnectX-6 Lx EN 25GbE Dual Port SFP28 PCIe 4.0 x8 Network Adapter Card represents a specialized class of enterprise-grade networking hardware designed to meet the needs of modern data centers, high-performance computing environments, and advanced virtualization infrastructures. As a category, 25GbE dual-port SFP28 PCIe adapters emphasize scalable bandwidth, optimized packet processing, and efficient connectivity for servers that demand reliable and consistent throughput under heavy workloads. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN family is engineered to deliver a balance between performance, power efficiency, and advanced networking features without the overhead of more complex offload engines reserved for specialized HPC scenarios.

Within enterprise environments, network interface cards in this category are used to facilitate high-speed data transfer between servers, storage arrays, and network switches. They enable low-latency communication that is essential for applications such as distributed computing clusters, large-scale databases, AI inference pipelines, and software-defined networking architectures. The dual-port configuration enhances redundancy and flexibility, allowing administrators to configure link aggregation, failover strategies, and dedicated traffic segmentation to optimize network performance.

Designed around the PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, the adapter ensures high throughput and efficient communication between the server’s internal bus and external networking infrastructure. PCIe 4.0 technology doubles the data transfer rate compared to previous generations, allowing the adapter to fully leverage the capabilities of dual 25GbE ports without creating internal bottlenecks. This makes it a popular choice for organizations upgrading legacy 10GbE infrastructures to higher speeds without transitioning directly to 100GbE solutions.

The category also emphasizes interoperability with modern operating systems and virtualization platforms. Enterprise IT teams rely on consistent driver support and compatibility with hypervisors such as VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM-based environments. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN adapter’s architecture enables efficient network virtualization and ensures seamless integration with software-defined networking tools used in cloud-native environments.

PCIe 4.0 Architecture and High-Speed Data Processing

The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface is a defining feature within this network adapter category. It provides a substantial increase in available bandwidth compared to PCIe 3.0, enabling efficient handling of high-throughput data streams generated by dual 25GbE connections. This architectural advantage ensures minimal internal congestion and helps maintain consistent latency levels even during peak traffic conditions. Data centers with performance-sensitive workloads benefit from the increased transfer efficiency between the host server and the network interface.

Network adapters designed around PCIe 4.0 also support advanced queue management and packet steering capabilities. These features distribute network processing tasks across multiple CPU cores, preventing bottlenecks and improving overall system responsiveness. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN design incorporates intelligent flow handling, enabling optimized load balancing between processor threads and ensuring that high-bandwidth applications operate smoothly without degrading performance in multi-tenant environments.

Another important characteristic of this category is efficient Direct Memory Access support. By allowing data to move directly between system memory and the network interface, the adapter minimizes CPU intervention and reduces overhead. This approach enhances performance for storage protocols, virtualization workloads, and distributed computing frameworks where rapid data exchange is essential.

Hardware acceleration techniques included in this category can offload tasks such as checksum calculations, segmentation, and packet filtering. These accelerations free up system resources and contribute to predictable performance under heavy network loads. Organizations deploying containerized applications or microservices architectures benefit from reduced latency and consistent packet delivery across virtualized environments.

Dual-Port SFP28 Connectivity and Flexible Deployment

The dual-port SFP28 configuration is a key defining aspect of this network adapter category. Each port supports up to 25GbE connectivity, enabling a combined potential throughput of 50Gbps. This flexibility allows IT administrators to configure ports for redundancy, load balancing, or dedicated network segments such as storage traffic, application communication, or backup operations. The SFP28 form factor supports a wide range of optical transceivers and direct-attach copper cables, providing adaptable deployment options for diverse infrastructure designs.

Organizations frequently deploy dual-port adapters in environments where uptime is critical. Redundant links ensure that if one connection fails, the other continues to handle traffic without interruption. This is particularly important in financial services, healthcare systems, and e-commerce platforms that require uninterrupted connectivity. Additionally, link aggregation techniques can combine both ports into a single logical connection to increase throughput and improve performance for bandwidth-intensive workloads.

In high-density server environments, the ability to support multiple cable types enhances scalability and simplifies inventory management. Data center operators can standardize on SFP28-based solutions while retaining flexibility to adjust cable lengths and media types based on rack layouts and network topologies. The category emphasizes compatibility with leading switch vendors and adherence to industry standards to ensure seamless integration.

Another advantage of dual-port adapters is improved traffic segmentation. Administrators can dedicate one port to storage protocols such as iSCSI or NVMe over Fabrics while reserving the other for application data or management networks. This separation reduces congestion and enhances security by isolating sensitive traffic streams.

Virtualization, Cloud Infrastructure, and Software-Defined Networking

Modern enterprise networks rely heavily on virtualization and cloud-native architectures, making advanced network interface cards an essential component of scalable infrastructure. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN category is designed to support virtualized environments by providing efficient handling of virtual machine traffic and network overlays. Features such as SR-IOV enable multiple virtual machines to share a single physical network adapter while maintaining isolated performance paths.

Cloud providers and enterprise IT departments benefit from hardware-assisted network virtualization capabilities that reduce overhead and improve scalability. By enabling direct assignment of virtual network functions to virtual machines or containers, the adapter enhances performance while maintaining strong isolation between workloads. This capability is especially valuable in multi-tenant environments where consistent network performance is required for diverse applications.

Software-defined networking frameworks also rely on adapters capable of handling encapsulation protocols and high volumes of east-west traffic. The category emphasizes compatibility with network overlays used in container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes. These environments demand efficient packet processing and low-latency communication between microservices, making high-speed dual-port adapters a strategic investment.

Automation and orchestration tools benefit from predictable network performance, which allows for dynamic resource allocation without risking performance degradation. The combination of advanced offload capabilities and high throughput ensures that virtual networks maintain stability even as workloads scale rapidly.

Security Enhancements and Data Integrity

Network security and data integrity are essential considerations in enterprise networking hardware categories. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN adapter supports hardware-level features designed to protect data in transit and prevent unauthorized access to network resources. These capabilities include secure boot processes, firmware integrity validation, and advanced filtering mechanisms that help detect suspicious traffic patterns.

Hardware-based security reduces the risk of performance degradation associated with software-only protection mechanisms. By offloading encryption and packet inspection tasks to the adapter itself, organizations can maintain strong security postures without compromising throughput. This approach is particularly valuable in industries that handle sensitive data, such as financial institutions and healthcare providers.

Data integrity features also contribute to reliable storage networking operations. Technologies that ensure accurate packet delivery help prevent data corruption during high-speed transfers. The category supports advanced error detection and correction mechanisms that maintain consistent performance even under heavy network loads or adverse conditions.

Administrators can implement granular access control policies using hardware-assisted features. These capabilities help enforce segmentation between network zones and reduce the attack surface of virtualized infrastructures. By combining performance with robust security, the category meets the evolving needs of modern enterprise environments.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is an increasingly important consideration for organizations operating large-scale data centers. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN category emphasizes optimized power consumption without sacrificing performance. Advanced power management features dynamically adjust operational parameters based on workload intensity, reducing energy usage during periods of low network activity.

Efficient thermal design ensures that the adapter maintains stable performance in densely populated server racks. Heat dissipation technologies and optimized airflow compatibility help prevent thermal throttling and extend hardware lifespan. Data center operators benefit from reduced cooling requirements and lower operational costs, making the category an attractive option for organizations seeking sustainable infrastructure solutions.

Power-efficient networking hardware also contributes to corporate sustainability goals. By reducing overall energy consumption, enterprises can lower their carbon footprints while maintaining the high-speed connectivity required for modern applications. The combination of performance and efficiency makes this category suitable for both large-scale hyperscale environments and mid-sized enterprise deployments.

Compatibility with Operating Systems and Enterprise Platforms

Broad compatibility is a hallmark of high-quality network adapter categories. The ConnectX-6 Lx EN adapter supports a wide range of operating systems, including major Linux distributions, Windows Server environments, and virtualization platforms. This flexibility ensures that organizations can integrate the adapter into existing infrastructures without significant changes to software ecosystems.

Driver support and regular firmware updates contribute to long-term reliability and security. Enterprise vendors prioritize stable and well-tested drivers to minimize downtime and ensure consistent performance across diverse hardware configurations. Integration with network monitoring tools allows administrators to track performance metrics, detect anomalies, and optimize resource allocation in real time.

The category also aligns with open standards to promote interoperability with various networking devices and software frameworks. This reduces vendor lock-in and enables organizations to build flexible infrastructures that can evolve as technology requirements change.

Use Cases Across Industries and Workloads

High-speed dual-port 25GbE network adapters are used across a wide range of industries. In financial services, low-latency communication supports real-time trading systems and risk analysis platforms. Healthcare organizations rely on fast data transfers for medical imaging, electronic health records, and telemedicine applications. Media and entertainment companies use high-bandwidth adapters for video rendering, streaming, and collaborative production workflows.

Cloud service providers deploy these adapters to support multi-tenant infrastructures and ensure consistent performance for customer workloads. Research institutions and universities use high-speed networking hardware to facilitate data-intensive simulations and collaborative research projects. Manufacturing environments leverage fast network connectivity to support industrial automation systems and real-time analytics.

The flexibility of the ConnectX-6 Lx EN category allows organizations to adapt to evolving technology trends. As workloads become more distributed and data volumes continue to grow, high-performance network adapters play a critical role in maintaining operational efficiency and enabling innovation.