P12806-001 HPE 10/25Gb 2Ports SFP+ MCX4621A-ACAB OCP3 Adapter

Advanced Networking with the P12806-001 HPE 10/25Gb 2Ports SFP+ MCX4621A-ACAB OCP3 Ethernet Adapter

The P12806-001 HPE 10/25Gb 2Ports SFP+ MCX4621A-ACAB OCP3 Ethernet Adapter is a high-performance, low-latency networking component engineered for enterprise data centers, high-frequency trading environments, and cloud-scale infrastructures. Equipped with dual-port SFP+ connectivity and supporting 10/25 Gigabit Ethernet speeds, this adapter meets the demanding requirements of modern workloads by delivering consistent throughput, superior scalability, and ultra-reliable packet processing.

Technical Overview of HPE MCX4621A-ACAB OCP3 Ethernet Adapter

Designed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and powered by Mellanox (NVIDIA) technology, the MCX4621A-ACAB is built to deliver high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity through the Open Compute Project (OCP) 3.0 interface. Its SFP+ form factor supports fiber-optic and direct attach cable (DAC) connectivity, making it versatile and suitable for various networking environments.

High Performance in Data-Intensive Workloads

The P12806-001 adapter is ideal for intensive networking workloads including storage traffic, virtual machine migration, big data analytics, and AI/ML model training. With 25GbE capabilities, the card significantly outpaces standard 10GbE adapters, delivering reduced latency and increased bandwidth essential for mission-critical applications.

Network Throughput and Low Latency

Capable of achieving line-rate throughput on both ports simultaneously, the MCX4621A-ACAB card ensures that packet processing does not bottleneck I/O-intensive applications. Its underlying RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v2) functionality allows near-zero latency networking—an essential requirement in latency-sensitive environments.

Virtualization Technologies

The HPE P12806-001 Ethernet Adapter supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), a key component in cloud-native and virtualized data centers. With SR-IOV, multiple virtual functions (VFs) are provisioned, allowing numerous virtual machines (VMs) to share a single network interface without sacrificing performance.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Ready

As telcos and service providers shift to NFV architectures, the P12806-001 adapter is optimized to accelerate packet processing workloads traditionally handled by specialized hardware. Its offload capabilities and programmable pipeline ensure seamless integration with NFV orchestration systems.

Enhanced Security and Data Integrity

With hardware root of trust, secure firmware boot, and trusted platform module (TPM) compatibility, the HPE MCX4621A-ACAB ensures enterprise-level security. These features prevent unauthorized firmware changes and detect tampering attempts, enhancing the reliability of secure data communication.

For TLS/IPSec Offloads

The adapter supports transport layer security (TLS) and IPSec offloads to relieve the CPU from computationally intensive encryption workloads, allowing applications to run faster while maintaining secure communication channels.

Energy Efficiency and Reduced Operational Costs

The MCX4621A-ACAB is engineered with low power consumption components and intelligent thermal management, ensuring data centers reduce operational costs while maintaining high performance. Its adaptive interrupt coalescing further optimizes CPU utilization.

Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration

The P12806-001 HPE 10/25Gb Ethernet Adapter is compatible with a broad range of HPE ProLiant and Apollo servers supporting the OCP3.0 standard. It integrates seamlessly into standard Linux, VMware ESXi, and Windows Server environments with native driver support.

Use Cases for the P12806-001 Adapter

The MCX4621A-ACAB Ethernet Adapter offers exceptional performance across a variety of application scenarios. Below are some of the primary use cases:

Cloud Infrastructure and Virtualization

Cloud-native workloads demand high-speed interconnects for VM migration, virtual networking, and storage replication. With 25GbE support, the P12806-001 reduces data transfer time and improves hypervisor efficiency.

Storage Networking and NVMe over Fabrics

Supporting RDMA protocols and optimized for storage networking, this adapter is ideal for connecting NVMe-over-Fabrics (NVMe-oF) appliances and storage clusters with ultra-low latency and minimal CPU overhead.

High-Performance Computing (HPC) Clusters

In HPC environments where performance and scalability are paramount, the adapter ensures reliable, high-bandwidth communication between compute nodes using RDMA and low-latency transport features.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI/ML workloads require efficient data movement between nodes for training and inference. The MCX4621A-ACAB supports data pipelines that feed GPUs and compute engines with minimal delay.

OCP 3.0: The Next-Gen Mezzanine Interface

As data centers move toward modularity and standardization, the Open Compute Project (OCP) 3.0 interface has become a leading choice for scalability. The P12806-001 leverages this interface for enhanced serviceability, power efficiency, and support for future-proof I/O designs.

Product Lifecycle, Warranty, and Support

HPE offers enterprise-class support and warranties for the P12806-001 adapter, including firmware updates, driver support, and lifecycle documentation. The adapter is backed by HPE’s comprehensive Proactive Care and Foundation Care services.

Firmware and Software Updates

HPE regularly publishes firmware updates and compatibility advisories to ensure seamless integration with new server hardware and OS platforms. Updates are accessible via HPE Support Center.

Lifecycle and Sustainability Commitment

As part of its sustainability goals, HPE designs adapters such as the MCX4621A-ACAB to be compliant with environmental regulations including RoHS, WEEE, and REACH. End-of-life (EOL) and end-of-support (EOS) milestones are documented to assist IT managers with long-term planning.

Ethernet Adapter Subcategories and Related Components

The P12806-001 belongs to a broader category of enterprise Ethernet adapters. Here are several key subcategories to consider:

10/25GbE Network Interface Cards (NICs)

These cards are essential in bridging the gap between legacy 10GbE networks and next-generation 25GbE deployments. They offer flexible configuration and are ideal for gradual infrastructure upgrades.

SFP+ Modules and Transceivers

Compatible with the dual-port SFP+ interface, a range of optical and copper SFP+ modules are available for use with this adapter, including:

• 10GBASE-SR and 25GBASE-SR optical transceivers
• 10GBASE-T copper transceivers
• Passive and active DAC cables

OCP NIC 3.0 Networking Adapters

This emerging class of adapters features improved physical design, hot-plug support, and integrated out-of-band management capabilities. OCP3 adapters like the MCX4621A-ACAB lead the trend toward modular, scalable server designs.

RDMA-Enabled Adapters

Adapters with RDMA support drastically reduce latency by bypassing the kernel stack for data transfers. The MCX4621A-ACAB's support for RoCEv2 ensures compatibility with the latest networking fabrics.

Final Thoughts on Product Availability and Market Relevance

As enterprises continue scaling their data center capabilities, the demand for high-performance Ethernet adapters like the P12806-001 continues to grow. With advanced features, robust compatibility, and future-proofing via OCP 3.0, it serves as a foundational element in next-generation network infrastructure.

Global Availability and Shipping

Available through HPE-authorized distributors, resellers, and IT infrastructure partners, the P12806-001 adapter can be rapidly deployed across global data centers with standard warranty support and HPE Care Packs for extended service.

Replacement and Upgrade Options

Enterprises using older 10GbE adapters can significantly boost network performance by upgrading to the P12806-001. It provides a seamless migration path with backward compatibility and long-term support assurance from HPE.