Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx EN Network Card MCX4121A-ACAT

1. Product Overview

The Mellanox ConnectX-4 Lx EN MCX4121A-ACAT is a high-performance dual-port 10/25GbE Ethernet network interface card (NIC) designed for data centers and enterprise networks. This network card supports RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), hardware offloads for overlay networks, and advanced virtualization features. It delivers low latency, high message rates, and efficient I/O consolidation, making it ideal for cloud, big data, and storage applications.

2. Key Features

• Dual-port SFP28 supporting 10GbE and 25GbE speeds
• Hardware offload for NVGRE, VXLAN, and GENEVE encapsulation
• RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) for low-latency communication
• SR-IOV virtualization with up to 256 virtual functions
• Mellanox Multi-Host technology support
• PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) support

3. Core Technologies

The ConnectX-4 Lx EN NIC incorporates several advanced technologies including RoCEv2 for remote direct memory access, hardware-based encapsulation/decapsulation for overlay networks (VXLAN, NVGRE, GENEVE), and SR-IOV for virtualization. It supports various Ethernet standards including IEEE 802.3by, 802.3bj, and Data Center Bridging (DCB) protocols.

4. Working Principle

The network card operates by offloading network processing tasks from the host CPU through hardware acceleration. It handles packet processing, encapsulation/decapsulation of overlay networks, and RDMA operations directly in hardware, significantly reducing latency and CPU overhead. The card's firmware manages traffic flow, quality of service, and virtualization partitioning.

5. Applications

• Cloud computing infrastructure
• Big data and analytics platforms
• Virtualized data centers
• High-performance computing clusters
• Storage area networks (SAN)
• Machine learning and AI workloads

6. Specifications

7. Advantages

• Superior performance with 25GbE speed and low latency
• Hardware offloading reduces CPU utilization
• Advanced virtualization capabilities with SR-IOV
• Comprehensive overlay network support
• Backward compatibility with 10GbE networks
• Energy efficient design

8. Service & Support

We provide comprehensive technical support, 24/7 customer service, and warranty coverage. All products are tested and guaranteed to be fully functional. We offer flexible delivery options and integration assistance for large-scale deployments.

9. FAQ

Q: What is the difference between this network card and ConnectX-6?
A: The ConnectX-4 Lx offers 10/25GbE speeds while ConnectX-6 supports higher speeds up to 200GbE. Both support RoCE and virtualization features.

Q: Does this NIC support SR-IOV virtualization?
A: Yes, it supports SR-IOV with up to 256 virtual functions per port.

Q: What cables are compatible with this network card?
A: It supports SFP28 DAC cables and optical transceivers for both 10GbE and 25GbE connections.

10. Precautions

• Ensure proper cooling as high network throughput may generate heat
• Verify compatibility with your server's PCIe slot and operating system
• Use qualified cables and transceivers for optimal performance
• Update to latest firmware for security and performance enhancements

11. Company Introduction

With over a decade of industry experience, our company operates a large-scale facility supported by a robust technical team. We have established an extensive customer base and accumulated substantial expertise in providing high-quality networking solutions at competitive prices. Our portfolio includes leading brands such as Mellanox, Ruckus, Aruba, and Extreme, offering original brand-new network switches, NIC cards, wireless access points, controllers, and cabling solutions.

We maintain an inventory valued at over $10 million, enabling us to provide diverse product types in large quantities. Our commitment extends beyond delivery to include 24/7 customer consultation and technical support. Our professional sales and technical teams have earned us a distinguished reputation in global markets.