The Lenovo NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-5 CX556A is a high-performance dual-port network adapter designed for enterprise data centers, cloud infrastructure, high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence, storage networking, and virtualization environments. Based on the Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI architecture, this adapter delivers industry-leading 100GbE Ethernet and EDR InfiniBand connectivity through dual QSFP28 ports.
Supporting both Ethernet and InfiniBand protocols via VPI (Virtual Protocol Interconnect) technology, the ConnectX-5 CX556A enables flexible deployment across modern data center environments while delivering low latency, high throughput, and advanced hardware acceleration features. The adapter also supports RDMA, RoCE, SR-IOV, and NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF), making it ideal for demanding enterprise workloads.
Key Features
- Lenovo OEM NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-5 VPI Adapter
- Dual-Port QSFP28 Connectivity
- Up to 100Gb/s Per Port
- Up to 200Gb/s Aggregate Throughput
- Supports 100Gb Ethernet (100GbE)
- Supports EDR InfiniBand
- PCI Express 3.0 x16 Host Interface
- VPI (Virtual Protocol Interconnect)
- RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE)
- SR-IOV Virtualization Support
- NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
- Enterprise Data Center Networking
- High-Performance Computing (HPC) Ready
- Low-Latency Network Architecture
Technical Specifications
Manufacturer: NVIDIA Mellanox
OEM Vendor: Lenovo
Model: ConnectX-5 CX556A
Manufacturer Part Number: MCX556A-ECAT
Alternate Part Number: MCX556A-ECAT-B
Lenovo Part Number: 01KT927
Alternate Lenovo Part Number: 01KT929
Lenovo Option Part Number: 4XC7A08225
Controller: Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex VPI
Network Technology: VPI (Ethernet + InfiniBand)
Ports: 2 x QSFP28
Supported Speeds:
- 100GbE Ethernet
- EDR InfiniBand
- Up to 100Gb/s Per Port
- Up to 200Gb/s Aggregate Bandwidth
Host Interface:
- PCI Express 3.0 x16
- Backward Compatible With PCIe 2.0
Advanced Offload Technologies
- RDMA
- RoCE
- RoCEv2
- SR-IOV
- NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)
- GPUDirect RDMA
- Advanced Congestion Control
- Secure Boot Support
- Hardware Acceleration Engine
Physical Specifications
Form Factor: Plug-In Card
Bracket Support:
- Full Height
- Low Profile (Platform Dependent)
Connectivity:
Supported Protocols
- 100 Gigabit Ethernet
- EDR InfiniBand
- TCP/IP
- UDP
- RDMA
- RoCE
- NVMe-oF
Compatible Server Platforms
Primarily designed for:
- Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650
- Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630
- Lenovo ThinkSystem SR670
- Lenovo ThinkSystem ST550
- Lenovo ThinkAgile Platforms
- Lenovo Enterprise Rack Servers
Also compatible with many standard PCIe x16 servers and workstations supporting ConnectX-5 adapters, including systems from:
- Lenovo
- Dell EMC
- HPE
- Supermicro
- Cisco UCS
- ASUS Server
- Gigabyte Server
- Inspur
- Quanta
Additional Related Part Numbers
- 01KT927
- 01KT929
- 4XC7A08225
- MCX556A-ECAT
- MCX556A-ECAT-B
- CX556A
Cross-Reference Part Numbers
- Dell OEM: 6WPW
- HPE OEM: P10180-B21
Ideal Applications
- High Performance Computing (HPC)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning Clusters
- Data Centers
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Enterprise Virtualization
- Software Defined Storage
- Hyperconverged Infrastructure
- NVMe Storage Networks
- InfiniBand Fabrics
- GPU Computing Environments
Package Includes
- Lenovo NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-5 CX556A Network Adapter
- Dual QSFP28 Ports
- P/N 01KT927
Important Notes
- This is a Network Interface Card (NIC), not a graphics card.
- QSFP28 transceivers and cables are sold separately unless otherwise stated.
- Supports both Ethernet and InfiniBand environments through VPI technology.
- Requires a PCIe x16 slot for optimal performance.
- Verify server firmware and operating system compatibility before purchase.
Related Part Numbers: 01KT927, 01KT929, 4XC7A08225, MCX556A-ECAT, MCX556A-ECAT-B, CX556A, 6WPW, P10180-B21.
