NVIDIA ConnectX-6 100Gigabit Ethernet Card

The NVIDIA ConnectX-6 100Gigabit Ethernet Card represents a leap forward for data center networking, HPC clusters, and cloud-scale infrastructures. Engineered as a PCI Express 4.0 x8 plug-in NIC, this single-port 100GbE adapter delivers blazing-fast throughput while offloading a broad set of networking tasks from the host CPU. Built for environments where latency, jitter, and CPU overhead matter, the ConnectX-6 combines robust firmware, advanced offloads, and flexible optics to create a scalable foundation for modern IT workloads. Whether you are deploying a high-performance computing cluster, building a dense rack with virtualization and storage acceleration, or powering a cloud-native environment, this 100Gigabit Ethernet card is designed to maximize efficiency, reliability, and total cost of ownership. With its QSFP56 optical fiber interface, it enables flexible, long-reach connectivity across data centers, enabling you to choose the right fiber solution for your topology without compromising on speed, security, or performance. The result is a networking acceleration solution that helps you extract more value from your servers, switches, and storage systems while reducing CPU overhead and power consumption per gigabit of data transferred.

• High-performance 100GbE single-port design: The ConnectX-6 card is purpose-built for demanding workloads that require extreme throughput and low latency. With a PCI Express 4.0 x8 interface, it maximizes bus bandwidth to keep data moving at line rate, enabling smooth operation for data-intensive applications, large-scale simulations, real-time analytics, and high-volume storage workflows. Its architecture emphasizes low interrupt overhead and streamlined packet processing, delivering consistently high throughput even under peak load. This card is ideal for servers that run virtualized environments, containerized workloads, and multi-tenant data centers where every microsecond of latency counts.
• QSFP56 optical fiber connectivity for flexible optics: Equipped with a QSFP56 port, the NVIDIA ConnectX-6 provides a robust optical interface capable of delivering 100GbE over a fiber link. This support enables longer-distance connectivity and greater scalability within modern data center fabrics, from top-of-rack to spine-switch architectures. The optical interface is designed to work with industry-standard QSFP56 transceivers and cables, offering compatibility with a wide range of fiber types and link lengths. This flexibility helps data centers implement future-proof networking tiers while maintaining high-speed efficiency and reliable performance.
• Advanced offloads and acceleration for CPU efficiency: The ConnectX-6 integrates a suite of hardware offload engines that reduce CPU overhead and accelerate common networking tasks. Features such as RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), virtualization offloads (such as SR-IOV), and streaming/packet processing accelerators enable faster data movement with lower CPU utilization. By moving repetitive networking operations to dedicated logic, servers can devote more cycles to application workloads, improving performance for databases, analytics, AI workloads, and high-throughput storage protocols. This optimization translates into lower latency, higher reliability, and improved service levels across mission-critical environments.
• Broad OS support and virtualization readiness: NVIDIA provides drivers and software stacks that support major Linux distributions and Windows Server environments. The ConnectX-6 is designed for seamless integration into diverse infrastructure footprints, including bare-metal deployments, virtualized platforms, and containerized ecosystems. In addition to standard NIC functionality, the card supports virtualization features that help administrators allocate network resources efficiently, isolate workloads, and scale out multi-tenant environments without compromising performance or security.
• Reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency: Built to endure dense data center use, the ConnectX-6 combines robust thermal design, quality components, and power-conscious operation to deliver consistent performance over time. Its architecture supports cluster-scale deployments and rapid provisioning in cloud and HPC settings. The card’s modular optics approach and streamlined firmware updates reduce maintenance overhead, while its compatibility with standard 100GbE fabrics ensures you can expand your network gradually without overhauling existing infrastructure. This translates into lower total cost of ownership and a more predictable path to growth.

Technical Details of NVIDIA ConnectX-6 100Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Form Factor: PCI Express 4.0 x8 slot compatibility for high-bandwidth server environments.
• Networking Speed: 100 Gigabit Ethernet per port, delivering extreme throughput for demanding workloads.
• Ports: 1 Port(s) configured for high-speed 100GbE connectivity.
• Interface: QSFP56 optical fiber module interface for flexible, long-reach fiber connections.
• Vendor: NVIDIA (ConnectX family) with enterprise-grade drivers and firmware support.
• Target Use Cases: Data centers, high-performance computing, cloud deployments, virtualization, and storage acceleration.
• Software and Drivers: Comprehensive driver support across major Linux distributions and Windows Server environments with NVIDIA/partners’ software stacks for offloads and virtualization features.

How to install NVIDIA ConnectX-6 100Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Power down the host, unplug from power, and ground yourself to avoid static discharge before handling the card or server components.
• Open the server chassis and locate a suitable PCI Express x8 slot with adequate clearance for the card and its cooling requirements.
• Remove the corresponding expansion slot cover and align the ConnectX-6 card with the slot, then firmly seat it to ensure a solid electrical connection.
• Secure the card with the mounting screw and reassemble the chassis, taking care to avoid obstructing any airflow around the card area.
• Connect a QSFP56 optical transceiver and a compatible fiber optic cable to the card’s QSFP56 port, routing the fiber to your target switch or fabric module as per your topology.
• Power up the server and boot into the operating system. Install the latest NVIDIA ConnectX drivers and firmware packages appropriate for your OS distribution.
• Verify device detection with standard PCIe utilities (e.g., lspci on Linux) and check the NIC status with networking tools (ifconfig, ip link, ethtool) after driver installation.
• Configure your network using the appropriate NIC settings, apply QoS or SR-IOV virtualization policies if needed, and perform functional tests with iperf3 or a similar benchmarking tool to confirm throughput and latency targets.
• If you are integrating into a virtualized environment, enable SR-IOV or related virtualization offloads and ensure the hypervisor and NIC driver support match your deployment plan.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the maximum data rate this card can achieve on a single port?
• A: The NVIDIA ConnectX-6 provides up to 100 Gigabit Ethernet per port via the QSFP56 interface, delivering the full 100GbE bandwidth for compatible network fabrics.
• Q: Which PCIe slot is required?
• A: A PCI Express 4.0 x8 slot is specified for optimal performance, though the card may be backward compatible with lower-width PCIe slots depending on system design and driver support.
• Q: What kinds of workloads benefit most from this card?
• A: High-performance computing, data center interconnects, virtualization-heavy workloads, storage acceleration, and cloud infrastructure benefit from the card’s high throughput, low latency, and hardware offloads.
• Q: Does it support RDMA and virtualization offloads?
• A: Yes. The ConnectX-6 includes hardware offloads such as RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and virtualization acceleration features to improve CPU efficiency and VM performance in virtualized environments.
• Q: What kind of fiber and transceivers are supported?
• A: The card uses a QSFP56 optical interface, compatible with standard QSFP56 transceivers and corresponding fiber types. Always verify compatibility with your switch fabric and fiber specifications.
• Q: Is driver support available for Linux and Windows?
• A: Yes. NVIDIA provides drivers and software stacks for major Linux distributions and Windows Server platforms, designed to support the ConnectX-6’s offloads, QoS, and virtualization features.