QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6 25Gigabit Ethernet Card

The QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6 is a high-performance PCIe expansion card engineered for demanding networks and storage workloads. Powered by the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC controller, it delivers exceptional throughput, intelligent offloads, and scalable bandwidth to meet today’s data-intensive tasks. Whether you’re building a data center, accelerating virtualized environments, optimizing storage fabrics, or supporting high-resolution media workflows, this NIC is designed to maximize performance while remaining flexible enough to adapt to evolving infrastructure needs. With support for 25GbE and 10GbE interfaces, plus the ability to aggregate ports for up to 50GbE, the QXG-25G2SF-CX6 is a future-ready solution that helps you push latency down, throughput up, and CPU overhead down across a wide range of applications.

• Powerful speed and scalability: The QXG-25G2SF-CX6 delivers up to 25 Gbps transfer speeds per port and remains compatible with 10GbE networks, enabling smooth upgrades without replacing existing infrastructure. When you combine multiple ports via Port Trunking, you can achieve up to 50GbE total bandwidth, opening new possibilities for data-heavy workloads, large-scale virtualization, and high-speed data transfers between servers, storage arrays, and workloads. Hardware offloads minimize CPU usage, which translates into lower latency and higher efficiency for demanding applications such as live video editing, AI model training pipelines, and high-concurrency databases. The card’s traffic steering and multi-queue capabilities help you prioritize critical workloads while maintaining consistent performance under mixed traffic conditions.
• Next-generation SmartNIC with ConnectX-6 LX: At the core sits the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC controller, a platform purpose-built for accelerated networking, storage offloads, and virtualization. This architecture enables advanced features like hardware-based packet processing, virtualization (SR-IOV), and efficient data-path customization. By shifting substantial work from the host CPU to the NIC, you gain lower CPU overhead, higher sustained throughput, and improved isolation for virtual machines and containerized workloads. This translates into a more responsive system that can handle bandwidth-intensive applications, large file transfers, and multi-tenant environments with ease and reliability.
• Seamless integration and broad compatibility: The QXG-25G2SF-CX6 is designed for straightforward integration into PCIe-enabled servers and NAS devices, including QNAP environments, as well as standard Linux and Windows servers. It supports PCIe Gen4 hosts and remains backward compatible with Gen3 and Gen2 platforms, providing flexibility for a wide range of hardware generations. The card’s compact footprint and simple installation path minimize downtime during upgrades, while its robust driver stack ensures you can manage settings, performance tuning, and diagnostics with familiar tools from the NVIDIA/Mellanox ecosystem. This makes it suitable for both enterprise deployments and high-performance hobbyist setups seeking reliable, scalable networking performance.
• Flexible deployment options for diverse workloads: Whether you’re consolidating storage traffic, accelerating virtualization networks, or creating separate networks for different tenants or containers, the QXG-25G2SF-CX6 offers flexible deployment options. Port Trunking and link aggregation enable higher bandwidth and redundancy, while hardware offloads support storage protocols and data-path acceleration that can complement NVMe over Fabrics, RDMA-based workflows, and software-defined networking. This versatility makes it a strong choice for data centers, labs, remote offices, and professional studios where reliable, high-speed networking is a critical factor in workflow efficiency and service quality.
• Robust software and driver support: Backed by a comprehensive software suite from NVIDIA/Mellanox, this card includes management and driver packages that simplify configuration, monitoring, and optimization. Expect ongoing updates to improve performance, security, and compatibility with virtualization platforms, container runtimes, and networking stacks. Whether you’re deploying hyper-converged infrastructure, a virtualized environment, or a high-performance NAS, the software stack helps you maximize throughput while keeping management straightforward and centralized. The combination of hardware and software support ensures a stable, scalable path for evolving network needs.

Technical Details of QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6 25Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Controller: NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC
• Host Interface: PCIe Gen4 (backwards compatible with Gen3/Gen2)
• Networking Speeds: Up to 25 Gbps per port; supports 10/25GbE
• Port Aggregation: Port Trunking enables up to 50GbE by combining multiple ports
• Form Factor: PCIe expansion card designed for broad compatibility with servers and NAS devices

How to install QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6

• Power down your system and unplug it from power. Remove any external cables and ensure you are grounded to avoid static discharge.
• Open the chassis and locate an appropriate PCIe slot that matches the card’s interface (PCIe Gen4, compatible with Gen3/Gen2 slots).
• Insert the QXG-25G2SF-CX6 into the slot firmly, ensuring it seats fully, and secure the card with a retaining screw.
• Reconnect power and boot the system. If required, enter the BIOS/UEFI to confirm the PCIe device is recognized.
• Install the latest NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 LX SmartNIC drivers and management tools from the vendor’s website or your OS vendor’s repository.
• Configure network interfaces in your operating system or virtualization platform, enable Port Trunking if desired, and run connectivity tests to verify the expected 25GbE or aggregated 50GbE performance.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What speeds does this card support? A: The card supports up to 25 Gbps per port and is compatible with 10GbE/25GbE networks; port trunking can aggregate multiple ports for up to 50GbE total bandwidth.
• Q: Can multiple ports be bonded to reach 50GbE? A: Yes, Port Trunking/link aggregation allows combining multiple ports to achieve up to 50GbE, depending on your hardware and software configuration.
• Q: Is this card compatible with PCIe Gen4 motherboards? A: It uses PCIe Gen4 and is backward compatible with Gen3 and Gen2 slots; ensure your server supports PCIe Gen4 for optimal performance.
• Q: What software is required? A: NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX drivers and management software, with optional OFED and virtualization tooling to maximize performance and support features such as SR-IOV.
• Q: Where can I download drivers? A: Official NVIDIA/Mellanox driver packages are available on the vendor’s site, and compatible drivers may also be provided by your operating system vendor or hardware reseller.