Lenovo ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 25/40GbE 2-port Low-Latency Adapter

Powerful, scalable network performance for Lenovo ThinkSystem servers. The Lenovo ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 25/40GbE 2-Port Low-Latency Adapter from NVIDIA delivers the speed, efficiency, and resilience needed for modern data centers. This dual-port NIC combines 25/40GbE connectivity with hardware offloads that reduce CPU utilization and latency, enabling real-time analytics, virtualization, and high-throughput storage. Designed for enterprise deployments, it integrates smoothly with Lenovo ThinkSystem hardware and software ecosystems, and supports RoCEv2 and iWARP RDMA, SR-IOV, and other virtualization features to deliver flexible network acceleration. Whether you’re running AI workloads, HPC, or cloud services, this adapter helps you maximize throughput while keeping power usage down.

• Ultra-high bandwidth with flexible ports: Dual QSFP28 interfaces provide up to 40GbE per port, with support for 25GbE and 40GbE modes. This configuration is ideal for densely packed compute nodes, high-performance storage networks, and virtualized environments that demand scalable bandwidth without sacrificing latency.
• Low-latency performance for critical workloads: Hardware-accelerated data paths minimize CPU interrupts and offload TCP/IP processing, delivering consistently low latency for latency-sensitive applications such as HPC, AI inference, and high-frequency trading workloads.
• Advanced offloads and virtualization readiness: Built-in RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2) and iWARP offloads, plus support for SR-IOV and multi-queue networking. These features enable near-zero-copy data transfers, efficient VM networking, and robust performance in containerized and virtualized environments.
• Broad ecosystem compatibility and management: Backed by NVIDIA drivers and Lenovo validation, the adapter works across major operating systems and hypervisors (Linux, Windows, VMware) with straightforward management through standard tools and Lenovo ThinkSystem software stacks.
• Optimized power and reliability for data centers: Designed to reduce CPU overhead and power consumption while maintaining high throughput, with strong reliability features to protect critical services and maintain steady service levels under heavy workloads.

Technical Details of Lenovo ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 25/40GbE 2-Port Low-Latency Adapter

• Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8 — provides ample bandwidth to feed two high-speed 25/40GbE ports without bottlenecks.
• Ports and Rate: 2 x QSFP28 ports supporting 25GbE/40GbE operation for flexible networking configurations and easy scalability.
• Networking Offloads: Hardware offloads for RDMA (RoCEv2 and iWARP), along with TCP/IP offloads, LSO/TCP segmentation, and standard NIC acceleration features to boost throughput and reduce CPU load.
• virtualization and Traffic Handling: SR-IOV and multi-queue support enable efficient VM networking, guest isolation, and high-density virtualization scenarios while preserving performance and predictability.
• Operating System and Driver Support: NVIDIA-provided drivers with Lenovo validation ensure compatibility across Linux, Windows, and popular hypervisors (e.g., VMware), along with streamlined management in Lenovo ThinkSystem environments.

how to install Lenovo ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ex 25/40GbE 2-Port Low-Latency Adapter

• Power down and unplug the server. Open the chassis and locate an available PCIe slot that matches the card’s interface requirements.
• Remove the slot cover and align the ConnectX-5 Ex card with the PCIe slot. Gently seat the card until it is firmly connected and secure the bracket with the appropriate screw.
• Connect the two QSFP28 cables to the ports on the adapter. Use appropriate optic or copper cables based on your data-center networking design and required distance.
• Power on the server and install the latest NVIDIA drivers and Mellanox software from the official sources. This will enable RoCE, iWARP offloads, and virtualization features.
• Configure the operating system network interfaces as needed. Enable RDMA or other offloads if your workloads require them, and validate connectivity with a bandwidth/latency test to ensure optimal performance.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What workloads benefit most from the ConnectX-5 Ex 2-Port adapter? A: Enterprise data centers, HPC clusters, AI/ML workloads, virtualization-heavy environments, and storage networks that require high bandwidth with low latency and CPU efficiency will gain the most from this dual-port 25/40GbE NIC.
• Q: Does this adapter support RDMA? A: Yes. It includes RDMA offloads (RoCEv2 and iWARP), enabling zero-copy data transfers and reduced CPU overhead for demanding applications.
• Q: Can I use this card in a virtualized environment? A: Absolutely. The card supports SR-IOV and multi-queue features to optimize virtual machine networking and container networking in modern data centers.
• Q: Which operating systems and hypervisors are supported? A: The adapter provides NVIDIA drivers and Lenovo validation for Linux, Windows, and major hypervisors like VMware. Always check the latest compatibility matrix for your specific OS version and Lenovo ThinkSystem platform.
• Q: How do I optimize performance after installation? A: Ensure the latest drivers are installed, enable the desired offloads (RoCEv2/iWARP), configure SR-IOV or VF interfaces if using virtualization, and run standard throughput/latency benchmarks to tune IRQ affinities and NIC parameters for your workload.