Identity & Definition
This enterprise InfiniBand host channel adapter, the NVIDIA Mellanox MCB191A-FCAT, is a Connect-IB single-port FDR 56Gb/s InfiniBand HCA with one QSFP connector and PCIe Gen3 x8 host interface. This is an InfiniBand-only adapter — it does not support Ethernet. This is the single-port variant of Connect-IB. Condition: NEW.
Engineering Context
The Connect-IB MCB191A-FCAT delivers 56Gb/s FDR InfiniBand throughput using 4x 14Gb/s lanes over a single QSFP connector. PCIe 3.0 x8 provides 64 Gb/s host bus bandwidth, sufficient for the single FDR port without bottleneck. Connect-IB introduced native PCIe 3.0 support and enhanced RDMA with hardware message passing acceleration. While superseded by ConnectX-5 (EDR) and ConnectX-6 (HDR) in new deployments, Connect-IB remains fully functional in existing FDR fabrics and is a cost-effective option for expanding legacy clusters.
Deployment & Use Cases
Expanding existing FDR InfiniBand HPC clusters with single-port compute nodes. MPI-based parallel computing and scientific simulation environments with FDR fabric infrastructure. Storage networking over InfiniBand using SRP or iSER at 56Gb/s. Test and development labs requiring InfiniBand connectivity without EDR/HDR/NDR investment.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MCB191A-FCAT
- ASIC: Connect-IB
- Speed: FDR InfiniBand 56Gb/s (4x 14Gb/s)
- Ports: 1x QSFP
- Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
- PCIe Bandwidth: 64 Gb/s
- Bracket: Tall (Full Height)
- Condition: NEW
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
InfiniBand Only: Connect-IB does not support Ethernet. For Ethernet, use ConnectX-4 Lx or later. FDR Only: Maximum speed is FDR 56Gb/s. Not upgradeable to EDR, HDR, or NDR. Will connect at FDR in EDR/HDR fabrics with backward compatibility. QSFP Port: Accepts standard QSFP InfiniBand cables and transceivers. Not compatible with QSFP28, QSFP56, or QSFP-DD without speed/protocol limitations. PCIe 3.0 x8: Requires physical x8 or x16 slot. PCIe 2.0 compatible at reduced bandwidth. Single-Port: For dual-port FDR Connect-IB, use MCB194A-FCAT. Legacy Product: Connect-IB is end-of-life for new designs. Driver support continues in current MLNX_OFED stacks. Predecessor: ConnectX-3 FDR. Successor: ConnectX-5 EDR (MCX556A).
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS validates every adapter for PCIe link training, port initialization, and RDMA functionality before shipment. Technical consultation available for fabric compatibility verification. Global shipping with tracking. 1–3 business day handling.