Identity & Definition
This enterprise InfiniBand host channel adapter, the NVIDIA Mellanox MCB194A-FCAT, is a Connect-IB dual-port FDR 56Gb/s InfiniBand adapter with two QSFP connectors and PCIe Gen3 x16 host interface. This is an InfiniBand-only adapter — it does not support Ethernet. Connect-IB was the first InfiniBand adapter to achieve one-to-one mapping between 56Gb/s FDR per-port bandwidth and PCIe 3.0 x16 host bandwidth. Condition: NEW.
Engineering Context
The Connect-IB MCB194A-FCAT delivers 56Gb/s FDR per port, 112Gb/s aggregate dual-port bandwidth, matched against PCIe 3.0 x16 (128Gb/s). It supports native RDMA, peer-direct GPU communication, and was specifically designed for tightly-coupled HPC workloads. While superseded by ConnectX-5 (EDR), ConnectX-6 (HDR), and ConnectX-7 (NDR) in new deployments, Connect-IB remains fully functional in existing FDR fabrics and is a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 additional compute nodes. Scientific simulation and molecular dynamics environments with established FDR fabric infrastructure. Legacy HPC environments requiring cost-effective dual-port FDR 56Gb/s connectivity. Test and development labs requiring InfiniBand connectivity without HDR/NDR investment.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MCB194A-FCAT
- ASIC: Connect-IB
- Speed: FDR InfiniBand 56Gb/s per port
- Aggregate Bandwidth: 112Gb/s (dual-port)
- Ports: 2x QSFP
- Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16
- Bracket: Tall (Full Height)
- Compliance: RoHS6
- Condition: NEW
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
InfiniBand Only: Connect-IB does not support Ethernet. For VPI adapters, use ConnectX-3 Pro or later. FDR Only: Maximum speed is FDR 56Gb/s. Not upgradeable to EDR, HDR, or NDR. For faster speeds, ConnectX-5 (EDR) or ConnectX-6 (HDR) is required. QSFP Connectors: Uses standard QSFP InfiniBand connectors. Compatible with FDR QSFP cables and transceivers. Not compatible with QSFP28, QSFP56, or QSFP-DD without speed/protocol limitations. PCIe 3.0 x16: Physical x16 slot required. PCIe 2.0 compatible but at reduced bandwidth. Legacy Product: Connect-IB is end-of-life for new designs. Driver support continues in current MLNX_OFED stacks but check latest compatibility matrices for your OS. 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 full PCIe link training, dual-port initialization, and RDMA functionality before shipment. Technical consultation available for fabric compatibility verification. Global shipping with tracking. 1–3 business day handling.