Identity & Definition
The NVIDIA Mellanox MCX545A-ECAN is a single-port VPI (Virtual Protocol Interconnect) network adapter in the enterprise network interface card (NIC) category, specifically in OCP 2.0 Type 2 mezzanine form factor. Based on the ConnectX-5 ASIC with one QSFP28 connector, this adapter mounts directly to the motherboard via the OCP mezzanine slot. This is NOT a standard PCIe card — it requires a server with an OCP 2.0 Type 2 mezzanine connector. VPI means the port operates in either InfiniBand EDR (100 Gb/s) or 100GbE Ethernet mode, configurable via firmware. Condition: Refurbished.
Engineering Context
The MCX545A-ECAN delivers the same ConnectX-5 silicon as standard PCIe adapters but in the OCP 2.0 Type 2 mezzanine form factor. This eliminates a PCIe slot and provides direct motherboard connectivity with improved power delivery and thermal management. The adapter connects via a dedicated motherboard connector with PCIe 3.0 x16 electrical signaling (approximately 128 Gb/s host bus bandwidth). The single QSFP28 port supports EDR InfiniBand at 100 Gb/s or 100GbE Ethernet with native RDMA (RoCE v2 / IB verbs), GPUDirect RDMA, and SR-IOV.
Deployment & Use Cases
Hyperscale data centers using OCP-compliant server platforms (e.g., Facebook Yosemite, Microsoft Olympus, LinkedIn Big Basin) where PCIe slot preservation is critical. Cloud providers requiring high-density networking without consuming PCIe slots for NVMe storage or GPU accelerators. HPC environments with OCP-based compute nodes needing EDR InfiniBand or 100GbE connectivity. Mixed-protocol environments where VPI flexibility is needed in a compact OCP mezzanine form factor.
Technical Specifications
OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
Part Number: MCX545A-ECAN
ASIC: ConnectX-5
Speed: EDR InfiniBand 100 Gb/s or 100GbE Ethernet
Ports: 1x QSFP28
Form Factor: OCP 2.0 Type 2 (mezzanine, no bracket)
Host Interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 via OCP connector
VPI: Yes (InfiniBand + Ethernet)
RDMA: Native IB + RoCE v2
SR-IOV: Supported
Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
OCP 2.0 Type 2 only — this adapter does NOT fit standard PCIe slots. It requires a server with an OCP 2.0 mezzanine connector (common in hyperscale/OCP server designs). For standard PCIe form factor, use MCX555A-ECAT (single-port) or MCX556A-ECAT (dual-port). No external bracket — OCP mezzanine cards mount directly to the motherboard. VPI mode is configurable for InfiniBand EDR or 100GbE via firmware (mlxconfig); protocol is not auto-negotiated. Single port — for dual-port OCP VPI, a different part number is required. Not ConnectX-6 — ConnectX-5 supports EDR maximum (100 Gb/s). For HDR 200 Gb/s in OCP form factor, use ConnectX-6 OCP variants. QSFP28 port is compatible with 100GbE and EDR InfiniBand optics/DACs.
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS (tes-itsolutions.com) validates every OCP adapter for connector integrity, PCIe link training, and VPI mode switching before shipment. Technical consultation is available for OCP platform compatibility and form factor selection. Global shipping with 1–3 business day handling.