NVIDIA Mellanox MCX555A-ECAT / Dell 06FKDT — ConnectX-5 VPI EDR 100Gb/s Single-Port QSFP28 Adapter (Dell OEM)
Technical Identity
The Dell 06FKDT (also labeled 6FKDT) is the Dell OEM variant of the NVIDIA Mellanox MCX555A-ECAT ConnectX-5 VPI adapter card: EDR InfiniBand 100Gb/s and 100GbE over a single QSFP28 port, on a PCIe 3.0 x16 host interface. The base silicon and port configuration are identical to the generic MCX555A-ECAT; the Dell part number identifies the Dell-distributed build used in PowerEdge server configurations. Protocol: VPI (InfiniBand or Ethernet, selectable per port). Condition: Refurbished.
Specifications

Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox (Dell OEM variant)
Model / MPN: MCX555A-ECAT
Dell P/N: 06FKDT (6FKDT)
NVIDIA P/N: — (verify against unit label)
Product type: Network adapter (NIC / HCA)
Product family: ConnectX-5
ASIC: ConnectX-5
Ports: 1× QSFP28
Per-port speed: EDR InfiniBand 100Gb/s or 100GbE
Lower link rates: InfiniBand FDR/QDR and 10/25/40/50GbE, subject to cable and switch support
Host interface: PCIe 3.0 x16
Protocol: VPI — InfiniBand or Ethernet per port
Bracket: per unit label (Dell full-height and low-profile brackets both exist for this P/N)
Condition: Refurbished

Dell OEM Context
06FKDT is a Dell part number, not an NVIDIA retail SKU. Dell OEM cards may ship with Dell-specific firmware branding, and firmware updates and warranty-style support are typically delivered through Dell channels (Dell Update Packages / Dell support) rather than generic NVIDIA firmware images. The card is electrically a standard PCIe 3.0 x16 adapter and is used outside Dell systems as well, but buyers standardizing a Dell PowerEdge fleet typically match the Dell P/N. Verify firmware policy before mixing Dell OEM and generic NVIDIA cards in one fabric.
Engineering Context
Typical deployments include EDR InfiniBand HPC fabrics, 100GbE RoCE v2 storage and NVMe-oF networks, and virtualized clusters using SR-IOV. ConnectX-5 provides hardware offloads for RDMA/RoCE; feature support depends on firmware, driver, operating system, and platform configuration. A PCIe 3.0 x16 slot provides sufficient bandwidth for the single 100Gb/s port.
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)

NOT the dual-port MCX556A-ECAT. This card has a single QSFP28 port.
NOT a ConnectX-5 Ex / PCIe 4.0 card. Host interface is PCIe 3.0 x16.
NOT HDR (200Gb/s) or NDR (400Gb/s) capable. Maximum is EDR 100Gb/s / 100GbE; HDR requires ConnectX-6, NDR requires ConnectX-7.
NOT an SFP28 or OSFP device. The cage is QSFP28; SFP28 and OSFP modules do not fit.
NOT an OCP 2.0 / OCP 3.0 mezzanine card. Standard PCIe add-in card with bracket.
NOT a generic NVIDIA retail unit. This listing is the Dell OEM P/N 06FKDT; firmware and support follow Dell channels.
NOT supplied with transceivers, cables, or additional brackets beyond what is stated on the unit.

Compatibility & Hard Constraints

Typical InfiniBand platforms: NVIDIA Switch-IB 2 / Quantum EDR-class switch environments at 100Gb/s.
Typical Ethernet platforms: NVIDIA Spectrum / Spectrum-2 100GbE switch environments; other 100GbE QSFP28 switches subject to validation.
Cabling: QSFP28 DAC, AOC, and optical transceivers rated for EDR / 100GbE.
Drivers: NVIDIA MLNX_OFED (Linux), in-box mlx5_core (upstream Linux), WinOF-2 (Windows), nmlx5 (VMware ESXi).
Slot requirement: PCIe 3.0 x16 (mechanically x16).
Pre-deployment verification: confirm firmware version, driver version, port-mode (IB/ETH) configuration, and bracket type against your chassis before deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the Dell 06FKDT?
The Dell 06FKDT (6FKDT) is the Dell OEM variant of the NVIDIA Mellanox MCX555A-ECAT ConnectX-5 VPI adapter: single-port QSFP28, EDR InfiniBand 100Gb/s or 100GbE, PCIe 3.0 x16.
Q. Is the Dell 06FKDT the same card as the NVIDIA MCX555A-ECAT?
It uses the same ConnectX-5 silicon and single QSFP28 port layout as the MCX555A-ECAT. As a Dell OEM part it may carry Dell-specific firmware branding and bracket options, and firmware updates are typically handled through Dell channels. Verify firmware policy before mixing with generic NVIDIA cards in one fabric.
Q. What connector does the 06FKDT use — will SFP28 modules fit?
It has one QSFP28 cage for EDR / 100GbE cables and transceivers. SFP28 and OSFP modules do not fit.
Q. Does the MCX555A-ECAT / 06FKDT support HDR 200Gb/s or NDR 400Gb/s?
No. The maximum rate is EDR 100Gb/s InfiniBand or 100GbE per port. HDR requires ConnectX-6; NDR requires ConnectX-7.
Q. How do I switch the port between InfiniBand and Ethernet mode?
VPI port mode is set with mlxconfig (LINK_TYPE_P1=IB/ETH) followed by a reboot. This requires MLNX_OFED or a driver stack exposing mlxconfig; on Dell OEM firmware, verify tool compatibility via Dell support documentation.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished. Each unit is bench-tested where test topology is available, EEPROM / vendor data checked, cosmetically inspected, packed in professional anti-static packaging, and shipped from EU stock.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every Dell 06FKDT unit ships with: (1) link verification where test topology is available, (2) EEPROM / vendor data check, (3) full cosmetic inspection, (4) professional anti-static packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for HPC and AI fabric design at no extra cost. Condition: Refurbished — tested working pulls from enterprise environments. See tes-itsolutions.com.