Identity & Definition
The NVIDIA Mellanox MHQH29-XTC is a dual-port QDR InfiniBand Host Channel Adapter (HCA) in the enterprise network interface card (NIC) category. Based on the ConnectX-2 ASIC, each QSFP port delivers QDR (40 Gb/s) InfiniBand. This is an InfiniBand-only adapter — it does NOT support Ethernet. For VPI (InfiniBand + Ethernet), use the MHQH29C-XTR variant. Condition: Refurbished.
Engineering Context
Each port delivers 40 Gb/s using 4x 10 Gb/s QDR InfiniBand lanes. The PCIe 2.0 x8 interface provides approximately 40 Gb/s host bus bandwidth. ConnectX-2 supports native InfiniBand verbs, RDMA, and hardware-based message passing. This generation has been superseded by ConnectX-5/6/7. The mlx4 driver provides Linux support, though ConnectX-2 is end-of-life and newer OS versions may have limited compatibility.
Deployment & Use Cases
Legacy HPC clusters maintaining QDR InfiniBand infrastructure for MPI-based parallel computing. Storage networking over InfiniBand (SRP, iSER) at QDR speeds. Budget-conscious deployments where QDR bandwidth is sufficient. Lab and test environments for InfiniBand development and driver testing.
Technical Specifications
- OEM: NVIDIA Mellanox
- Part Number: MHQH29-XTC
- ASIC: ConnectX-2
- Speed: QDR 40 Gb/s per port (4x 10 Gb/s lanes)
- Ports: 2x QSFP
- Host Interface: PCIe 2.0 x8
- Protocol: InfiniBand only (NOT VPI)
- RDMA: Native InfiniBand
- Bracket: Tall (Full-Height)
- Condition: Refurbished — Tested by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
InfiniBand only — does NOT support Ethernet. For VPI, use MHQH29C-XTR. QDR maximum (40 Gb/s) — not compatible with FDR, EDR, HDR, or NDR at native speeds. FDR/EDR switches may accept QDR via backward compatibility at reduced speed. QSFP ports accept original QSFP cables (not QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP56). PCIe 2.0 x8 — functions in PCIe 3.0/4.0 slots at PCIe 2.0 bandwidth. Legacy generation — ConnectX-2 is end-of-life. Verify mlx4 driver support for your OS. Predecessor: ConnectX (SDR/DDR). Successor: ConnectX-3 (FDR).
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS (tes-itsolutions.com) tests every ConnectX-2 adapter for dual-port connectivity, PCIe link negotiation, and firmware integrity. Technical consultation available for legacy InfiniBand deployments. Global shipping with 1–3 business day handling.