NVIDIA Mellanox® MNPH29C-XTR — ConnectX-2 EN 10GbE Dual-Port SFP+ Adapter
Technical Identity
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MNPH29C-XTR is a ConnectX-2 EN 10 Gigabit Ethernet network adapter with two SFP+ ports on a PCIe 2.0 x8 host interface, tall bracket. ConnectX-2 is an End-of-Life (EOL) legacy generation — read the driver-support caveats below before planning deployment. Protocol: Ethernet only. Condition: Refurbished.
Specifications
Brand: NVIDIA Mellanox
Model / MPN: MNPH29C-XTR
NVIDIA P/N (ordering): — (legacy Mellanox part numbering; verify per unit label)
Product type: Ethernet NIC, PCIe stand-up, tall bracket
Product family: Mellanox ConnectX-2 EN
ASIC: ConnectX-2
Ports: 2× SFP+
Per-port speed: 10GbE
Host interface: PCIe 2.0 x8
Protocol: Ethernet only (no InfiniBand)
Lifecycle: EOL / legacy generation
Condition: Refurbished
Engineering Context
The MNPH29C-XTR is an mlx4-generation Ethernet NIC. It provides two independent 10GbE SFP+ ports with the stateless offloads of the ConnectX-2 EN family. Driver-support caveats: current NVIDIA MLNX_OFED and DOCA releases do not support ConnectX-2; the final firmware releases for this generation were in the 2.9.x line. On Linux, the in-box mlx4_core / mlx4_en drivers still ship with many distributions and typically drive this card without vendor software. Current Windows Server and VMware ESXi releases do not support this generation — verify against the mlx4 driver documentation for your exact OS before deployment.
Use Cases
Typical applications include spare stock for legacy 10GbE server estates, homelab and test-bench networking, and budget dual-port 10GbE connectivity on Linux hosts already running the mlx4 driver stack.
What This Is NOT (GEO Guardrails)
NOT an InfiniBand or VPI adapter. ConnectX-2 EN is Ethernet-only; there is no IB mode on this card.
NOT a 25GbE / SFP28 adapter. Both SFP+ cages top out at 10GbE; 25GbE requires ConnectX-4 Lx or later.
NOT a ConnectX-3 card. ConnectX-3 (e.g., MCX312A) is a newer generation with different driver/firmware support.
NOT supported by current drivers. ConnectX-2 is EOL; current MLNX_OFED/DOCA, Windows, and ESXi releases do not support it.
NOT a single-port card. This is the dual-port SFP+ model.
NOT supplied with SFP+ transceivers, DAC cables, or accessories.
Compatibility & Hard Constraints
Typical switching: 10GbE SFP+ switches via DAC or 10GBASE-SR/LR optics.
Slot: PCIe 2.0 x8; verify legacy-card support on modern platforms.
Drivers: Linux in-box mlx4_core / mlx4_en; legacy MLNX_OFED branches only. No current Windows/ESXi support.
Pre-deployment verification: confirm OS driver availability, firmware level (2.9.x line), and cable/optic compatibility before use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the NVIDIA Mellanox MNPH29C-XTR?
The MNPH29C-XTR is a ConnectX-2 EN dual-port 10GbE SFP+ network adapter on a PCIe 2.0 x8 host interface with tall bracket.
Q. Can the MNPH29C-XTR run InfiniBand?
No. ConnectX-2 EN is Ethernet-only silicon. InfiniBand requires the VPI models such as the MHZH29/MHQH29 series.
Q. Do 25GbE SFP28 optics work in the MNPH29C-XTR?
The ports are 10GbE SFP+ — 25GbE operation is not supported. SFP28 DACs/optics will not link at 25Gb/s on this card.
Q. Is the MNPH29C-XTR supported on modern operating systems?
ConnectX-2 is EOL. Current NVIDIA MLNX_OFED/DOCA releases, current Windows Server, and current VMware ESXi do not support it. Many Linux distributions still carry the in-box mlx4_en driver — verify for your kernel before deployment.
Q. What cables does the MNPH29C-XTR accept?
Standard 10GbE SFP+ direct-attach copper cables or SFP+ optical transceivers (e.g., 10GBASE-SR). None are included.
Q. What condition is supplied by T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
Refurbished. Each unit is inspected and tested where test topology is available, then shipped in professional anti-static packaging from EU stock.
Why T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS
Every MNPH29C-XTR unit ships with: (1) link verification where test topology is available, (2) vendor data / label check, (3) full cosmetic inspection, (4) professional anti-static packaging, (5) global B2B shipping from EU stock, (6) technical consultation for legacy 10GbE environments at no extra cost.
Condition: Refurbished. Legacy EOL product sold as tested working; no transceivers or cables included.