Hardware Installation

Installation and initialization of ConnectX-6 Dx adapter cards for OCP Spec 3.0 require attention to electronic equipment's mechanical attributes, power specification, and precautions.

Note that not all warnings are relevant to all models.

The installation procedure of ConnectX-6 Dx adapter cards for OCP Spec 3.0 involves the following steps:

Hardware Requirements

A system with a PCI Express x16 slot for OCP spec 3.0 is required for installing the card.

Airflow Requirements

ConnectX-6 Dx adapter cards are offered with two airflow patterns: from the heatsink to the network ports and vice versa, as shown below.

Please refer to the "Specifications" chapter for airflow numbers for each specific card model.

Hot Aisle Cooling Heatsink-to-port Airflow Direction	Cold Aisle Cooling Port-to-heatsink Airflow Direction

Software Requirements

• See Operating Systems/Distributions section under the Introduction section.

• Software Stacks - NVIDIA OpenFabric software package MLNX_OFED for Linux, WinOF-2 for Windows, and VMware. See the Driver Installation section.

1. Remove any metallic objects from your hands and wrists.

2. Make sure to use only insulated tools.

3. Verify that the system is powered off and is unplugged.

4. It is strongly recommended to use an ESD strap or other antistatic devices.

1. Unpack the ConnectX-6 Dx adapter card.

   Unpack and remove the ConnectX-6 Dx card. Check the parts for visible damage that may have occurred during shipping. Please note that the cards must be placed on an antistatic surface.

   Important

   If the card is removed hastily from the antistatic bag, the plastic ziplock may harm the EMI fingers on the networking connector. Carefully remove the card from the antistatic bag to avoid damaging the EMI fingers.

2. Shut down your system if active:

   Turn off the power to the system, and disconnect the power cord. Refer to the system documentation for instructions. Before installing the ConnectX-6 Dx card, ensure the system is disconnected from power.

The OCP 3.0 adapter card is shipped assembled either with a thumbscrew (pull-tab) bracket, an internal-lock bracket, or an ejector-latch bracket. If this form factor is suitable for your requirements, you can skip the remainder of this section and move to Installation Instructions. If you need to replace the assembled OCP 3.0 bracket with a different form-factor bracket, please follow the instructions in this section.

To replace the bracket you will need the following parts:

• The new bracket of the desired form factor.

• The screws supplied with the new bracket kit.

• The required torx tool type as specified in the instructions.

Removing the Existing Bracket

1. Using the torx tool type listed in the below table, remove the screws according to the instructions per OCP 3.0 bracket type. Internal Lock Bracket Pull-tab (Thumbscrew) Bracket Ejector-Latch Bracket images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-21_15-11-44.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-21_15-12-14.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-22_9-16-10.png
2. Gently separate the bracket from the OCP 3.0 card. Internal Lock Bracket Pull-tab Bracket Ejector-Latch Bracket images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-42-17.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-42-57.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-43-29.png 0000018a-6650-dd68-a38e-f75393670000

3. Save the two screws.

Installing the New Bracket

1. Assemble the new bracket onto the card. Internal Lock Bracket Pull-tab Bracket Ejector-Latch Bracket images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-51-12.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-51-37.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-15_11-51-58.png 0000018a-6650-dd68-a38e-f753937a0000

2. Ensure that the insulator's front edge is beneath the bracket, as shown in the below figure.

   

3. Screw on the OCP 3.0 bracket with the supplied screws that came with the new bracket kit. Use the specified torx tool type and apply the specified torque on the screws per bracket form factor. Internal Lock Bracket Pull-tab Bracket Ejector-Latch Bracket images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-21_15-10-13.png images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-21_15-7-53.png Note that one screw is flat-head 90° screw and the other is socket-head screw. Screw on the different types of screws as shown in the below illustration. images/networking/download/thumbnails/34260169/image2020-9-22_9-20-8.png

This section provides detailed instructions on installing your adapter card in a system. The below table lists the different ConnectX-6 Dx OCP 3.0 retention mechanisms and offers direct links to installation instructions per bracket type.

Cards with Thumbscrew (Pull-tab) Bracket

1. Before installing the card, ensure the system is off, and the power cord is not connected to the server. Please follow proper electrical grounding procedures.

2. Open the system case.

3. Align the card with the system rails.
   

   

4. Push the card until connectors are in full mate.

   

5. Turn the captive screw clockwise until firmly locked.

   

Cards with Internal Lock Bracket

1. Before installing the card, ensure the system is off, and the power cord is not connected to the server. Please follow proper electrical grounding procedures.

2. Open the system case.

3. Align the card with the system rails.
   

   

4. Push the card until connectors are in full mate and a clicking sound is heard.

   

Cards with Ejector-Latch Bracket

1. Before installing the card, ensure the system is off, and the power cord is not connected to the server. Please follow proper electrical grounding procedures.

2. Open the system case.

3. Align the card with the system rails while ensuring the ejector latch is open.
   

   

4. Push the card until connectors are in full mate.

   Make sure the ejector latch is open before inserting the card.
   

   

5. To secure the card, close the ejector.

   

To uninstall the adapter card, see Uninstalling the Card.

To obtain the list of supported NVIDIA cables for your adapter, please refer to the Cables Reference Table at http://www.nvidia.com/products/interconnect/cables-configurator.php.

Cable Installation

1. All cables can be inserted or removed with the unit powered on.

2. To insert a cable, press the connector into the port receptacle until the connector is firmly seated.

   1. Support the weight of the cable before connecting the cable to the adapter card. Do this by using a cable holder or tying the cable to the rack.

   2. Determine the correct orientation of the connector to the card before inserting the connector. Do not try and insert the connector upside down. This may damage the adapter card.

   3. Insert the connector into the adapter card. Be careful to insert the connector straight into the cage. Do not apply any torque, up or down, to the connector cage in the adapter card.

   4. Make sure that the connector locks in place.

      Warning

      When installing cables, make sure that the latches engage.

      Important

      Always install and remove cables by pushing or pulling the cable and connector in a straight line with the card.

3. After inserting a cable into a port, the Yellow or Green LED0 indicator will light when the physical connection is established (that is, when the unit is powered on and a cable is plugged into the port with the other end of the connector plugged into a functioning port). See Adapter Card LED Operations.

4. After plugging in a cable, lock the connector using the latching mechanism particular to the cable vendor. When a logical connection is made, Green LED1 will light. When data is being transferred, Green LED1 will blink.

5. Care should be taken so as not to impede the air exhaust flow through the ventilation holes. Use cable lengths that allow for routing horizontally around to the side of the chassis before bending upward or downward in the rack.

6. To remove a cable, disengage the locks and slowly pull the connector away from the port receptacle. The LED indicator will turn off when the cable is unseated.

On Linux

Get the device location on the PCI bus by running lspci and locating lines with the string "Mellanox Technologies":

On Windows

1. Open Device Manager on the server. Click Start => Run, and then enter devmgmt.msc.

2. Expand System Devices and locate your NVIDIA ConnectX-6 Dx adapter card.

3. Right-click the mouse on your adapter's row and select Properties to display the adapter card properties window.

4. Click the Details tab and select Hardware Ids (Windows 2012/R2/2016) from the Property pull-down menu.

   PCI Device (Example)

   

5. In the Value display box, check the fields VEN and DEV (fields are separated by '&'). In the display example above, notice the sub-string "PCI\VEN_15B3&DEV_1003": VEN is equal to 0x15B3 – this is the Vendor ID of NVIDIA; DEV is equal to 1018 (for ConnectX-6 Dx) – this is a valid NVIDIA PCI Device ID.

   Warning

   If the PCI device does not have an NVIDIA adapter ID, return to Step 2 to check another device.

   Warning

   The list of NVIDIA PCI Device IDs can be found in the PCI ID repository at http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/read/PC/15b3.

Safety Precautions

The adapter is installed in a system that operates with voltages that can be lethal. Before uninstalling the adapter card, please observe the following precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to system components.

1. Remove any metallic objects from your hands and wrists.

2. It is strongly recommended to use an ESD strap or other antistatic devices.

3. Turn off the system and disconnect the power cord from the server.

Cards Extraction Instructions

Cards with Thumbscrew (Pull-tab) Bracket

1. Verify that the system is powered off and unplugged.

2. Wait 30 seconds.

3. Rotate the captive screw counterclockwise.
   

   

4. While holding the tab, carefully pull out the adapter card.

   

Cards with Internal-Lock Bracket Extraction

1. Verify that the system is powered off and unplugged.

2. Wait 30 seconds.

3. Gently extract the adapter card from the server.
   

   

Cards with Ejector Latch Extraction

1. Verify that the system is powered off and unplugged.

2. Wait 30 seconds.

3. Open the ejector latch.

   

4. Gently extract the adapter card from the server.