Ethernet QSFP56 Interfaces
The network ports of the ConnectX-6 adapter card are compliant with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards listed in Features and Benefits. Ethernet traffic is transmitted through the QSFP56 connector on the adapter card.
The adapter card includes special circuits to protect from ESD shocks to the card/server when plugging copper cables.
PCI Express Interface
ConnectX®-6 adapter cards support PCI Express Gen 3.0/4.0 (1.1 and 2.0 compatible) through x16 edge connectors. The device can be either a master initiating the PCI Express bus operations, or a subordinate responding to PCI bus operations.
The following lists PCIe interface features:
- PCIe Gen 3.0 and 4.0 compliant, 2.0 and 1.1 compatible
- 2.5, 5.0, 8.0, or 16.0 GT/s link rate x16 lanes
- Auto-negotiates to x16, x8, x4, x2, or x1
- Support for MSI/MSI-X mechanisms
LED Interface
There are two I/O LEDs per port to indicate speed and link status. LED1 is a bicolor LED (amber and green) and LED2 is a single color LED (green).
Link Indications
| State | LED1 - Link speed | LED2 (Green) - Link/Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon command for locating the adapter card | 1Hz Blinking amber/green according to high/low speeds | OFF |
| Error | 4Hz Blinking Amber indicates a problem with the link | ON |
| Physical Activity | The Green LED will blink. | Blinking |
| Link Up | The Green LED will be solid. | ON |
SMBus Interface
ConnectX-6 technology maintains support for manageability through a BMC. ConnectX-6 PCIe stand-up adapter can be connected to a BMC using MCTP over SMBus or MCTP over PCIe protocols as if it is a standard NVIDIA PCIe stand-up adapter. For configuring the adapter for the specific manageability solution in use by the server, please contact NVIDIA Support.
Voltage Regulators
The voltage regulator power is derived from the PCI Express edge connector 12V supply pins. These voltage supply pins feed on-board regulators that provide the necessary power to the various components on the card.
