Hardware Installation

Installation and initialization of ConnectX-5 adapter cards require attention to the mechanical attributes, power specifications, and precautions for electronic equipment.

Please observe all safety warnings to avoid injury and prevent damage to system components. Note that not all warnings are relevant to all models.

Note that not all warnings are relevant to all models.

	General Installation Instructions Read all installation instructions before connecting the equipment to the power source.
	Jewelry Removal Warning Before you install or remove equipment that is connected to power lines, remove jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, rings, watches, and so on. Metal objects heat up when connected to power and ground and can meltdown, causing serious burns and/or welding the metal object to the terminals.
	Over-temperature This equipment should not be operated in an area with an ambient temperature exceed­ing the maximum recommended: 55°C (131°F). An airflow of 200LFM at this maximum ambient temperature is required for HCA cards and NICs. To guarantee proper airflow, allow at least 8cm (3 inches) of clearance around the ventila­tion openings.
	During Lightning - Electrical Hazard During periods of lightning activity, do not work on the equipment or connect or dis­connect cables.
	Copper Cable Connecting/Disconnecting Some copper cables are heavy and not flexible, as such, they should be carefully attached to or detached from the connectors. Refer to the cable manufacturer for spe­cial warnings and instructions.
	Equipment Installation This equipment should be installed, replaced, or serviced only by trained and qualified personnel.
	Equipment Disposal The disposal of this equipment should be in accordance to all national laws and regula­tions.
	Local and National Electrical Codes This equipment should be installed in compliance with local and national electrical codes.
	Hazardous Radiation Exposure Caution – Use of controls or adjustment or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.For products with optical ports. CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT and reference to the most recent laser standards: IEC 60 825-1:1993 + A1:1997 + A2:2001 and EN 60825-1:1994+A1:1996+ A2:20

The installation procedure of ConnectX-5 Socket Direct adapter cards involve the following steps:

Hardware Requirements

A system with adjacent dual PCIe x8 slots is required for installing the card. For dual-socket servers, this card brings additional benefits of lower latency and lower CPU utilization when one slot is connected to one socket and the other slot is connected to the other socket. The below list specifies the servers tested with the adapter. For specific server compatibility, please contact NVIDIA Support.

• Dell PowerEdge_R720

• SuperMicro SYS-1027R-72RFTP

Airflow Requirements

ConnectX-5 adapter cards are offered with two airflow patterns: from the heatsink to the network ports, and vice versa, as shown below.

Please refer to Airflow Specifications for airflow numbers for each specific card model.

Airflow from the heatsink to the network ports:

Airflow from the network ports to the heatsink:

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. Unpack the adapter package and place them on an antistatic surface, and verify you have received the following items:

   Category	Item
   Cards	Low profile ConnectX-5 adapter card
   	Auxiliary PCIe Connection Card
   Harness	Slim-Line SAS Cable 25cm (for MCX556M-ECAT-S25) Slim-Line SAS Cable 35cm (for MCX556M-ECAT-S35A)
   Accessories	Low profile card short bracket
   	Auxiliary Card PCIe Connection card short bracket
   	ConnectX-5 adapter card high-profile bracket (shipped assembled on the card)
   	Auxiliary Card PCIe Connection card high-profile bracket (shipped assembled on the card)

   Important

   Use the Slim-Line SAS harness and Auxiliary PCIe Connection card that are included in the ConnectX-5 Socket Direct adapter card package contents.
   For MCX556M-ECAT-S25, use the 25cm Slim-line SAS cable and its Auxiliary PCIe connection card.

2. Check the parts for visible damage that may have occurred during shipping.

3. 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 you install the ConnectX-5 card, make sure that the system is disconnected from power.

The card is usually shipped with an assembled high-profile 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 high-profile bracket with the short bracket that is included in the shipping box, please follow the instructions in this section.

To replace the bracket you will need the following parts:

Removing the Existing Bracket

• The new brackets of the proper height

• The 2 screws saved from the removal of the bracket

1. Using a torque driver, remove the two screws holding the bracket in place.

2. Separate the bracket from the ConnectX-5 card.

   Important

   Be careful not to put stress on the LEDs on the adapter card.

3. Save the two screws.

Installing the New Bracket

1. Place the bracket onto the card until the screw holes line up.

   Important

   Do not force the bracket onto the adapter card.

2. Screw on the bracket using the screws saved from the bracket removal procedure above.

   Important

   Use a torque driver to apply up to 2 lbs-in torque on the screws.

This section provides detailed instructions on how to install your adapter card in a system.

1. Before installing the card, make sure that 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. Connect the slim-line SAS connector (male) on the slim lineSAScable to the female connector on the auxiliary PCIe connection card.

   

   Important

   Use the Slim-Line SAS harness and auxiliary PCIe connection card that are supplied in the ConnectX-5 Socket Direct adapter card package contents.

4. Locate two available PCI Express slots on the server, one for the adapter card and one for the auxiliary PCIe connection card.

   Important

   For optimal thermal performance, it is preferable to place the auxiliary PCIe connection card component-side facing the adapter card’s print-side.

5. Applying even pressure at both corners of the card, insert the auxiliary PCIe connection card into the PCI Express slot until firmly seated.
   

   

   Important

   Do not use excessive force when seating the card, as this may damage the system or the auxiliary PCIe connection card.

6. Secure the auxiliary PCIe connection card using the server's retention mechanisms.

7. Applying even pressure at both corners of the card, insert the adapter card into the PCI Express slot adjacent to the auxiliary PCIe connection card until firmly seated.
   

   

   Important

   Do not use excessive force when seating the card, as this may damage the system or the auxiliary PCIe connection card.

8. Secure the adapter card using the server’s retention mechanisms.

9. Connect the slim line-SAS cable to the connector on the adapter card.

   

10. Close the system case.

    

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 Green LED 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. hen data is being transferred the Green LED will blink. See Adapter Card LED Operations under the Interfaces section.

5. Care should be taken as not to impede the air exhaust flow through the ventilation holes. Use cable lengths which 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. 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”:

            

            
lspci |grep -i Mellanox 
Network controller: Mellanox Technologies MT28800 Family [ConnectX-5]
        

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-5 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; and DEV is equal to 1018 (for ConnectX-5) – this is a valid NVIDIA PCI Device ID.

   Warning

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

   Warning

   The list of PCI Device IDs can be found at the PCI ID repository.

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.

Card Removal

Please note that the following images are for illustration purposes only.

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

2. Wait 30 seconds.

3. Disconnect the slim-line SAS cable from the connector on the adapter card.

   

4. Disengage the retention mechanisms (clips or screws) on the adapter card.

5. Holding the card from its center, gently pull the adapter card from the PCI Express slot.

   

6. Disengage the retention mechanisms (clips or screws) on the auxiliary PCIe connection card.

7. Holding the card from its center, gently pull the auxiliary PCIe connection card from the PCI Express slot.d.
   

   

8. Disconnect the slim-line SAS cable from the connector on the auxiliary PCIe connection card.