Question 1

Which Mellanox NICs are best for AI/ML GPU clusters?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT supplies ConnectX-6 Dx adapters (e.g., MCX623106AC-CDAT) that deliver 200Gb/s throughput per card with RDMA, RoCE v2, and NVMe-oF support. These are ideal for distributed training workloads and large-scale AI clusters.

Question 2

Are refurbished NICs reliable for enterprise and HPC use?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. TES-IT refurbished NICs undergo a 12-step certification including port testing, firmware updates, burn-in, and protocol validation. All units ship with a warranty, ensuring enterprise-grade reliability.

Question 3

Which Mellanox adapters support RoCE v2 and NVMe-oF?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT ConnectX-6 Dx NICs (e.g., MCX623435AC-ADAB) and ConnectX-5 cards (e.g., MCX556A-ECAT) fully support RoCE v2 and NVMe-oF, enabling low-latency, high-throughput data transfer for storage and AI workloads.

Question 4

Do Mellanox NICs improve latency for fintech and telecom environments?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mellanox adapters are widely used in financial trading and telecom networks for their deterministic ultra-low latency. Models like ConnectX-6 Lx provide hardware offloads and crypto acceleration, ideal for sensitive workloads.

Question 5

How do refurbished Mellanox NICs compare to OEM in performance?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT refurbished NICs deliver identical performance to new OEM hardware. For example, the MCX623106AC-CDAT achieves the same 200Gb/s line rate with the same firmware features, but at up to 70% lower cost.

Question 6

What PCIe generations are supported by Mellanox ConnectX NICs?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT provides PCIe Gen3, Gen4, and Gen5 NICs. ConnectX-6 supports PCIe Gen4 x16 for 200Gb/s bandwidth, while ConnectX-7 (latest) supports PCIe Gen5 for 400Gb/s fabrics.

Question 7

Can TES-IT ship Mellanox NICs pre-configured for Ethernet or InfiniBand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TES-IT can ship NICs with Ethernet or InfiniBand mode pre-set, with latest firmware and drivers applied. This ensures plug-and-play deployment in HPC labs, universities, or enterprise IT environments.

Question 8

Are Mellanox NICs ideal for virtualization and cloud-native setups?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Mellanox ConnectX-6 NICs are tailored for virtualization and cloud-native setups. They support SR-IOV, GPUDirect, and container acceleration, making them perfect for Kubernetes environments, AI/ML research, and multi-tenant HPC clusters.

Question 9

How quickly can TES-IT deliver Mellanox NICs worldwide?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT maintains 10,000+ NICs in stock across EU, US, and APAC. Orders are shipped same-day, with 24–72h delivery to most major data center hubs worldwide.

Question 10

Which Mellanox NICs are best for universities running mixed InfiniBand and Ethernet environments?

Accepted Answer

Mellanox VPI adapters like the MCX653106A-HDAT support both InfiniBand HDR (200Gb/s) and Ethernet 200GbE. TES-IT can pre-configure these NICs so universities can run hybrid clusters without additional complexity.

Question 11

Can refurbished NICs handle GPU Direct RDMA for AI workloads?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ConnectX-5, ConnectX-6, and ConnectX-7 NICs all support GPUDirect RDMA, which allows direct communication between GPUs and NICs, bypassing the CPU. This dramatically reduces latency in AI/ML training and HPC workloads.

Question 12

Do Mellanox NICs support secure boot and hardware crypto acceleration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ConnectX-6 Dx and newer cards include secure boot, TLS/IPsec offload, and hardware crypto acceleration. This is particularly valuable for financial services, telecoms, and enterprise IT environments requiring encryption at line rate.

Question 13

Are refurbished Mellanox NICs sustainable for universities and enterprises?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. By extending the lifecycle of NICs through refurbishment, TES-IT helps universities and enterprises reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 85% compared to buying new. All refurbished NICs are fully tested, certified, and warrantied.

Question 14

What are the key differences between ConnectX-5 and ConnectX-6 adapters?

Accepted Answer

ConnectX-5 adapters support 100Gb/s Ethernet/EDR InfiniBand, whereas ConnectX-6 delivers 200Gb/s throughput, PCIe Gen4 compatibility, hardware crypto, and advanced virtualization features. We offer both options to suit your workload requirements and budget.

Question 15

Can Mellanox NICs integrate with VMware, Proxmox, and Kubernetes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mellanox ConnectX adapters support SR-IOV, DPDK, and container acceleration, making them compatible with VMware ESXi, Proxmox VE, OpenStack, and Kubernetes clusters. TES-IT provides NICs pre-tested for virtualization environments.

Question 16

Do Mellanox NICs support HPC interconnects beyond InfiniBand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While InfiniBand HDR/NDR is common, Mellanox NICs also support RoCE v2 for Ethernet-based HPC fabrics. This gives HPC labs flexibility to choose between Ethernet or InfiniBand, depending on topology and budget.

Question 17

How do refurbished NICs perform in large-scale cloud provider environments?

Accepted Answer

TES-IT refurbished NICs perform identically to OEM and have been deployed in hyperscale environments where uptime is critical. ConnectX-6 NICs support millions of connections, RoCE v2, NVMe-oF, and are tested to ensure cloud-grade reliability.

Question 18

Can TES-IT provide NIC bundles with matching cables and switches?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TES-IT delivers complete bundles including NICs, Spectrum/Quantum switches, and DAC/AOC cabling. This ensures compatibility, reduces integration errors, and accelerates deployment in HPC clusters, enterprises, and cloud environments.

Question 19

How do I switch my Mellanox ConnectX card between InfiniBand and Ethernet modes?

Accepted Answer

We pre-configure Mellanox ConnectX cards based on your needs. To switch modes, use the Mellanox tool and run: **mlxconfig -d /dev/mst/mt4121_pciconf0 set LINK_TYPE_P1=2**. This command sets Port 1 to Ethernet mode. If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to us!

Frequently asked questions