540-BDDF: Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 OCP 3.0 Adapter
Also listed as: 01H79N, 1H79N, MCX623436AN-CDAB · made by NVIDIA
The Dell 540-BDDF is a Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 OCP 3.0 Adapter delivering 100GbE network connectivity across 2x 100GbE QSFP56 / QSFP28 via PCIe 4.0 x16 OCP 3.0 SFF. Built with NVIDIA controller architecture, the 540-BDDF provides hardware offload acceleration and virtualization support for R750, R650, R760, R660 enterprise servers.
Specifications
| Part number | 540-BDDF |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dell |
| Made by | NVIDIA |
| Type | OCP adapters |
| Other numbers | 01H79N, 1H79N, MCX623436AN-CDAB |
| Status | current |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 OCP 3.0 SFF |
| Form factor | OCP 3.0 Small Form Factor |
| Ports | 2x 100GbE QSFP56 / QSFP28 |
| Speed | 100GbE |
| Tdp (W) | 20 |
About the 540-BDDF
The Dell 540-BDDF is a Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 OCP 3.0 Adapter engineered to deliver 100GbE network transmission across 2x 100GbE QSFP56 / QSFP28 over PCIe 4.0 x16 OCP 3.0 SFF. Powered by NVIDIA controller architecture on the 540-BDDF, it executes hardware-level protocol processing, RoCE, and SR-IOV virtualization while maintaining a thermal envelope of approximately 20W. In Dell's networking portfolio, 540-BDDF provides dedicated high-bandwidth fabric connectivity for clustered virtualization, network storage, and enterprise database hosts.
Compatibility
Engineered for Dell PowerEdge servers including R750, R650, R760, R660, the 540-BDDF mounts directly into OCP 3.0 Small Form Factor locations. The 540-BDDF slides into the rear OCP 3.0 mezzanine bay with an ejection latch, preserving PCIe riser slots. Cabling the 540-BDDF requires 100GbE-rated media, including direct attach copper twinaxial assemblies, optical transceivers, or patch leads matched to its physical ports. Supported operating systems on the 540-BDDF include VMware ESXi, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Windows Server with native Dell drivers.
How to identify a genuine unit
Authentic Dell 540-BDDF units carry an identification label displaying DP/N 01H79N and NVIDIA model code MCX623436AN-CDAB along with Dell regulatory marks. In iDRAC Network Devices inventory, the card registers under part number 540-BDDF with active link state, port MAC addresses, negotiated speed, and certified Dell firmware. Onboard physical indicators on the 540-BDDF provide link status and port activity monitoring.
Buying used
When purchasing a pre-owned 540-BDDF, examine the gold edge connector fingers for scratches, peeling contacts, or missing surface-mount capacitors. Ensure that the 540-BDDF OCP pull-latch mechanism is intact and properly aligned for chassis installation. Validate in iDRAC Lifecycle Controller that the 540-BDDF is recognized with certified Dell firmware and passes diagnostics under sustained 100GbE network traffic.
Fits these models
Works together
How the Dell 540-BDDF connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 ways, with the hardware on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Switches
Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerStore 1200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 3200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 5200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 9200T 2U rack
HPE Alletra Storage MP 2U rack
Lenovo ThinkSystem DM7100H 4U rack
Optics
407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Switches
- Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerScale F600 1U rack
Dell PowerScale F900 2U rack
Dell PowerScale H700 4U- Dell PowerStore 1200T 2U rack
- Dell PowerStore 3200T 2U rack
- Dell PowerStore 5200T 2U rack
Optics
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
Switches
- Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Optics
- 407-BBOY Dell 100GbE QSFP28 SR4 Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MPO-12)
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared mrplanb.com
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Equivalent part numbers
- NVIDIA MCX623436AN-CDAB NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx EN 100GbE Dual-Port OCP 3.0 OEM base
FAQ
What is the maximum throughput across both ports?
It delivers 200Gbps aggregate bidirectional line rate throughput over PCIe 4.0 x16.
Does this card support hardware root of trust?
Yes, ConnectX-6 Dx includes hardware Root of Trust for secure firmware boot and cryptographic operations.
Buying or selling 540-BDDF?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Dell Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE OCP 3.0 Adapter Specifications, checked 2026-10-27