QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6 Dual-Port 25GbE PCIe 4.0 x8 Network Expansion Card

Overview

The QNAP QXG-25G2SF-CX6 is a dual-port 25 Gigabit Ethernet network expansion card designed to enhance the connectivity of compatible NAS devices, servers, and workstations. Powered by the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC, it delivers up to 25 GbE per port, with the ability to aggregate both ports for a combined throughput of 50 GbE. This card fits into a PCIe 4.0 x8 slot and supports backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0 and 2.0, making it a versatile upgrade for various systems.

Key features

• Two SFP28 ports provide high-speed 25 GbE connections for faster data transfers and reduced backup times.
• Port trunking allows combining both ports to achieve an aggregated bandwidth of 50 GbE, ideal for demanding workflows.
• Backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0 and 2.0 slots ensures easy integration into existing hardware setups.
• SR-IOV technology enables efficient virtual machine networking by offloading network functions and reducing CPU load.
• RoCE support minimizes latency for RDMA workloads, benefiting storage networks, database clusters, and HPC environments.
• Includes a low-profile bracket pre-installed and additional brackets for full-height and special chassis, simplifying installation.
• Compatible with QNAP QTS and QuTS hero NAS operating systems, as well as Windows 10, Windows Server, and popular Linux distributions.

Key specs

• Network ports: 2 x 25 GbE SFP28
• Maximum aggregated throughput: 50 GbE
• Controller: NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC
• PCIe interface: PCIe 4.0 x8 (backward compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 2.0)
• Supported virtualization feature: SR-IOV
• Latency reduction technology: RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet)
• Included brackets: low-profile (installed), full-height, and special-purpose

Connectivity and compatibility

This expansion card supports a wide range of operating systems and environments, making it suitable for diverse IT setups. It works seamlessly with QNAP NAS devices running QTS or QuTS hero, and is compatible with Windows 10, Windows Server, and major Linux distributions when the appropriate drivers are installed. The dual SFP28 ports connect to fiber or DAC cables, providing flexible options for high-speed networking in data centers, virtualization clusters, or media production environments.

Performance and reliability

With the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC at its core, the card delivers low-latency and high-throughput performance essential for modern data workflows. Features like SR-IOV and RoCE optimize network efficiency and reduce CPU overhead, which is critical in virtualized environments and high-performance computing. The robust build and included mounting brackets ensure stable operation in both rack-mounted servers and compact desktop systems.

Ideal uses and environments

The QXG-25G2SF-CX6 is well suited to IT professionals managing virtualization farms, media editors working with large 8K video files, and businesses requiring fast and reliable client access to shared storage. Its high-speed connectivity and virtualization support make it a strong choice for data centers, enterprise networks, and advanced home labs that demand efficient and scalable 25 GbE networking.