Selecting NVIDIA Auxiliary and Debugging Kits Without Mixing Roles

Name the job before the part

An auxiliary PCIe connection kit, a replacement harness and a debugging cable kit have different roles. MTMK9100 kits provide an auxiliary card and two harnesses for a Socket Direct arrangement. The BlueField-3 930-9DAX5-0015-000 and 930-9DAX4-0035-000 kits are documented for self-hosted downstream-port connections. The 930-9DHAR-0001-000 code identifies a replacement harness. None should be described as an independent NIC.

Match length and interface

The MTMK9100 T15, T25 and T35 entries correspond to 150, 250 and 350 mm harnesses. The T15 ordering headline is Gen5 x16; separate technical documentation lists Gen4/5 support. T25 and T35 are listed for Gen4 x16. The BlueField self-hosted kits similarly differ by generation and harness length. Check the primary card, mode, slot position and cable route together, and retain the owner-confirmed canonical-to-legacy code mapping alongside independent public legacy-model evidence.

Choose the correct debugging wiring

MBF20-DKIT includes a Mini USB Type-B cable and 30-pin shrouded cable. MBF25-DKIT changes the USB connection to a four-pin USB-to-female-Type-A cable while retaining a 30-pin shrouded cable. MBF35-DKIT uses the four-pin USB connection and a 20-pin shrouded-to-Type-A cable. The BF2 guide assigns different kits by DPU model and explicitly notes early-hardware exceptions. Do not make substitutions by connector appearance.

Read package contents literally

MTMK0051 is a 150 mm PCIe Gen4 harness-and-retention kit: its listed contents are black and white harnesses plus retention clips. It does not list the auxiliary card and brackets of a complete MTMK9100 kit. For ConnectX-8/9, the 250 mm MCIO auxiliary kit and 200 mm IPEX debugging extender are different products. The extender accesses low-speed signals; it is not a PCIe bandwidth upgrade. A drawing of one constituent part is useful orientation, but does not document the entire delivered package.

Clear documentation and software gates

The C8180X auxiliary tables disagree on generation/rate and need manufacturer clarification. The current BF3 introduction also warns that Socket Direct is unsupported by firmware. Obtain the correct software qualification and BOM before treating a hardware connector as a usable feature. During receiving inspection, compare every included component, length, bracket and label with the agreed assembly.

Independent technical selection guidance. No claim of a SwitchInfra installation, supplied batch, certified performance or customer outcome.

Public references

• PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide
• Technical Specifications | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide
• Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-3 Networking Platform User Guide
• Introduction | NVIDIA BlueField-2 Ethernet DPU User Guide
• PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-7 Adapter Cards User Manual
• PCIe Auxiliary Card Kit | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual
• PCIe Auxiliary Kit Technical Specifications | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual
• Supported Interfaces | NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC User Manual
• PNY networking product range, May 2025