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There is no safe, universal “custom ConnectX-3 firmware” file to download. Use NVIDIA’s firmware catalog for standard images that match the exact adapter, and follow the OEM custom-firmware route for a vendor-branded card or an image that must preserve OEM-specific settings. Build a custom image with NVIDIA MFT’s mlxburn only when you have the correct device family and required inputs; otherwise, use the vendor-supplied image.
Where to get ConnectX-3 firmware files
NVIDIA’s firmware catalog lists ConnectX-3 and ConnectX-3 Pro separately, with Ethernet and InfiniBand entries. Identify the adapter before downloading: a file for a similar-looking card or a different port mode is not necessarily suitable. NVIDIA’s adapter-identification guidance directs users with custom firmware needs to the OEM custom-firmware page, since OEM cards may require vendor-specific images.
Use the vendor’s image when the card is OEM-branded, its PSID identifies an OEM configuration, or the vendor specifies a particular firmware branch. Do not treat a standard NVIDIA image as interchangeable with an OEM image just because both name ConnectX-3. If the exact matching file is not clear, ask the card’s OEM or NVIDIA support to confirm the correct image rather than trying candidates.
Choose the image route
| Situation | Where to start | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NVIDIA adapter and standard firmware | NVIDIA firmware catalog | Exact adapter family, PSID, and Ethernet, InfiniBand, or VPI configuration |
| OEM-branded adapter or OEM-specific firmware | Card vendor’s OEM custom-firmware page or support | That the image is intended for the card’s exact PSID and configuration |
| Image must be customized | NVIDIA MFT tools, especially mlxburn |
That the required firmware and configuration inputs match the device family and intended changes |
What “custom firmware” means—and when to build it
A firmware image is not the same thing as a setting change. NVIDIA describes MFT as a set of tools for generating standard or customized firmware images, querying firmware information, and burning an image. mlxburn generates standard or customized firmware images in .bin format and can burn an image, query loaded firmware, and display adapter VPD.
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- Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports
If you only need to change a supported device configuration, check whether mlxconfig supports the setting. It changes supported configuration without creating and burning a new firmware image. Avoid building a custom image simply to change a setting that can be managed this way.
A custom image is appropriate only when you know why the image must differ from the vendor-supplied one and have the matching firmware and configuration inputs. The available information does not establish a universal ConnectX-3 .mlx source file or a single set of inputs that works for every card. Do not assume that a file intended for one PSID or port configuration can be reused on another.
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Identify the card before choosing a file
Record the card’s exact part number, PSID, port mode, and current firmware revision before selecting an image. This is especially important for OEM cards and VPI adapters, which may be configured for Ethernet or InfiniBand. Use the adapter-identification guidance and the card’s vendor information to determine which firmware route applies.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Part number and PSID: Confirm the exact adapter identity, not just the ConnectX-3 family name.
- Port mode: Establish whether the card is operating as Ethernet, InfiniBand, or VPI and select an entry intended for that configuration.
- Current firmware: Query the installed revision before planning an update or downgrade.
- Expansion ROM: Decide whether the change concerns adapter firmware, FlexBoot or another expansion ROM, or both.
NVIDIA’s mlxup utility can scan installed adapters, indicate whether a firmware update is needed, and update from the web or local binaries. It is useful for checking installed hardware and handling vendor-directed updates, but it does not remove the need to confirm that an image is right for an OEM card.
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Which MFT tools do what
| Tool | Use | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
mst |
Lists MST devices and starts or stops the register-access driver on Linux and VMware ESXi | Exposes the device for management; it does not generate firmware |
flint |
Burns firmware or expansion-ROM images and queries burned or file images | Use the vendor’s instructions for the intended image and operation |
mlxburn |
Generates standard or customized .bin firmware images; can burn, query firmware, and display VPD |
The image inputs must match the intended device family and customization |
mlxconfig |
Changes supported device configuration | Does not create or burn a new image |
mlxfwmanager |
Firmware update and query utility | NVIDIA notes that its embedded-binary version is released separately as mlxup |
Install an MFT release supported for the firmware and platform in question, then use mst to expose the device and query its current state with the appropriate MFT utility. NVIDIA warns that running MFT tools concurrently or simultaneously against the same device is unsupported and can cause unexpected behavior. Do not run parallel management or flash operations on one adapter.
Compatibility notes for ConnectX-3
Mellanox release notes for firmware revision 2.42.5032 list MFT 4.7.1 among the tested tools, list FlexBoot 3.4.754, and state that this firmware revision complies with the Mellanox Adapters Programmer’s Reference Manual revision 2.1 or later. These are release-note compatibility details, not a guarantee that those versions are the newest available or appropriate for every ConnectX-3 card. Confirm compatibility for the exact PSID and platform before flashing.
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- TCP/UDP/IP and iSCSI Stacks
- Dual Gigabit Ethernet Ports
The same release notes document several details that matter when planning an update:
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- Firmware images from version
2.30.8000onward carry an FFV field. Treat this as a version-specific image detail, not a reason to select an image without checking its target. - For an expansion-ROM-only update, the notes show the
-allow_rom_changeoption. Use it only in the situation described by the vendor instructions; do not infer that it is needed for a normal firmware update. - For ConnectX-3 Ethernet, firmware tools can report a GUID of
0xffffwhile fabric or driver utilities report a MAC-derived value. The release notes say to use the fabric/driver value for firmware, driver, and software purposes. - Downgrading from firmware version
2.30.8000or later to a version earlier than2.30.8000requires a server reboot, according to those notes. Plan for that reboot rather than treating the downgrade as complete immediately after flashing.
Safe workflow for building or flashing an image
- Identify the hardware. Record the part number, PSID, port mode, and current firmware. Resolve any OEM identity through the card vendor before proceeding.
- Select the source. Start with NVIDIA’s firmware catalog and adapter-identification guidance for standard firmware. For an OEM card or explicitly custom image, use the OEM custom-firmware route.
- Check compatibility. Confirm that the MFT release and image instructions apply to the exact adapter and platform. The release-note versions above are a historical compatibility anchor, not a universal version recommendation.
- Inspect the current device state. Install the supported MFT package, expose the device with
mst, and query the installed firmware using the vendor-directed utility. - Build only if needed. Use
mlxburnto generate a customized image only when the required firmware and configuration inputs are known to match the card. Otherwise, use the vendor-supplied binary. - Flash under controlled conditions. Follow the image vendor’s instructions and use the specified update utility. Do not run concurrent MFT tools against the same adapter, and plan for any required reboot.
- Verify after the operation. Query the installed firmware again and confirm the result against the intended image and configuration. If the adapter is OEM-branded, follow the OEM’s verification and recovery guidance.
Recovery and precautions
Do not interrupt a firmware operation unless the vendor’s procedure tells you to. Mellanox release notes warn that forcibly stopping an MFT operation can leave the flash semaphore locked; the documented recovery command is flint -clear_semaphore. Treat that as a recovery action for the stated condition, not as a routine step before flashing, and follow the vendor’s guidance for the affected adapter.
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Also account for the documented server reboot requirement when downgrading from version 2.30.8000 or later to an earlier version. If the update is only for an expansion ROM, distinguish that task from a firmware update and follow the release-note instruction for that case.
Quick Recap
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