Description
Overview of the Network Mezzanine Adapter
A network adapter is an essential component of any computer system. It allows the system to connect to a network and communicate with other devices. In high-performance computing environments, a dual-port 10GBE converged network adapter is often used to enable high-speed data transfer and reduce network latency. One such adapter is the 540-BBOQ Dell Dual-Port 10GBE Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter. In this article, we will explain in detail what the 540-BBOQ Dell Dual-Port 10GBE Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter is, how it works, and its benefits.
Specification of 10GBE Converged Network Adapter
The 540-BBOQ Dell Dual-Port 10GBE Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter is a network interface card designed for use in Dell PowerEdge servers. The adapter is installed in the mezzanine slot of the server and provides two 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) ports. The 10GbE ports are converged, meaning they can carry both data and storage traffic simultaneously. This feature is essential in high-performance computing environments where low latency and high bandwidth are critical.
Working Process of 2-Port Network Adapter
The 540-BBOQ Dell Dual-Port 10GBE Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface to connect to the server’s motherboard. The PCIe 3.0 interface provides high-speed connectivity between the adapter and the server’s CPU, allowing for low-latency data transfer. The adapter is designed to work with both Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and iSCSI storage protocols. FCoE allows Fibre Channel storage traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks, reducing the number of cables required in the data center. iSCSI, on the other hand, allows SCSI commands to be sent over IP networks, providing a low-cost alternative to Fibre Channel storage.
The adapter is also designed to support Data Center Bridging (DCB) technology, which provides a set of enhancements to Ethernet that allow it to be used as a lossless fabric for storage traffic. DCB includes several features, including Priority Flow Control (PFC), Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS), and Congestion Notification (CN). PFC ensures that storage traffic is prioritized over other network traffic, while ETS provides bandwidth allocation for different traffic classes. CN provides feedback to the sender when congestion occurs in the network, allowing it to adjust its transmission rate.
Benefits of Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter
- High-speed connectivity: The 540-BBOQ Dell Dual-Port 10GBE Converged Network Mezzanine Adapter provides two 10GbE ports, allowing for high-speed data transfer between the server and other devices on the network. This feature is essential in high-performance computing environments where low latency and high bandwidth are critical.
- Converged traffic: The adapter supports converged traffic, allowing both data and storage traffic to be carried over the same network. This feature reduces the number of cables required in the data center, simplifying network management and reducing costs.
- FCoE and iSCSI support: The adapter is designed to work with both FCoE and iSCSI storage protocols, providing flexibility in storage connectivity. FCoE allows Fibre Channel storage traffic to be carried over Ethernet networks, while iSCSI provides a low-cost alternative to Fibre Channel storage.
Main Specification about the Dell 540-BBOQ
- Manufacturer: Dell
- Part Number or SKU# 540-BBOQ
- Device Type: Converged Network Adapter
Technical Information
- Total Number Of Ports : 2
- Form Factor : Internal
- Data Link Protocol : Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology : 10GBE
- Data Transfer Rate : 40Gbps
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces/Ports Details : PCI Express
- Expansion Slot Type : QSFP+
