Description
Product Overview of the Intel X540-T2 Converged Adapter
In the realm of networking technology, the Intel X540-T2 Dual Port Converged Adapter stands as a formidable entity, boasting advanced features that cater to the demands of modern connectivity. This in-depth exploration will dissect the intricacies of this adapter, shedding light on its specifications, capabilities, and the technological marvel that is the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe or PCI-E) x8 interface. Let’s embark on a journey to understand the essence of this device.
Understanding the Basics Intel X540-T2 Adapter
Before delving into the technical nuances, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental features that make the Intel X540-T2 a noteworthy component in the networking landscape.
- Dual Port Configuration: The X540-T2 is equipped with not just one, but two ports, signifying a dual-port configuration. This design choice enhances flexibility and scalability, allowing users to engage in diverse networking scenarios.
- Converged Adapter Capabilities: The term “converged adapter” indicates that this Intel creation goes beyond traditional networking functions. It converges different types of traffic, such as data, storage, and management, onto a single network, streamlining operations and reducing complexity.
- 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Speeds: One of the standout features of the X540-T2 is its ability to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) speeds. This level of performance is a game-changer for applications requiring high bandwidth, low latency, and reliable data transfer.
The Heart of the Matter PCIe x8 Interface
At the core of the X540-T2’s prowess lies the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe or PCI-E) x8 interface. Let’s dissect this critical element to understand how it contributes to the adapter’s overall functionality.
- PCIe x8: The PCIe x8 interface is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard that facilitates the connection between various hardware components. In the case of the X540-T2, the x8 designation indicates the number of lanes available for data transmission, emphasizing a robust and efficient communication pathway.
- Wires and Connectivity: The x8 interface is represented by a specific number of wires, each serving a distinct purpose in the data transfer process. These wires ensure a reliable and swift exchange of information between the adapter and the connected devices, optimizing the overall performance of the network.
Advanced Technologies for Converged Adapter
The Intel X540-T2 Plug-in Card PCI-E 10GbE Dual Port Wires Converged Adapter is a high-performance network interface card (NIC) designed for use in servers. It provides two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, which allows for increased network connectivity and redundancy.
This NIC card is equipped with advanced technologies that provide increased performance, security, and manageability. Some of these advanced technologies include:
- Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq): VMDq is a hardware-assisted virtualization technology that improves network performance by reducing the CPU overhead associated with virtualized environments.
- PCI Express v3.0: The NIC card supports the PCI Express v3.0 interface, which provides increased bandwidth and faster data transfer speeds.
- Advanced Error Handling: The NIC card has advanced error handling features that can detect and correct errors before they can cause system downtime.
- Advanced Flow Control: The NIC card has advanced flow control features that help to prevent network congestion and ensure that data is transmitted reliably.
- Quality of Service (QoS) support: The NIC card supports QoS, which allows for prioritization of network traffic based on different types of applications and services.
- Support for iSCSI and FCoE: The NIC card supports iSCSI and FCoE, allowing storage area networks (SANs) to be implemented over Ethernet networks.
- Compatibility with Intel Virtualization Technology for Connectivity (VT-c): The NIC card is compatible with Intel VT-c, which provides advanced virtualization features that can help to increase network performance in virtualized environments.
All these advanced technologies ensure that the NIC card can provide high-performance and reliable network connectivity, and can handle the demands of a server environment. The 10Gbps speed is also beneficial for high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming, high-performance computing, and cloud computing.
Resiliency and High Availability
The Intel X540-T2 Plug-in Card PCI-E 10Gbps Dual Port Wires Converged Adapter is designed to provide resiliency and high availability in a server environment. Some of the features that contribute to this include:
- Dual ports: Having two ports allows for increased network connectivity and redundancy. This means that if one port fails, the other port can take over and maintain network connectivity.
- Advanced Error Handling: The NIC card has advanced error handling features that can detect and correct errors before they can cause system downtime.
- Advanced Flow Control: The NIC card has advanced flow control features that help to prevent network congestion and ensure that data is transmitted reliably.
- Quality of Service (QoS) support: The NIC card supports QoS, which allows for prioritization of network traffic based on different types of applications and services.
- Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq): VMDq is a hardware-assisted virtualization technology that improves network performance by reducing the CPU overhead associated with virtualized environments.
- Support for iSCSI and FCoE: The NIC card supports iSCSI and FCoE, allowing storage area networks (SANs) to be implemented over Ethernet networks.
- Compatibility with Intel Virtualization Technology for Connectivity (VT-c): The NIC card is compatible with Intel VT-c, which provides advanced virtualization features that can help to increase network performance in virtualized environments.
All these features together make the NIC card a reliable and robust solution for servers, providing high availability and resiliency to network connectivity. They also can help in reducing network downtime and keeping the network running smoothly. Additionally, the 10Gbps speed makes this NIC card more suitable for high bandwidth applications, where the extra speed can make a significant difference in the performance of the network.
Quality Components
The Intel X540-T2 Plug-in Card PCI-E 10GbE Dual Port Wires Converged Adapter is built with high-quality components to ensure that it can operate in demanding server environments. Some of the quality components used in this NIC card include:
- High-Quality PCB: The NIC card is built on a high-quality printed circuit board (PCB) that is designed to withstand the physical and thermal stresses of a server environment.
- High-Quality Connectors: The NIC card is equipped with high-quality connectors that provide a secure and reliable connection to the network.
- High-Quality Transceivers: The NIC card is equipped with high-quality transceivers that provide a reliable and consistent signal for network communication.
- High-Quality Memory: The NIC card is equipped with high-quality memory that can store the necessary firmware and configuration data.
- High-Quality Power Management: The NIC card is equipped with high-quality power management features that can help to conserve power and reduce energy consumption.
- High-Quality Cooling: The NIC card is equipped with high-quality cooling features that can help to keep the card cool and prevent overheating.
All these quality components ensure that the NIC card can operate reliably and robustly in a server environment, and can provide high-performance network connectivity. High-quality components also make the NIC card more durable and less likely to fail in demanding environments.
General Information about this Intel X540-T2
- Brand: Intel
- Model Number or SKU# X540-T2
- Product Type: 2 Ports Adapter
- Product Name: Converged Adapter
Performance of PCI Express
- Interface (Bus) Type: PCI Express 2.0 X8
- Device Type: Network Adapter – 2 Ports
- PCI Specification Revision: PCI-E 2.0
Networking for this Network Adapter – 2 Ports
- Connectivity Technology: Wires
- Data Link Protocol: 10 Gigabit Ethernet
- Data Transfer Rate
- Network Technology: 10GBase-T
In summary, the Intel X540-T2 Dual Port Converged Adapter emerges as a powerhouse in the world of networking technology. Its dual-port configuration, support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds, and the PCIe x8 interface collectively contribute to its status as a reliable and high-performance component.
As businesses and data requirements continue to surge, the X540-T2 provides a robust solution for organizations seeking to bolster their networking infrastructure. Whether in enterprise settings, virtualized environments, or storage networks, this adapter proves its worth, underscoring Intel’s commitment to driving innovation in the ever-expanding landscape of high-speed connectivity.
