2GXCJ Dell Intel Xxv710-da2 Dual-port 25GB Network Adapter

Overview of 2GXCJ Dell Intel XXV710-DA2 Dual-Port 25Gb Converged Network Adapter

The 2GXCJ Dell Intel XXV710-DA2 Dual-Port 25GB Converged Network Adapter is a high-performance, low-latency network interface card designed to support demanding enterprise workloads. This adapter, developed by Intel and optimized by Dell, supports two 25 Gigabit Ethernet ports and is engineered to provide ultra-fast connectivity, increased throughput, and advanced virtualization features for modern data centers. Supplied with both low-profile and full-height brackets, it is ideal for flexible deployment across various server configurations.

Core Specifications of the 2GXCJ Dell Intel XXV710-DA2 Adapter

Dual-Port 25GbE Interface

At the heart of this adapter are two 25 Gigabit Ethernet ports that deliver high-speed connectivity, supporting bandwidth-intensive applications such as data analytics, AI/ML workloads, and virtualization environments. With dual ports, the card not only supports redundant network paths but also enables efficient load balancing and enhanced throughput.

Intel Ethernet Controller X710 Family

This network adapter is powered by the Intel X710 series controller, known for its advanced features and reliability. The controller supports various networking technologies, including SR-IOV, iWARP, and RDMA, helping to reduce CPU load and accelerate data transfers across server infrastructure.

Compatibility and Slot Form Factor

The 2GXCJ adapter fits into a PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot and is compatible with Dell PowerEdge servers. It supports both low-profile and full-height bracket options, enabling seamless installation in a wide range of server chassis. The flexible bracket inclusion simplifies deployment across rack-mounted and tower-based enterprise servers.

Advanced Networking Features for Enterprise Environments

Virtualization and Cloud Computing

With Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) support, this adapter enhances performance in virtualized environments by allowing virtual machines (VMs) to directly access the network hardware, bypassing the hypervisor. This dramatically reduces latency and CPU overhead, making it ideal for dense virtualization deployments and cloud computing workloads.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Network Function Virtualization is increasingly critical in modern data centers. The 2GXCJ adapter supports NFV by providing hardware acceleration features that improve the performance of virtualized network services like firewalls, routers, and load balancers.

Data Center Bridging (DCB)

The adapter supports Data Center Bridging, which allows Ethernet to provide the lossless transport typically associated with Fibre Channel networks. This ensures reliable and stable data transmission, crucial for storage networks, especially those using iSCSI or FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet).

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) Support

With support for RDMA and iWARP, this NIC significantly reduces latency and CPU overhead by enabling direct memory transfers between systems. This is particularly valuable in high-performance computing (HPC) and large-scale storage environments where microsecond-level latency matters.

Use Cases and Applications

High-Speed Data Transfers in Storage Networks

Whether used in SANs (Storage Area Networks) or hyper-converged infrastructure, the 25GbE capability enables fast access to shared storage resources, making it ideal for applications such as backup, disaster recovery, and database replication.

Performance in Virtualized and Hyper-Converged Environments

Combined with SR-IOV and VMQ (Virtual Machine Queue), this adapter boosts performance for hypervisors like VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM. It’s ideal for enterprises running a high density of virtual machines or containers that demand consistent, low-latency networking.

Cloud Infrastructure Optimization

Cloud environments benefit from the adapter’s scalability, low power consumption, and ability to handle large data volumes efficiently. It helps optimize network resources across public, private, or hybrid clouds by enabling high throughput and congestion management.

Hardware Design and Deployment Flexibility

Bracket Options: Low-Profile and Full-Height

The inclusion of both bracket types ensures compatibility across a wide variety of server enclosures, making it suitable for enterprise IT infrastructures that may use different form factors. This versatility simplifies inventory management and increases deployment flexibility.

Robust Thermal Management

The 2GXCJ network adapter is engineered to handle elevated operating temperatures commonly found in dense data center environments. Efficient heat dissipation mechanisms ensure consistent performance without thermal throttling, even under sustained high workloads.

Security and Network Integrity

Trusted Platform Integration

This adapter supports Intel’s platform-level security technologies, including platform firmware resilience and secure boot. These features help protect against firmware attacks, rootkits, and malicious traffic interception.

Traffic Filtering and VLAN Support

Advanced filtering capabilities allow network administrators to define rules for traffic segmentation, security, and QoS. The adapter supports 802.1Q VLAN tagging, enabling robust traffic isolation within shared infrastructure environments.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Prioritization

Built-in QoS functionality allows traffic shaping and prioritization, ensuring mission-critical applications always receive the necessary bandwidth. This is particularly useful for real-time services such as VoIP, streaming, and financial transactions.

Compatibility and System Integration

Dell PowerEdge Server Support

The 2GXCJ adapter is fully compatible with a wide range of Dell PowerEdge servers, including the R-series (e.g., R740, R640), T-series (e.g., T640), and FX modular servers. It integrates smoothly with Dell’s server management tools, providing seamless monitoring and diagnostics capabilities through iDRAC and OpenManage.

Operating System Compatibility

The network adapter supports major enterprise operating systems, including:

• Microsoft Windows Server (2016, 2019, 2022)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
• VMware vSphere/ESXi

Each driver package is optimized to ensure minimal latency and high throughput across supported platforms.

Performance Optimization Features

Large Send Offload (LSO) and Large Receive Offload (LRO)

These features offload segmentation and reassembly tasks from the host CPU, improving performance by reducing processor overhead during large data transfers.

Interrupt Moderation

This function optimizes CPU usage by controlling the rate of interrupt generation. By batching interrupts, the adapter helps improve system efficiency without compromising on latency or responsiveness.

Checksum Offload

Offloading checksum calculations from the host CPU to the network interface card improves packet processing efficiency, further enhancing overall system performance.

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Considerations

Low Power Consumption

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the 2GXCJ NIC consumes less power than older generation 10GbE cards while delivering more than double the performance. This results in lower data center operating costs and reduced thermal output.

Compliance and Certifications

The adapter complies with industry standards such as RoHS and WEEE, and it supports Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) which enables dynamic power adjustment based on traffic conditions.

Installation and Management

Plug-and-Play Deployment

The adapter features plug-and-play installation in compatible Dell servers. With BIOS-level and OS-level recognition, setup is streamlined for IT professionals looking to upgrade or scale their networking environment.

Firmware and Driver Management

Driver packages and firmware updates are easily managed through Dell OpenManage, Intel’s Ethernet tools, and system management utilities. Regular updates ensure ongoing compatibility and performance improvements.

Diagnostic and Monitoring Tools

Integrated diagnostics allow proactive monitoring of network health, port status, and error conditions. SNMP support enables real-time integration with enterprise network monitoring systems for predictive analytics and alerts.

Scalability and Future-Proofing

25GbE Scalability for Growing Workloads

The 2GXCJ adapter's 25GbE capability provides future-proof bandwidth to accommodate growing application demands. It supports scalable deployment models, from edge computing to core data centers, ensuring long-term investment protection.

Backward Compatibility with 10GbE Networks

While designed for 25GbE, the adapter also supports 10GbE connections, making it versatile during network transitions or hybrid deployments. This backward compatibility helps extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure while planning for future upgrades.