463-7357 Dell Dual-Port SFP+ Network Adapters, 10 Gigabit Speed

Dell 463-7357 Dual-Port SFP+ Converged Network Adapter

The Dell 463-7357 Dual-Port SFP+ Converged Network Adapter is a high-performance enterprise networking solution designed to provide reliable 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, advanced virtualization support, and storage networking acceleration. Featuring dual SFP+ ports and a powerful QLogic/Broadcom controller, this adapter delivers exceptional throughput for data centers, cloud infrastructures, virtualized environments, and mission-critical business applications.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 463-7357
• Product Type: Converged Network Adapter

Product Specifications

• Controller: QLogic / Broadcom BCM57810S
• Processor Type: Dual-port communication processor
• Architecture: Enterprise-class networking and storage acceleration platform

Network Performance

• Interface Speed: Dual-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
• Data Transfer Rate: 10Gbps per port
• Aggregate Throughput: Up to 20Gbps bidirectional bandwidth
• Network Standard: IEEE-compliant 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Low-Latency Communication: Optimized for enterprise and data center workloads

Connectivity and Interface

• Connector Type: Dual SFP+ cages
• Host Interface: PCI Express 2.0 (PCIe 2.0)
• PCIe Lane Width: x8 physical interface
• Form Factor: Full-height plug-in expansion card
• Hot-Pluggable SFP+ Support: Compatible with various transceiver modules

Supported Media Types

• SFP+ Direct Attach Copper (DAC) passive Twinax cables
• DAC cable support up to 7 meters
• Short-Range (SR) optical transceivers
• Long-Range (LR) optical transceivers
• Fiber optic and copper networking deployments

FCoE and iSCSI Hardware Offloads

• Integrated Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) acceleration
• Dedicated iSCSI protocol processing
• Reduces server CPU utilization
• Enhances storage traffic efficiency
• Optimizes SAN and converged infrastructure environments

Enterprise Converged

• Combines network and storage traffic on a unified infrastructure
• Reduces cabling complexity
• Lowers operational costs
• Simplifies data center management

Network Partitioning (NPAR)

• Supports dynamic partitioning of each physical 10GbE port
• Up to four virtual interfaces per physical connection
• Independent bandwidth allocation for each partition
• Improves workload isolation and traffic management

Virtualization Acceleration Technologies

• Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV)
• Microsoft Virtual Machine Queue (VMQ)
• VMware NetQueue support
• Reduced hypervisor overhead
• Enhanced virtual machine networking performance
• Improved scalability for cloud deployments

Server Compatibility

• Dell PowerEdge R430
• Dell PowerEdge R530
• Dell PowerEdge R630
• Dell PowerEdge R730
• Dell PowerEdge R730xd
• Dell PowerEdge R640
• Dell PowerEdge R740
• Dell PowerEdge R740xd

Dell PowerEdge Tower Servers

• Dell PowerEdge T430
• Dell PowerEdge T440
• Dell PowerEdge T630
• Dell PowerEdge T640
• Compatible with full-height PCIe expansion slots

Network Infrastructure Compatibility

• Compatible with Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch deployments
• Supports enterprise aggregation layers
• Designed for core routing infrastructures
• Works with IEEE-compliant 10GbE networking equipment
• Ideal for modern data center fabrics

Operating System Compatibility

• Microsoft Windows Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
• Ubuntu Server
• Broad enterprise operating system support

Key Advantages

• Dual-port 10GbE connectivity for maximum network efficiency
• Up to 20Gbps aggregate throughput capacity
• Integrated FCoE and iSCSI hardware acceleration
• Advanced virtualization and cloud optimization features
• Supports fiber optic and Twinax cable deployments
• Reduces CPU overhead through intelligent offload technologies
• Flexible network partitioning for workload management
• Broad compatibility with Dell PowerEdge server platforms
• Ideal for enterprise, cloud, virtualization, and storage environments

Common Deployment Scenarios

• Enterprise data centers
• Virtualized server infrastructures
• Private and hybrid cloud environments
• Storage area networks (SAN)
• High-performance computing clusters
• Business-critical database platforms

High-Performance Networking with Dell 463-7357 Overview

The Dell 463-7357 Dual-Port SFP+ Converged Network Adapter offers unparalleled 10 Gigabit Ethernet performance for enterprise-level servers and data centers. Engineered to handle the increasing demands of modern network infrastructures, this converged network adapter combines high throughput, low latency, and advanced reliability to meet the rigorous needs of virtualized environments, high-speed storage networks, and cloud-based applications. The dual-port design ensures multiple simultaneous connections, providing flexibility and redundancy for critical network workloads.

Exceptional 10 Gigabit Speed and Reliability

The 463-7357 adapter leverages cutting-edge SFP+ technology to deliver consistent 10 Gigabit per second speeds across both ports. This high-speed capability allows data-intensive applications to function without bottlenecks, ensuring smooth performance for enterprise databases, virtualization platforms, and high-performance computing clusters. By providing low-latency connectivity, the Dell 463-7357 ensures rapid data transfer, supporting latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading systems, AI workloads, and real-time analytics.

Dual-Port Architecture for Enhanced Connectivity

The dual-port configuration of this adapter offers multiple network paths, enhancing fault tolerance and providing redundancy. IT administrators can leverage both ports for load balancing, failover protection, or separate network traffic, optimizing network efficiency and performance. This architecture allows organizations to consolidate their network interface requirements, reducing the need for multiple adapters while improving the overall flexibility of server deployments.

Optimized Integration with Dell Servers

The Dell 463-7357 is engineered specifically for seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers and other rack-mounted server models. Its plug-and-play design ensures quick installation, reducing downtime during deployment. Compatibility with Dell’s server management tools, such as OpenManage, allows administrators to monitor performance, configure network settings, and diagnose issues in real-time, ensuring optimal network operations across the server infrastructure.

Advanced Converged Network Features

Designed for converged networks, the Dell 463-7357 supports both Ethernet and storage traffic over a single adapter, reducing hardware requirements and simplifying network architecture. This capability allows administrators to converge multiple workloads onto a single network interface, increasing efficiency while maintaining high performance. The adapter supports Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for seamless integration with storage area networks, allowing for streamlined data center operations and simplified cabling requirements.

Virtualization-Ready Performance

Modern data centers heavily rely on virtualization, and the Dell 463-7357 is optimized for these environments. The adapter supports advanced virtualization features, including Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) and Virtual Machine Queues (VMQ), which distribute network traffic efficiently across multiple virtual machines. By reducing CPU overhead and improving packet handling, the adapter enhances the performance of virtualized workloads, enabling high-density virtual server deployments without compromising network efficiency or responsiveness.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

In addition to its high-speed performance, the Dell 463-7357 is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Advanced power management technologies allow the adapter to reduce energy consumption during periods of low activity while maintaining optimal performance when required. This contributes to reduced operational costs and aligns with sustainability goals in modern data centers, providing organizations with an environmentally responsible networking solution without sacrificing speed or reliability.

Comprehensive Network Security and Management

Security is a critical concern in enterprise networks, and the Dell 463-7357 provides robust security features to protect sensitive data. It supports secure boot, firmware validation, and hardware-level encryption to safeguard network traffic from unauthorized access or tampering. Integrated with Dell’s management ecosystem, the adapter allows for centralized monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting, providing administrators with the tools necessary to maintain a secure and high-performing network environment.

Scalability for Growing Enterprises

The Dell 463-7357 is designed to scale with growing enterprise networks. Its dual-port design supports link aggregation, providing additional bandwidth for high-traffic workloads and ensuring redundancy for mission-critical applications. As organizations expand their data centers, this adapter allows for the integration of additional servers and networking hardware without disrupting existing operations, providing a future-proof solution for dynamic and evolving IT environments.

Compatibility and Industry Standards

Maintaining compatibility with industry standards is crucial for seamless integration into diverse IT infrastructures. The Dell 463-7357 supports IEEE 802.3 standards for Ethernet and is fully interoperable with switches, routers, and other networking components from multiple vendors. This compliance ensures that enterprises can deploy the adapter in mixed-vendor environments without facing compatibility issues, reducing complexity and allowing IT teams to maintain consistent performance across their network infrastructure.

Optimized for Storage and Data-Intensive Applications

The 463-7357 converged network adapter excels in handling storage and data-intensive applications. Its support for Fibre Channel over Ethernet and iSCSI traffic enables high-speed storage connectivity, making it ideal for storage area networks, backup solutions, and high-capacity data transfers. The dual-port design allows storage traffic to operate alongside traditional Ethernet traffic without compromising performance, providing administrators with a versatile and efficient solution for enterprise storage requirements.

Enhanced Reliability and Fault Tolerance

Reliability is a critical factor in enterprise networking, and the Dell 463-7357 provides multiple features to ensure uninterrupted network operation. The dual-port configuration allows for failover support, enabling traffic to continue seamlessly in the event of a network link failure. Error detection, correction, and advanced packet handling mechanisms maintain stable connectivity under high network loads, ensuring that mission-critical applications remain operational at all times.

Data Center Optimization

The Dell 463-7357 is engineered for high-density data center environments where space, cooling, and performance are critical. Its low-profile form factor enables deployment in dense server racks without compromising airflow or thermal management. By consolidating network and storage traffic onto a single adapter, data centers can reduce hardware complexity, optimize power usage, and streamline cabling, contributing to overall operational efficiency and cost savings.

Advanced Packet Handling

To maximize server performance, the Dell 463-7357 includes advanced offload capabilities such as TCP/IP offloading, large send offload (LSO), and checksum offloading. These features reduce CPU utilization during network operations, freeing server resources for other applications and enhancing overall system performance. By handling complex network processing tasks at the hardware level, the adapter ensures low latency, high throughput, and efficient packet distribution across multiple workloads.

Support for Converged Networking Architectures

The Dell 463-7357 is fully compatible with converged network architectures, allowing organizations to integrate storage, networking, and computing traffic over a single infrastructure. This convergence reduces hardware requirements, simplifies network management, and improves overall data center efficiency. With support for multiple protocols and traffic types, the adapter provides a versatile solution for enterprises adopting unified networking strategies.

Comprehensive Management Tools

Administrators benefit from the robust management and diagnostic capabilities provided by the Dell 463-7357. Through integration with Dell OpenManage tools, IT teams can monitor network performance, configure advanced features, and perform remote diagnostics without requiring physical access to servers. This level of control ensures that network operations remain smooth, proactive maintenance can be performed efficiently, and potential issues can be addressed before impacting critical applications.

Optimized for High-Performance

The Dell 463-7357 is particularly well-suited for high-performance computing (HPC) environments that require rapid data transfer and low latency. Its 10 Gigabit speeds, dual-port architecture, and hardware offload capabilities enable HPC clusters to process large datasets efficiently, enhancing scientific research, simulations, and data analytics. By providing reliable and consistent connectivity, this adapter ensures that HPC systems can perform optimally under heavy computational loads.