540-BBIV Dell Intel X710 Dual Port 10GB Interface Card

540-BBIV Dell Dual Port Server Adapter Specification

The 540-BBIV Dell Intel X710 Dual Port 10GB Server Adapter Ethernet PCIe Network Interface Card is an enterprise-grade network interface card (NIC) engineered to meet the demanding requirements of modern data centers and enterprise environments. Built on Intel’s trusted X710 Ethernet controller, this dual-port 10-gigabit adapter delivers exceptional performance, scalability, and advanced networking features. Designed to support both standard and low-profile brackets, this NIC provides excellent flexibility in deployment, making it compatible with a broad range of server form factors, including Dell PowerEdge systems.

Key Features

Intel X710 Controller Architecture

At the core of the 540-BBIV adapter lies the Intel X710 controller, a high-performance networking processor known for its robust features and exceptional throughput. The controller supports advanced network offloads, such as VXLAN, NVGRE, and SR-IOV, which are crucial for reducing CPU overhead in virtualized environments and large-scale network workloads.

Dual Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

The adapter comes with two 10GbE ports, enabling high-speed data transmission essential for bandwidth-intensive applications like large-scale storage, virtualization, and big data analytics. Dual-port architecture supports link aggregation (LACP), failover, and load balancing to ensure optimal performance and high availability.

PCI Express 3.0 Interface

The card is designed with a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, ensuring compatibility with modern server motherboards while delivering ample bandwidth for full-duplex 10GbE operation. This interface guarantees low latency and efficient communication between the server CPU and the network interface.

Full and Low-Profile Bracket Support

The inclusion of both standard and low-profile brackets enhances deployment flexibility. Whether installed in a rack-mounted full-height server or a compact blade chassis, the adapter fits seamlessly, supporting a wide range of form factors without requiring additional modifications.

Performance Optimization for Enterprise Workloads

SR-IOV and Network Virtualization

The Intel X710 controller supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), a feature that enables multiple virtual machines to share a single physical network interface while maintaining isolated data paths. This dramatically improves throughput and reduces latency in virtualized server environments.

Offload Technologies

The 540-BBIV Dell NIC incorporates multiple offload engines to accelerate network processing. Technologies such as TCP Segmentation Offload (TSO), Large Receive Offload (LRO), and IP Checksum Offload reduce CPU overhead, improving system efficiency during high-traffic workloads.

Support for Network Virtualization Overlays

With built-in support for VXLAN and NVGRE tunneling, this network adapter enables efficient multi-tenant networking across virtual infrastructures. These overlays are essential for building scalable and flexible cloud architectures without compromising network segmentation or performance.

Security and Reliability Features

Trusted Platform Integration

The Dell 540-BBIV adapter integrates with Intel’s trusted platform features, such as Secure Boot and UEFI, to provide a secure networking environment. Firmware integrity checks and cryptographic signatures help prevent unauthorized firmware updates and hardware manipulation.

Flow Control and Quality of Service (QoS)

Support for advanced flow control mechanisms and QoS policies allows administrators to prioritize critical workloads, ensuring consistent performance even under congested network conditions. This is particularly beneficial for time-sensitive applications like VoIP and real-time analytics.

Error Correction and Redundancy

Error detection and correction mechanisms at both the controller and hardware levels ensure reliable data transmission. Additionally, support for failover and redundancy ensures business continuity by maintaining network connectivity even in the event of port or path failures.

Compatibility and Deployment Scenarios

Dell PowerEdge Server Compatibility

The 540-BBIV adapter is optimized for use with Dell PowerEdge servers, including R640, R740, R740xd, R940, and other models that support PCIe slots. Dell’s out-of-box compatibility ensures seamless integration, simplifying the configuration and deployment process.

Ideal for Data Center and Enterprise Networks

Designed for high-density data centers and cloud environments, this adapter excels in 10GbE network backbones. It's well-suited for applications such as networked storage (NAS/SAN), virtualization clusters, high-frequency trading, and scientific computing that require ultra-low latency and high throughput.

Virtualized and Containerized Infrastructure

In software-defined infrastructures (SDI) and containerized environments, the X710-based adapter provides flexible integration with orchestration platforms like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Kubernetes. The support for SR-IOV and DPDK further enhances its suitability for NFV and microservice architectures.

Management and Monitoring Capabilities

Remote Management Support

The NIC is compatible with Dell’s integrated management tools like iDRAC and OpenManage, allowing IT administrators to monitor, diagnose, and update firmware remotely. This simplifies lifecycle management and reduces the need for onsite intervention.

Advanced Diagnostics and Logging

Built-in diagnostic tools and event logging features allow proactive troubleshooting and performance optimization. Administrators can monitor metrics such as temperature, throughput, and error rates to ensure continued network health.

Firmware Update Tools

The adapter supports both in-band and out-of-band firmware updates, ensuring the latest features and security patches can be applied without downtime. Compatibility with Dell’s update ecosystem ensures secure and streamlined upgrade processes.

Compliance and Environmental Considerations

RoHS and Industry Certifications

The 540-BBIV NIC complies with RoHS directives and other international standards for environmental safety and sustainability. Certifications such as FCC Class A, CE, and UL ensure the device meets global safety and emission requirements.

Energy Efficiency

With energy-saving features like DMA coalescing and efficient link-down power management, the Intel X710 NIC minimizes energy consumption during idle and low-traffic periods, contributing to green IT initiatives and reducing total cost of ownership.

Use Case Applications

High-Speed Storage Networking

For environments that rely on high-speed iSCSI or NFS connections, the 540-BBIV adapter offers the bandwidth and performance needed to eliminate bottlenecks between servers and storage systems. It's ideal for hyper-converged infrastructure and SAN architectures.

Video Streaming and Content Delivery

The dual-port 10GbE capability makes this adapter well-suited for media delivery networks, supporting large-scale video distribution, live streaming, and content caching platforms. Its high throughput and low latency are critical for real-time transmission.

Enterprise Backup and Disaster Recovery

Fast and reliable data transfer is essential for effective backup and disaster recovery solutions. The Dell Intel X710 NIC supports consistent data synchronization and high-speed replication between primary and backup sites over 10GbE links.

Benefits of Dual-Port Configuration

Link Aggregation and Bandwidth Scaling

Utilizing both 10GbE ports in link aggregation mode allows administrators to combine bandwidth for a total of 20Gbps throughput. This configuration not only boosts performance but also adds redundancy for mission-critical operations.

Port-Level Isolation for Enhanced Security

The dual-port design enables segregation of network traffic based on application or department, enhancing security and traffic control. One port can be designated for production traffic while the other handles management or backup traffic.

Simultaneous Multi-Network Access

With two independent ports, servers can connect to multiple networks simultaneously—ideal for enterprises utilizing separate LANs for internal systems, external communications, and secure environments like DMZs or isolated clusters.

Support and Lifecycle Management

Dell Certified Support

Being a Dell-certified component, the 540-BBIV adapter is fully supported under Dell ProSupport contracts. This includes driver updates, firmware patches, and end-to-end service assistance through Dell’s global technical support team.

Long-Term Reliability and Lifecycle Planning

Engineered for 24/7 operation, this NIC offers a long operational lifespan and high MTBF rating. Its compatibility with current and future Dell PowerEdge servers makes it a sound investment for long-term network infrastructure planning.

Hot-Swap and Easy Replacement

The adapter’s plug-and-play nature and compatibility with Dell's tool-less mounting systems allow for quick installation or replacement during server maintenance cycles. This ensures minimal downtime and simplified hardware servicing.

Deployment Considerations

Slot Availability and Server Configuration

Before deployment, administrators should assess PCIe slot availability and lane support in the target server. The x8 electrical interface of the 540-BBIV requires adequate lane allocation for maximum performance and compatibility.

Driver and Operating System Compatibility

The 540-BBIV is supported across a range of operating systems including Windows Server, Red Hat, SUSE Linux, VMware ESXi, and more. Intel’s unified driver package ensures broad OS compatibility and consistent driver behavior.

Firmware Synchronization in Clustered Environments

In clustered deployments such as vSphere HA or Hyper-V failover clusters, ensuring firmware consistency across nodes helps prevent compatibility issues and improves fault tolerance. Dell tools simplify this synchronization across multi-node environments.