540-BDRB Dell Intel X710 Dual Ports 10GGbE SFP+ PCIE Adapter

540-BDRB Dell Intel X710 Dual Ports 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Full Height Adapter Overview

The 540-BDRB Dell Intel X710 is a high-performance dual-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) SFP+ network adapter designed to deliver fast, reliable, and scalable connectivity for data-intensive environments. Built on Intel's X710 chipset and optimized by Dell, this full-height PCIe adapter meets the demands of modern enterprise networks, virtualization, cloud computing, and storage networking.

Key Features of the 540-BDRB Dell Intel X710 Adapter

• Dual 10GbE SFP+ ports supporting fiber and DAC connectivity
• Intel X710 controller for low latency and high throughput
• Full height bracket design for compatibility with standard PCIe server slots
• Advanced network features like VXLAN, NVGRE, SR-IOV, and iSCSI offloads
• PCIe 3.0 x8 interface for high-bandwidth data transfer
• Optimized for Dell PowerEdge servers and certified for various OS platforms

Applications and Use Cases

The 540-BDRB adapter is engineered to serve high-density, high-performance applications across industries. It excels in the following scenarios:

Virtualization and Cloud Deployments

With support for SR-IOV and advanced offload capabilities, the adapter allows IT administrators to virtualize workloads efficiently while minimizing CPU overhead. It supports major hypervisors including VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM.

Data Center Networking

This 10GbE adapter is ideal for data center applications that demand high bandwidth, low latency, and reliable connections. Whether it's East-West traffic between VMs or North-South traffic across servers, the 540-BDRB handles it with ease.

iSCSI and Storage Networking

With hardware iSCSI acceleration, the Dell 540-BDRB adapter can be leveraged for high-performance storage solutions, minimizing latency and improving data transfer rates across SANs and NAS environments.

Compatibility with Dell PowerEdge Servers

The 540-BDRB adapter is fully compatible and optimized for a wide range of Dell PowerEdge servers. Its full-height bracket ensures a secure fit in rack-mounted environments, offering seamless integration with:

• Dell PowerEdge R630, R640, R730, R740, and R940 models
• Dell Precision Workstations requiring high-speed networking
• Edge and branch office servers in distributed infrastructure

Benefits of Using SFP+ Over RJ45 in 10GbE Networking

SFP+ transceivers used with the 540-BDRB adapter offer greater energy efficiency and lower latency compared to 10GbE RJ45 copper-based alternatives. With support for direct attach copper (DAC) cables and fiber modules, SFP+ ensures versatility in both short-range and long-range network designs.

Fiber Optic Modules and DAC Cable Support

The adapter supports a wide range of optical modules and DAC cables, giving network architects flexibility in selecting cost-effective or performance-oriented connectivity solutions depending on their deployment requirements.

Advanced Networking Features

Intel's X710 chipset delivers a suite of hardware-accelerated technologies that reduce CPU load, improve packet processing, and enhance network efficiency.

SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization)

Enables multiple virtual machines to share a single adapter without sacrificing performance, crucial for cloud and virtualized environments.

VLAN Tagging and Traffic Segmentation

Ensures traffic isolation and security with IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging. This feature is essential for multi-tenant environments and compliance-driven infrastructures.

Checksum Offload and TCP Segmentation Offload (TSO)

Reduces CPU overhead by offloading checksum calculation and TCP segmentation tasks to the NIC hardware, resulting in faster data transmission.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Design

The adapter is designed with low power consumption in mind, helping to reduce data center operational costs. The passive cooling design ensures efficient heat dissipation in high-density rack environments.

Security Features

Security is a critical concern in enterprise networking, and the 540-BDRB supports hardware root of trust, secure firmware updates, and firmware verification features.

Firmware and Driver Support

Regular firmware updates from Dell and Intel ensure continued stability and performance enhancements. The card is supported by unified drivers compatible with various enterprise operating systems.

Driver Availability

• Microsoft Windows Server 2016/2019/2022
• VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7, 7.0, 8.0
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu LTS versions

Comparing the 540-BDRB to Other 10GbE Network Adapters

Compared to other 10GbE adapters like the Broadcom 57810 or Mellanox ConnectX-3, the Dell Intel X710 540-BDRB offers better support for virtualization technologies and enhanced compatibility with Intel-based server platforms. Its proven reliability and Dell firmware optimizations make it a preferred choice in Dell-centric data centers.

The Intel X710 Over Broadcom Alternatives

Intel's driver ecosystem, open source support, and feature set provide enhanced flexibility and vendor neutrality. For businesses leveraging open-source technologies or container-based infrastructure (e.g., Kubernetes), the X710’s compatibility and feature support give it a considerable edge.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tips

Regular driver updates and proper cable handling can significantly prolong the lifespan and reliability of the 540-BDRB adapter. Administrators should monitor firmware versioning and use Dell's LifeCycle Controller and iDRAC tools for optimal management.

Connectivity Issues

• Ensure DAC cables are compatible and firmly seated
• Verify VLAN and link speed settings in BIOS and OS
• Check for firmware mismatches in dual-port configurations