N20-AQ0002 Cisco 2 Ports Fiber Channel Network Adapter

Overview of Cisco N20-AQ0002 10GBE Dual-Port Adapter

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 10GbE 2 Ports Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Network Adapter is a high-performance Converged Network Adapter (CNA) engineered for Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Blade Servers. This enterprise-grade adapter combines Ethernet and Fibre Channel traffic into a single high-speed interface, simplifying cabling while improving data center efficiency. Featuring dual 10GbE ports, Fibre Channel over Ethernet support, and a mezzanine form factor, the Cisco N20-AQ0002 is an ideal networking solution for virtualization, cloud computing, storage networking, and mission-critical enterprise applications.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number: N20-AQ0002
• Product Type: Converged Network Adapter (CNA)

Technical Specifications)

• Product Category: Network Adapter
• Form Factor: Mezzanine Plug-in Module
• Connectivity Technology: Wired
• Interface Type: 10GBase-KR

Network Connectivity

• Port Configuration: 2 × 10GbE Ports
• Network Interface: Dual-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet
• Storage Networking: Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
• Fibre Channel Support: 4Gb Fibre Channel
• Fibre Channel Support: 8Gb Fibre Channel

Physical Specifications

• Form Factor: Mezzanine Plug-in Card
• Depth: 18.4 cm (Approx. 7.2 Inches)
• Width: 9.4 cm (Approx. 3.7 Inches)

Industry Standards Compliance

• IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
• IEEE 802.1Q VLAN Tagging
• IEEE 802.3x Flow Control
• IEEE 802.3ae 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Supported Network Protocols

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
• Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
• 4Gb Fibre Channel
• 8Gb Fibre Channel

Server Compatibility

• Cisco UCS B200 M1 Blade Server
• Cisco UCS B200 M2 Blade Server
• Cisco UCS B230 M1 Blade Server
• Cisco UCS B230 M2 Blade Server
• Cisco UCS B250 M1 Blade Server
• Cisco UCS B250 M2 Blade Server

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 10GBE 2 Ports Fiber Channel Adapter

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 10GBE 2 Ports Fiber Channel Over Ethernet Network Adapter is engineered to deliver enterprise-class networking performance with dual-port high-speed connectivity. Built on Cisco’s advanced architecture, this adapter ensures scalable throughput, reliable integration, and seamless deployment in structured infrastructures. Its design supports modern workloads, delivering consistent bandwidth, optimized traffic management, and enhanced flexibility for mission-critical applications across diverse industries.

Integration with Cisco UCS Servers

The adapter integrates seamlessly with Cisco UCS servers, offering flexible expansion options. This integration supports advanced traffic management, virtualization features, and high availability. Enterprises benefit from streamlined deployment, reduced complexity, and scalable solutions that adapt to evolving networking requirements across enterprise and data center environments with minimal disruption.

Dual-Port 10GBE Fiber Channel Over Ethernet Connectivity

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 provides dual-port 10GBE connectivity through Fiber Channel Over Ethernet interfaces, ensuring high-speed communication across enterprise environments. With support for advanced protocols, it delivers stable coverage and improved throughput. Enterprises benefit from reduced latency, enhanced responsiveness, and reliable performance for servers, storage systems, and applications operating simultaneously in demanding conditions.

Advanced Security Architecture

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 incorporates advanced security mechanisms to safeguard enterprise networks. Features such as secure boot, hardware root of trust, and encryption support protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats. Enterprises achieve compliance with industry standards, ensuring reliable protection for sensitive data and mission-critical applications with minimal risk exposure and enhanced resilience.

Optimized Performance for Virtualization

With support for SR-IOV and virtualization offloads, the Cisco N20-AQ0002 enables versatile communication across enterprise networks. Its architecture ensures consistent bandwidth for diverse applications. Enterprises benefit from optimized traffic flow, reduced latency, and improved scalability in virtualization-centric environments where performance consistency is essential for mission-critical workloads and distributed infrastructures.

Traffic Management and QoS Capabilities

Quality of Service features allow administrators to prioritize critical applications such as storage traffic, voice, and video. The Cisco N20-AQ0002 ensures that latency-sensitive workloads receive dedicated bandwidth, reducing jitter and packet loss. Enterprises achieve improved user experiences, optimized performance, and reliable communication across diverse applications with enhanced control over traffic distribution and prioritization.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Design

Energy-efficient design minimizes power consumption while maintaining high performance. The adapter’s optimized thermal design ensures simplified deployment without overheating risks. Enterprises benefit from reduced cooling requirements, improved sustainability, and extended hardware lifespan in high-density environments where efficiency and reliability are critical for long-term operations.

Scalability for Enterprise Growth

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 provides scalability to meet growing enterprise demands. With dual-port 10GBE support and advanced offload capabilities, businesses can expand their networks without significant infrastructure changes. Enterprises achieve cost-effective scaling, ensuring that networking capabilities evolve alongside organizational growth with minimal disruption and consistent performance across diverse workloads.

Reliability for Mission-Critical Workloads

Reliability is a cornerstone of the Cisco N20-AQ0002 design. Redundant architecture and robust connectivity ensure continuous operation even during hardware failures. Enterprises benefit from minimized downtime, consistent service availability, and enhanced resilience for mission-critical workloads requiring uninterrupted connectivity across distributed environments and global deployments.

Deployment Flexibility Across Environments

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 offers deployment flexibility across diverse environments. Its compatibility with Cisco modular platforms allows seamless integration into enterprise, campus, and branch networks. Enterprises can tailor configurations for redundancy, scalability, or performance optimization, ensuring adaptability to evolving business needs with simplified management and streamlined workflows.

High-Density Applications

High-density applications such as virtualization clusters and storage backbones benefit from the Cisco N20-AQ0002’s dual-port design and advanced networking capabilities. Enterprises achieve simplified cabling, reduced infrastructure costs, and improved manageability in environments requiring large-scale device connectivity with consistent performance delivery and reliable throughput across critical workloads.

Future-Proof Networking Solution

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 is designed as a future-proof solution, meeting evolving enterprise needs. Its compatibility, scalability, and advanced features ensure relevance as technology advances. Businesses can invest confidently, knowing the adapter will support networking requirements for years to come across diverse industries with minimal upgrade requirements and enhanced adaptability.

Enhanced Performance for Storage Networking

Storage networking platforms benefit from the Cisco N20-AQ0002’s QoS and dual-port support. Storage traffic receives prioritized bandwidth, ensuring clear communication and reduced latency. Enterprises achieve improved collaboration between storage systems, optimized performance, and reliable connectivity for mission-critical storage networks across global deployments with consistent quality and seamless integration.

Cloud and Edge Deployments

Cloud and edge deployments require reliable connectivity and scalability. The Cisco N20-AQ0002 provides secure integration for high-speed cloud adoption and edge device connectivity. Enterprises benefit from seamless cloud adoption, reduced latency, and improved efficiency in distributed environments with consistent throughput and reliable performance across diverse workloads.

Comprehensive Manageability Features

Manageability features such as centralized monitoring, configuration management, and diagnostics simplify administration. The Cisco N20-AQ0002 ensures that IT teams can efficiently manage large-scale deployments. Enterprises achieve reduced operational overhead, improved visibility, and enhanced control over network infrastructures with streamlined workflows and simplified management processes across complex environments.

Support for Emerging Technologies

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 supports emerging technologies such as NVMe over Fabrics and advanced storage protocols. Its dual-port design ensures reliable connectivity, while advanced traffic management provides high-speed performance. Enterprises benefit from future-ready infrastructure, enabling seamless adoption of new technologies without significant upgrades or disruptions across diverse industries and global deployments.

Resilient Architecture for Enterprise Networks

The resilient architecture of the Cisco N20-AQ0002 ensures consistent performance under demanding conditions. Redundant connectivity and advanced traffic management features safeguard enterprise networks. Enterprises achieve improved uptime, reduced risk, and enhanced reliability for mission-critical applications requiring continuous availability and consistent performance across distributed infrastructures.

Data-Intensive Workloads

Data-intensive workloads such as analytics and cloud applications benefit from the Cisco N20-AQ0002’s dual-port connectivity and QoS features. Enterprises achieve optimized performance, reduced latency, and improved scalability for workloads requiring consistent bandwidth and reliable communication across distributed environments and mission-critical infrastructures.

Enterprise-Class Reliability and Uptime

Reliability is a key advantage of the Cisco N20-AQ0002. Its robust architecture ensures continuous operation even during hardware failures. Enterprises benefit from minimized downtime, consistent service availability, and enhanced resilience for mission-critical workloads requiring uninterrupted connectivity across diverse environments and global deployments with consistent performance.

Enhanced Monitoring Capabilities

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 enhances monitoring by providing real-time visibility into network performance. Administrators can track device health, traffic patterns, and application usage, ensuring proactive management. Enterprises achieve improved efficiency, reduced risk, and enhanced reliability across diverse deployment scenarios with simplified troubleshooting and proactive alerts.

Optimized for Enterprise Growth

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 provides scalability to meet growing enterprise demands. With its universal design, businesses can expand their networks without requiring significant infrastructure changes. Enterprises achieve cost-effective scaling, ensuring that adapter solutions evolve alongside organizational growth with minimal disruption and consistent performance across diverse workloads.

Reliable Performance in Demanding Conditions

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 ensures reliable performance even in demanding industrial conditions. Its robust construction and centralized management provide enterprises with confidence in their infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and consistent performance across mission-critical applications requiring continuous availability and resilience.

Secure Role-Based Access Control

The adapter’s role-based access control ensures that only authorized personnel can configure or manage devices. Enterprises achieve improved security, reduced risk of misconfiguration, and enhanced compliance with industry standards across diverse environments with consistent enforcement of access policies.

Universal Device Compatibility

The Cisco N20-AQ0002 is compatible with a wide range of Cisco UCS platforms, ensuring seamless integration into diverse infrastructures. Enterprises benefit from deployment flexibility, reduced complexity, and enhanced scalability across enterprise and campus networks with simplified device onboarding and configuration.