817721-B21 HPE 2 Port 10GBPS PCI 535FLR T Adapter

HPE 817721-B21 2-Port 10Gbps PCIe Network Adapter Overview

Product Summary and Identification

The HPE 817721-B21 network interface card is a high-performance dual-port Ethernet adapter engineered for enterprise servers. Designed to deliver reliable high-speed connectivity, it is widely used in data centers and virtualization environments requiring stable and scalable network throughput.

Key Product Details

• Manufacturer: HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise)
• Part Number / SKU: 817721-B21
• Device Category: Server Network Adapter / NIC
• Port Configuration: Dual Port (2 Ports)

Technical Architecture and Interface Standards

Hardware Design Specifications

• Form Factor: Plug-in expansion card
• Bus Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x8 lane architecture
• Network Speed: 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
• Data Transfer Capacity: Up to 10 Gbps per port

Connectivity and Performance Capabilities

This adapter is optimized for high-throughput workloads, ensuring low latency and efficient packet processing in demanding IT infrastructures.

• Supports dual-port simultaneous network operations
• Optimized for virtualization and cloud computing environments
• Enhanced bandwidth utilization for enterprise-grade applications

Advanced Features and Enterprise Functions

Virtualization and Network Optimization

• SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization): Enables improved virtual machine network performance with reduced overhead
• NPAR (Network Partitioning): Allows flexible segmentation of physical ports into multiple virtual NICs

Reliability and System Management Features

• FLR (Function Level Reset): Enhances device recovery and stability during faults
• Secure Boot Support: Strengthens system integrity and prevents unauthorized firmware execution

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

Ideal Applications

• Enterprise data center networking infrastructure
• Cloud computing and virtualization platforms
• High-performance server environments
• Storage networking and backend data processing systems

Operational Advantages

• Improved scalability for growing network demands
• Reduced latency for mission-critical workloads
• Enhanced traffic management across multiple virtual machines

Performance Benefits in Modern IT Environments

Efficiency and Throughput Enhancements

• Delivers consistent 10Gbps throughput per port
• Supports advanced workload balancing techniques
• Improves server I/O performance in multi-tenant systems

Enterprise Reliability Features

• Designed for 24/7 continuous operation
• Stable performance under heavy network loads
• Compatibility with enterprise-grade HPE server platforms

HPE 817721-B21 2 Port PCI 535FLR-T Server Network Adapter

The HPE 817721-B21 2 Port 10Gbps PCI 535FLR-T Server Network Adapter represents a high-performance networking solution designed to meet the increasing demands of modern data centers, enterprise environments, and virtualization infrastructures. Built to deliver exceptional throughput, low latency, and consistent reliability, this network adapter is engineered specifically for HPE ProLiant servers, offering seamless integration and optimized performance. As organizations continue to transition toward data-intensive workloads, cloud computing, and virtualization platforms, the need for robust and scalable networking solutions becomes increasingly critical. This adapter addresses those needs by providing dual-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, enabling faster data transfers, improved workload efficiency, and reduced bottlenecks.

Enterprise-Level Networking Performance

The HPE 817721-B21 network adapter is designed to support enterprise-grade networking requirements by delivering consistent 10Gbps throughput across two independent ports. This capability allows organizations to manage high-volume data traffic with ease, ensuring that mission-critical applications run smoothly without interruption. Whether deployed in virtualization environments, high-performance computing clusters, or storage area networks, the adapter ensures optimal bandwidth utilization and enhanced network responsiveness.

Optimized Throughput for Data-Intensive Workloads

Modern workloads such as big data analytics, machine learning, and database processing require substantial bandwidth to operate efficiently. The dual-port configuration of this adapter enables simultaneous data streams, reducing congestion and improving overall system performance. By leveraging advanced hardware acceleration features, the adapter minimizes CPU overhead, allowing servers to focus on core processing tasks rather than network management.

Low Latency and Efficient Packet Processing

Low latency is a crucial factor in ensuring real-time data processing and application responsiveness. The HPE 817721-B21 incorporates advanced packet processing technologies that reduce transmission delays and enhance communication between servers and network infrastructure. This makes it an ideal choice for latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading systems, real-time analytics platforms, and high-frequency transaction processing environments.

Compatibility and Integration with HPE ProLiant Servers

One of the defining characteristics of the HPE 817721-B21 network adapter is its seamless compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen9 and Gen10 servers. Designed using the FlexibleLOM (FLR) form factor, this adapter integrates directly into compatible server architectures without occupying standard PCIe slots. This allows organizations to maximize expansion capabilities while maintaining a clean and efficient hardware layout.

FlexibleLOM Form Factor Advantages

The FlexibleLOM design provides enhanced scalability and flexibility, enabling IT administrators to customize networking configurations based on specific workload requirements. By freeing up PCIe slots, organizations can allocate resources to additional storage controllers, GPUs, or other expansion cards, improving overall system versatility.

Seamless Firmware and Driver Support

The adapter benefits from comprehensive firmware and driver support provided by HPE, ensuring smooth deployment and ongoing maintenance. Regular updates enhance performance, security, and compatibility with evolving operating systems and virtualization platforms. This reduces the complexity of managing network infrastructure and ensures long-term reliability.

Integration with HPE Management Tools

The HPE 817721-B21 is fully compatible with HPE management tools such as Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) and HPE OneView. These tools provide centralized control and monitoring capabilities, allowing administrators to manage network performance, diagnose issues, and optimize configurations from a single interface. This level of integration simplifies IT operations and enhances overall efficiency.

Advanced Networking Features and Capabilities

The HPE 817721-B21 network adapter is equipped with a range of advanced features designed to enhance performance, security, and scalability. These capabilities make it a versatile solution for a wide variety of enterprise networking scenarios.

Virtualization Acceleration Technologies

Virtualization has become a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, enabling organizations to maximize resource utilization and reduce operational costs. The HPE 817721-B21 supports advanced virtualization features such as Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), which allows multiple virtual machines to share a single physical network interface while maintaining high performance and low latency.

Network Offloading Capabilities

To reduce CPU utilization and improve overall system efficiency, the adapter includes hardware-based offloading features such as TCP/IP checksum offload, large send offload, and receive side scaling. These capabilities enable the adapter to handle network processing tasks independently, freeing up CPU resources for other critical operations.

Quality of Service and Traffic Management

Effective traffic management is essential for maintaining optimal network performance in multi-tenant environments. The HPE 817721-B21 supports Quality of Service (QoS) features that allow administrators to prioritize network traffic based on application requirements. This ensures that critical workloads receive the necessary bandwidth and performance levels, even during periods of high network activity.

Scalability and Future-Proof Networking

As businesses grow and technology evolves, the ability to scale network infrastructure becomes increasingly important. The HPE 817721-B21 network adapter is designed with scalability in mind, providing the flexibility needed to accommodate future expansion and emerging technologies.

Support for High-Density Server Environments

In data centers where space and power efficiency are critical considerations, high-density server deployments are becoming more common. The dual-port 10Gbps capability of this adapter allows organizations to consolidate network connections, reducing the number of required adapters and simplifying cable management.

Adaptability to Cloud and Hybrid Environments

Cloud computing and hybrid IT environments require reliable and high-speed network connectivity to ensure seamless integration between on-premises and cloud-based resources. The HPE 817721-B21 provides the performance and reliability needed to support these environments, enabling efficient data transfer and communication across distributed systems.

Investment Protection and Longevity

Investing in high-quality networking hardware is essential for ensuring long-term value and minimizing total cost of ownership. The HPE 817721-B21 is built to deliver consistent performance over time, with robust construction and comprehensive support from HPE. This ensures that organizations can rely on the adapter for years to come, even as their networking needs evolve.

Security and Reliability in Enterprise Networks

Security and reliability are critical components of any enterprise networking solution. The HPE 817721-B21 network adapter incorporates advanced security features and robust design principles to ensure the integrity and availability of network connections.

Data Integrity and Protection

The adapter includes features that help maintain data integrity during transmission, reducing the risk of data corruption and ensuring accurate communication between systems. This is particularly important in environments where data accuracy is critical, such as financial services, healthcare, and research institutions.

Enhanced Network Reliability

Reliability is a key consideration in enterprise networking, as downtime can have significant operational and financial consequences. The dual-port design of the HPE 817721-B21 provides redundancy, allowing network traffic to be rerouted in the event of a port failure. This ensures continuous connectivity and minimizes the impact of hardware issues.

Secure Firmware and Update Mechanisms

HPE provides secure firmware updates for the adapter, ensuring that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly and that the device remains protected against emerging threats. This proactive approach to security helps organizations maintain a strong defense against cyber risks and ensures compliance with industry standards.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The versatility of the HPE 817721-B21 network adapter makes it suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios, from small business environments to large-scale enterprise data centers.

Virtualized Data Centers

In virtualized environments, where multiple virtual machines share physical resources, high-performance networking is essential for maintaining efficiency and responsiveness. The adapter’s support for SR-IOV and other virtualization technologies makes it an ideal choice for these scenarios, enabling seamless communication between virtual machines and network infrastructure.

High-Performance Computing Clusters

High-performance computing applications require fast and reliable data transfer between nodes. The HPE 817721-B21 provides the bandwidth and low latency needed to support these demanding workloads, ensuring optimal performance and scalability.

Enterprise Storage Networks

Storage networks rely on high-speed connectivity to facilitate data access and transfer. The dual-port 10Gbps capability of this adapter enables efficient communication between servers and storage systems, improving data availability and reducing latency in storage operations.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Optimization

Energy efficiency is an important consideration in modern data centers, where power consumption and cooling costs can significantly impact operational expenses. The HPE 817721-B21 network adapter is designed to deliver high performance while minimizing energy usage.

Efficient Power Consumption

The adapter incorporates energy-efficient technologies that reduce power consumption without compromising performance. This helps organizations lower their energy costs and reduce their environmental footprint, contributing to more sustainable IT operations.

Reduced Infrastructure Costs

By consolidating network connections and improving overall efficiency, the HPE 817721-B21 helps organizations reduce the number of required network devices and associated infrastructure costs. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to optimize their IT budgets.

Long-Term Operational Savings

The combination of high performance, reliability, and energy efficiency translates into significant long-term savings. Organizations can benefit from reduced maintenance costs, improved system uptime, and enhanced productivity, making the HPE 817721-B21 a valuable investment in modern networking infrastructure.