00E3497 IBM PCI-E2 4-Port 2X10GB FCOE 2X1GBE SFP+ Adapter

IBM 00E3497 PCI-E2 4-Port 10Gb FCoE & 1GbE Network Adapter 

The IBM 00E3497 PCI-E2 4-Port Network Adapter is a high-speed enterprise-class connectivity solution designed for demanding server environments. Built to support both Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and Ethernet networking, this adapter delivers scalable bandwidth, low latency, and reliable performance for modern data centers.

General Information

• Manufacturer: IBM
• Part Number: 00E3497
• Device Type: Network Adapter

Technical Specifications

• PCI Express 2.0 (PCI-E Gen2) host interface
• 4 total ports configuration (2x 10GbE + 2x 1GbE)
• SFP+ optical transceiver support for 10GbE links
• RJ-45 or compatible 1GbE connectivity (depending on configuration)

Data Transfer Capabilities

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet high-speed data channels
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet fallback and compatibility mode
• Low-latency packet processing for mission-critical applications
• Efficient bandwidth utilization for multi-tenant environments

FCoE Advantages

• Unified SAN and LAN traffic management
• Reduced cabling and infrastructure overhead
• Improved storage access performance
• Enhanced scalability for enterprise storage systems

Performance Enhancements

• Hardware offloading for network processing tasks
• Advanced queue management for multi-core systems
• Reduced latency in virtualized workloads

Virtualization Features

• Multi-queue architecture for VM traffic isolation
• Optimized for hypervisors and cloud environments
• High-density workload handling capability

Storage Networking (SAN Integration)

• FCoE-based storage consolidation
• High-speed SAN connectivity
• Reduced infrastructure complexity

Virtualized Infrastructure

• Supports VMware, Hyper-V, and similar platforms
• Efficient VM traffic handling
• Improved workload balancing across nodes

Key Performance Advantages

• High bandwidth throughput for data-intensive applications
• Reduced latency for real-time operations
• Stable and reliable multi-port connectivity
• Optimized packet processing architecture

Compatibility Features

• Standard PCI Express Gen2 slot support
• Enterprise server compatibility
• Driver support for major operating systems

IBM 00E3497 PCI-E2 4-Port 10Gb FCoE 2X10Gb Adapter 

The IBM 00E3497 PCI-E2 4-Ports 2X10 GB FCOE 2X1 GBE SFP+ Adapter is a high-performance enterprise-grade networking component engineered for data centers, virtualization environments, and mission-critical server infrastructures. Designed under the engineering excellence standards of , this adapter provides a flexible and scalable network interface solution that combines Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) capabilities with traditional Ethernet connectivity. It is built to support converged network architectures where storage and data traffic share a unified high-speed infrastructure.

This adapter is widely utilized in IBM System x servers and compatible enterprise platforms where performance, redundancy, and high throughput are required. Its architecture is optimized for virtualization workloads, cloud computing deployments, and storage-intensive applications where low latency and high bandwidth are essential.

Advanced PCI-E2 Architecture and Hardware Design

The PCI Express Generation 2 interface used in the IBM 00E3497 adapter provides a significant improvement in bandwidth efficiency compared to earlier PCIe standards. The design ensures that data packets are transmitted with minimal latency, making it ideal for environments where high-speed communication between storage arrays and compute nodes is critical.

The adapter integrates a dual-channel 10 Gigabit Ethernet subsystem along with dual 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing administrators to segment traffic efficiently. This segmentation ensures that storage traffic, application data, and management communications can operate independently without congestion or performance degradation.

Hardware Acceleration and Offload Capabilities

One of the key advantages of this adapter lies in its hardware-based offload engines. These engines handle CPU-intensive networking tasks such as TCP/IP processing, checksum calculation, segmentation offload, and FCoE encapsulation. By offloading these processes from the main server CPU, the adapter improves overall system efficiency and allows more computing resources to be allocated to application workloads.

This design is particularly beneficial in virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines rely on shared physical network interfaces. The hardware acceleration ensures consistent throughput and reduced CPU contention.

Efficient Data Path Optimization

The internal data path of the IBM 00E3497 adapter is engineered to minimize packet processing delays. It utilizes optimized buffering techniques and intelligent flow control mechanisms to ensure stable data transmission even under heavy network load conditions. This makes it suitable for high-density data centers and cloud infrastructure deployments where traffic spikes are common.

Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Integration Capabilities

The inclusion of FCoE support is one of the defining features of this adapter. FCoE enables Fibre Channel storage traffic to be transported over Ethernet networks, eliminating the need for separate storage networking infrastructure. This convergence reduces hardware costs, simplifies cabling, and improves overall network manageability.

The adapter allows seamless integration with storage area networks (SANs) while maintaining compatibility with Ethernet-based IP networks. This dual functionality ensures that enterprises can gradually transition toward converged infrastructure without disrupting existing systems.

Storage Networking Optimization

In storage-intensive environments, latency and packet loss can significantly impact application performance. The IBM 00E3497 adapter addresses these challenges by implementing lossless Ethernet mechanisms and priority-based traffic handling. These features ensure that storage traffic is prioritized over general data traffic when necessary, maintaining consistent performance levels for critical applications.

The adapter also supports advanced queue management techniques that help balance workloads across multiple data streams. This improves reliability in environments where large-scale data replication or backup operations are performed continuously.

Converged Network Infrastructure Support

By supporting both Ethernet and Fibre Channel protocols, the adapter plays a central role in converged network infrastructures. Organizations can deploy fewer physical adapters and switches while still supporting complex workloads. This reduces infrastructure complexity and enhances scalability for future expansion.

Dual 10GbE and Dual 1GbE Port Configuration

The IBM 00E3497 adapter features a hybrid port configuration that includes two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports. This design provides exceptional flexibility in traffic management and network segmentation. High-performance applications can be assigned to 10GbE ports, while management or auxiliary services can utilize the 1GbE ports.

This separation ensures that critical workloads are not affected by non-essential traffic. It also enables organizations to optimize bandwidth utilization across different layers of their network architecture.

Load Balancing and Failover Support

The multi-port architecture allows for advanced load balancing strategies where network traffic is distributed across multiple interfaces. In addition, failover capabilities ensure continuous connectivity in case one port experiences a hardware or network failure.

This redundancy is essential in enterprise environments where downtime can result in significant operational and financial losses. The adapter ensures continuous data flow by automatically rerouting traffic through available ports.

Traffic Segmentation for Enterprise Networks

Network administrators can assign different roles to each port based on workload requirements. For instance, one 10GbE port may handle storage replication traffic while the second handles virtualization data traffic. Meanwhile, the 1GbE ports may be used for system monitoring and administrative access.

Performance Optimization in Virtualized Environments

Virtualization is a core component of modern IT infrastructure, and the IBM 00E3497 adapter is specifically optimized for such environments. It supports virtualization technologies that enable multiple virtual machines to share a single physical network interface without compromising performance.

The adapter’s hardware offload capabilities ensure that virtual machine traffic is processed efficiently, reducing CPU overhead and improving response times. This is particularly important in environments running hypervisors where network traffic is highly dynamic.

Virtual Machine Mobility and Network Consistency

In virtualized data centers, virtual machines frequently migrate between physical hosts. The adapter supports seamless connectivity during such migrations, ensuring that network sessions remain stable and uninterrupted. This is achieved through intelligent session management and adaptive routing mechanisms.

Hypervisor Compatibility and Integration

The adapter is designed to work with major hypervisor platforms used in enterprise environments. It integrates smoothly with virtualization stacks, allowing administrators to configure virtual switches, VLANs, and network policies with ease. This flexibility enhances deployment efficiency and reduces configuration complexity.

Enterprise Data Center Applications

The IBM 00E3497 PCI-E2 adapter is widely deployed in enterprise data centers where high availability and performance are critical. Its ability to handle mixed workloads makes it suitable for database servers, application hosting platforms, virtualization clusters, and storage systems.

The adapter’s design supports continuous data streaming and high-volume transaction processing, making it ideal for financial systems, e-commerce platforms, and large-scale analytics environments.

Cloud Infrastructure Deployment

In cloud computing environments, scalability and resource efficiency are essential. This adapter supports cloud infrastructure by providing flexible network segmentation and high throughput capabilities. Cloud service providers benefit from its ability to handle multi-tenant workloads efficiently.

Its dual-protocol support ensures that both storage and compute traffic can be handled within a unified network architecture, reducing operational complexity.

Big Data and Analytics Workloads

Big data environments require fast and reliable data transfer between compute nodes and storage systems. The IBM 00E3497 adapter ensures that large datasets can be transferred efficiently without bottlenecks. This improves processing speed for analytics applications and distributed computing frameworks.

Error Detection and Correction Mechanisms

The adapter includes advanced error detection systems that monitor data integrity during transmission. These systems ensure that corrupted packets are identified and retransmitted, maintaining data accuracy across the network.

High Availability Network Design

By supporting redundant network paths and failover configurations, the adapter contributes to high availability architectures. This ensures that even in the event of a hardware or link failure, network services remain operational without interruption.

Compatibility with Modern Network Standards

The adapter remains compatible with modern Ethernet standards and storage networking protocols, ensuring that it can integrate into both legacy and contemporary IT ecosystems. This compatibility reduces migration costs and simplifies infrastructure modernization.

Security and Network Protection Features

Security is a critical aspect of enterprise networking, and this adapter incorporates features that help protect data integrity and network access. It supports secure communication channels and integrates with network security frameworks used in data centers.

The adapter also assists in isolating network traffic between different workloads, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data leakage.

Traffic Isolation and Access Control

Through logical segmentation and port-based controls, administrators can enforce strict access policies. This ensures that sensitive workloads remain isolated from general network traffic.

Secure Data Transmission Protocol Support

The adapter supports secure transmission protocols that enhance data protection during network communication. This is particularly important in industries where regulatory compliance and data privacy are essential.

Operational Efficiency and Energy Optimization

Modern data centers require energy-efficient hardware, and the IBM 00E3497 adapter is designed to minimize power consumption while maintaining high performance. Its efficient architecture reduces unnecessary power usage during low-traffic conditions.

This contributes to lower operational costs and supports green computing initiatives within enterprise environments.

Thermal Management Design

The adapter incorporates effective thermal management mechanisms that ensure stable operation even under heavy workloads. Proper heat dissipation enhances hardware longevity and reduces the risk of performance degradation.

Energy-Efficient Processing Architecture

By optimizing data processing workflows, the adapter reduces CPU dependency and overall system power consumption. This makes it suitable for large-scale deployments where energy efficiency is a priority.

Deployment Flexibility and Integration Scenarios

The IBM 00E3497 adapter can be deployed in a wide range of server configurations, making it highly versatile for enterprise IT teams. It integrates seamlessly into rack-mounted servers, blade systems, and virtualization clusters.

Its flexible design allows IT administrators to customize network configurations based on workload requirements and infrastructure architecture.

Enterprise Integration Strategies

Organizations often deploy this adapter as part of a broader network modernization strategy. It supports incremental upgrades, allowing businesses to enhance network performance without replacing entire infrastructures.

Hybrid Infrastructure Compatibility

The adapter works effectively in hybrid IT environments where on-premises systems are integrated with cloud services. This ensures consistent performance across distributed workloads and enhances operational continuity.