540-BDQD Dell Broadcom 57504 25GbE SFP28 Quad Port Network Adapter

Highlights of Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 Network Adapter

The Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 Network Adapter is a high-performance OCP 3.0 card designed for modern data centers. It delivers ultra-fast connectivity, low latency, and reliable throughput, making it ideal for virtualization, cloud computing, and enterprise networking environments.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Dell Technologies
• Part Number: 540-BDQD
• Model: Broadcom 57504
• Product Type: Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Sub Type: 25Gb SFP28 Card Quad Port

Technical Specifications

25Gb Ethernet Connectivity

• Supports up to 25Gbps data transfer per port
• Quad-port SFP28 configuration for enhanced bandwidth
• Optimized for high-throughput and low-latency workloads

Enterprise-Class Bandwidth Advantages

• Improves application responsiveness
• Handles heavy data traffic with ease
• Ideal for storage, virtualization, and AI workloads

Broadcom 57504 Controller Technology

Advanced Network Processing

• Powered by Broadcom 57504 Ethernet controller
• Efficient packet processing and traffic management
• Designed for scalable data center deployments

Key Controller Benefits

• Consistent network performance
• Reduced CPU overhead
• Enhanced reliability under peak loads

OCP 3.0 Form Factor Compatibility

Optimized for Modern Servers

• OCP 3.0 compliant design
• Seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers
• Space-efficient and power-optimized architecture

Deployment Flexibility

• Supports dense server configurations
• Improves airflow and thermal efficiency
• Future-ready network expansion

SFP28 Interface and Port Configuration

Quad Port Design

• 4 × 25Gb SFP28 ports
• Supports high-speed optical or DAC connections
• Ideal for redundant and aggregated network links

Overview of Dell 540-BDQD 25Gb SFP28 Card Network Adapter

The Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 Card Quad Port OCP 3.0 Network Adapter belongs to an advanced category of high-performance data center networking hardware engineered to meet the growing demands of modern enterprise, cloud, and hyperscale infrastructures. This category focuses on ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and scalable network connectivity for servers deployed in environments where data throughput, reliability, and efficiency are critical. Network adapters in this category are designed to support next-generation workloads such as virtualization, containerized applications, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing.

25Gb Ethernet Architecture and Throughput Capabilities

The Dell Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 network adapter category is built around a high-speed Ethernet architecture that delivers up to 25 gigabits per second per port. With four independent SFP28 ports, this category supports an aggregate bandwidth that enables servers to handle massive data flows efficiently. This level of throughput is essential for east-west traffic within data centers, where applications communicate extensively with each other across distributed environments. 25Gb Ethernet has emerged as a preferred standard for modern data centers because it offers a strong balance between performance, cost efficiency, and power consumption. Compared to legacy 10Gb solutions, 25Gb Ethernet provides significantly higher bandwidth without requiring proportionally higher power or cooling resources.

Quad Port Design and Network Segmentation

The quad port configuration in this category enables advanced network segmentation and traffic isolation. Multiple ports allow administrators to separate management, storage, and application traffic across different physical interfaces, improving security and performance. This design also supports link aggregation and redundancy strategies that enhance network availability and fault tolerance. By distributing traffic across four high-speed ports, servers can maintain consistent performance even under peak workloads. This is particularly valuable in virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines or containers share the same physical network interface.

Low Latency and High Packet Processing

Low latency is a defining characteristic of this network adapter category. Advanced packet processing engines and optimized data paths minimize transmission delays, ensuring rapid data delivery between servers and network devices. This low-latency performance is critical for applications such as financial trading systems, real-time analytics, and latency-sensitive microservices architectures. High packet processing efficiency reduces CPU overhead by offloading networking tasks from the host processor. This allows servers to dedicate more compute resources to application workloads, improving overall system efficiency.

OCP 3.0 Form Factor and Open Compute Integration

The Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 category is designed around the OCP 3.0 form factor, which is part of the Open Compute Project initiative. OCP 3.0 network adapters are optimized for modern server platforms, offering improved airflow, simplified installation, and standardized interfaces that enhance interoperability across hardware ecosystems. OCP 3.0 integration enables cleaner server designs by relocating network adapters to dedicated slots that reduce congestion within the chassis. This improves thermal performance and simplifies maintenance, making the category well suited for high-density data center deployments.

Airflow and Thermal

Thermal efficiency is a critical consideration in high-speed networking hardware. The OCP 3.0 design allows better airflow around the network adapter, reducing heat buildup and supporting stable operation at sustained high throughput levels. Improved cooling efficiency contributes to longer component lifespan and reduced risk of thermal throttling. This thermal optimization is especially important in dense server racks where multiple high-performance components operate simultaneously.

Standardization and Hardware

Standardized OCP 3.0 interfaces ensure compatibility with a wide range of Dell servers and other OCP-compliant platforms. This standardization simplifies procurement, deployment, and future upgrades, enabling organizations to scale their infrastructure without vendor lock-in constraints. Interoperability with industry-standard SFP28 optics and cables further enhances flexibility in network design.

Broadcom 57504 Controller Technology

The Broadcom 57504 controller at the heart of this network adapter category delivers enterprise-grade reliability and advanced networking features. Broadcom is widely recognized for its robust Ethernet controller designs that support high throughput, low latency, and extensive offload capabilities. This controller architecture is optimized for data center environments where consistent performance and stability are essential. It supports a wide range of networking features that enhance efficiency, security, and manageability.

Advanced Offload Capabilities

Offload technologies reduce the processing burden on the host CPU by handling tasks such as checksum calculation, segmentation, and packet filtering directly on the network adapter. These capabilities improve overall system performance and reduce latency, particularly in environments with heavy network traffic. Offloads are especially beneficial in virtualized and containerized environments, where networking overhead can significantly impact application performance.

Cloud Workloads

The network adapter category is designed to integrate seamlessly with virtualization platforms and cloud orchestration frameworks. Features such as SR-IOV enable direct assignment of network resources to virtual machines, reducing overhead and improving network performance for virtualized workloads. This makes the category suitable for private cloud, hybrid cloud, and software-defined data center architectures.

SFP28 Connectivity and Optical Flexibility

SFP28 interfaces provide flexible connectivity options that support both short-range and long-range networking scenarios. The Dell Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 category supports a variety of optical transceivers and direct attach cables, enabling tailored network designs based on distance, bandwidth, and cost considerations. This flexibility allows organizations to optimize their cabling infrastructure for different use cases, from intra-rack connections to inter-rack and inter-building links.

Optical Networking for Data Centers

Optical networking is essential for high-speed data center connectivity. SFP28 optics support reliable signal transmission at 25Gb speeds, ensuring data integrity across varying distances. This enables scalable network architectures that can grow with increasing data demands. Optical solutions also reduce electromagnetic interference and support higher port densities compared to traditional copper connections.

Direct Attach Cable

For short-distance connections, direct attach copper cables offer a cost-effective alternative to optical transceivers. The ability to support both DAC and optical options enhances deployment flexibility and allows organizations to balance performance and budget requirements.

Connectivity and Network Evolution

SFP28-based designs provide a future-ready foundation that aligns with evolving Ethernet standards. As data center speeds continue to increase, this category supports incremental upgrades and interoperability with higher-speed network fabrics.

Enterprise Security and Network Reliability

Security and reliability are fundamental attributes of the Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 network adapter category. Data center networks handle sensitive information and mission-critical workloads, requiring robust protection against threats and failures. This category incorporates features that enhance data integrity, secure communications, and high availability.

Redundancy and High Availability

Multiple ports enable redundancy configurations that protect against link failures. Link aggregation and failover strategies ensure continuous network connectivity, supporting high availability requirements for enterprise and cloud workloads.

Centralized Capabilities

The Dell Broadcom 57504 25Gb network adapter category integrates with centralized management tools that provide visibility into network performance and adapter health. These tools enable administrators to monitor throughput, detect issues, and optimize configurations across large server fleets. Centralized management reduces operational complexity and supports proactive maintenance strategies.

Driver Support and Operating System

Broad driver support ensures compatibility with major operating systems and hypervisors. This simplifies deployment in heterogeneous environments and supports consistent performance across different platforms.

Telemetry and Performance

Telemetry features provide real-time insights into network utilization, error rates, and performance metrics. These insights enable data-driven optimization and capacity planning.

Use Cases Across Modern IT Environments

The Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 Quad Port OCP 3.0 Network Adapter category supports a wide range of use cases across enterprise, cloud, and service provider environments. Its high bandwidth and low latency capabilities make it suitable for demanding applications and scalable infrastructures.

Data Centers and Private Clouds

High-speed networking is essential for virtualized data centers where multiple workloads share physical resources. This category provides the throughput and efficiency needed to support dense virtualization and private cloud deployments.

Computing and Analytics

HPC and analytics workloads generate massive data flows that require fast, reliable network connectivity. The 25Gb quad port design supports parallel data transfers and low-latency communication between compute nodes.

Storage Networking and Software-Defined Storage

Modern storage architectures rely on high-speed Ethernet for data replication and access. This category supports storage traffic with low latency and high throughput, enabling efficient software-defined storage solutions.

Enterprise Applications and Database Systems

Enterprise applications and databases benefit from consistent network performance that minimizes transaction latency and supports high user concurrency.

Strategic Role in Scalable Network Architectures

The Dell 540-BDQD Broadcom 57504 25Gb SFP28 Card Quad Port OCP 3.0 Network Adapter category plays a strategic role in enabling scalable, high-performance network architectures. By combining advanced controller technology, open standards compliance, flexible connectivity, and enterprise-grade reliability, this category provides a robust foundation for modern data centers seeking to meet current demands while preparing for future growth.