540-BFQD Dell Intel E810xxvda2 25 Gigabit Dual-Port Network Adapter

Overview of Dell 540-BFQD SFP28 OCP NIC 3.0 Network Adapter

The Dell 540-BFCD Broadcom 57504 Quad Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP NIC 3.0 Plug-in PCI Express Network Adapter represents a specialized class of enterprise networking solutions engineered for next-generation data center architectures. This category focuses on high-density, high-throughput network interface cards designed to meet the evolving demands of cloud computing, software-defined networking, hyperconverged infrastructure, and large-scale virtualization platforms. Built around the Broadcom 57504 controller and compliant with the OCP NIC 3.0 specification, this adapter category emphasizes performance scalability, power efficiency, and seamless integration into modern Dell PowerEdge server ecosystems.

Broadcom 57504 Controller Architecture

Network Processing Engine

The Broadcom 57504 controller at the core of the Dell 540-BFCD network adapter is engineered to handle intensive network workloads with precision and consistency. Designed for quad-port operation, the controller supports both 10GbE and 25GbE data rates over SFP28 interfaces, allowing organizations to adapt network bandwidth to current and future requirements. Advanced packet processing pipelines within the controller reduce latency and optimize throughput, ensuring reliable data transmission across demanding enterprise environments.

Hardware Offloading and CPU

One of the defining characteristics of the Broadcom 57504 chipset is its extensive hardware offloading capabilities. Tasks such as checksum calculation, segmentation offload, and flow classification are processed directly by the network adapter, significantly reducing CPU utilization on the host server. This offload architecture allows compute resources to be dedicated to applications, virtual machines, and containers, enhancing overall system efficiency and improving performance consistency across workloads.

Intelligent Traffic Handling and Load Distribution

The controller incorporates intelligent traffic management features that enable efficient distribution of network packets across multiple queues and processor cores. This design minimizes congestion, balances workloads, and improves responsiveness for latency-sensitive applications. Intelligent traffic steering ensures predictable performance even under sustained high-load conditions, which is critical for enterprise data centers supporting mission-critical services.

Quad Port 10/25GbE SFP28 Connectivity Design

Flexible Bandwidth Configuration

The quad-port SFP28 configuration of the Dell 540-BFCD network adapter provides exceptional flexibility in network design. Each port can operate at either 10GbE or 25GbE speeds, allowing administrators to tailor bandwidth allocation based on application needs and infrastructure capabilities. This flexibility enables gradual network upgrades, making it possible to transition from 10GbE to 25GbE without replacing hardware, thereby protecting long-term infrastructure investments.

High-Density Network Consolidation

By offering four high-speed ports on a single OCP NIC 3.0 module, this adapter category supports network consolidation strategies that reduce the number of required expansion cards and cabling. High-density connectivity is particularly valuable in rack-scale and hyperscale data centers where space efficiency, airflow optimization, and cable management are critical considerations. Consolidation also simplifies network architecture, improving manageability and reducing operational complexity.

Fiber and Direct Attach Copper Media

The SFP28 interface supports a wide range of transceivers and direct attach copper cables, enabling deployment across short-range, mid-range, and long-range network topologies. This versatility allows the Dell 540-BFCD category to be used in top-of-rack, end-of-row, and inter-rack connectivity scenarios, accommodating diverse data center layouts and performance requirements.

OCP NIC 3.0 Form Factor and PCI Express Integration

Open Compute Project NIC 3.0 Compliance

The Dell 540-BFCD network adapter adheres to the OCP NIC 3.0 specification, which defines a standardized, modular form factor optimized for modern server designs. OCP NIC 3.0 enables improved thermal efficiency, simplified serviceability, and enhanced electrical performance compared to traditional PCIe add-in cards. This category aligns with open infrastructure principles, supporting interoperability and future-proof server architectures.

Direct PCI Express Interface for Maximum Throughput

Integrated directly into the server’s PCI Express fabric, the OCP NIC 3.0 design ensures low-latency communication between the network adapter and the host system. The PCI Express interface provides ample bandwidth to support four simultaneous 25GbE connections without bottlenecks, ensuring consistent performance across all ports. This direct integration enhances reliability and reduces signal degradation associated with traditional riser-based expansion cards.

Enterprise and Cloud Readiness

Advanced Offloads

The Dell 540-BFCD Broadcom 57504 category is purpose-built for virtualized and cloud-native environments. Hardware support for SR-IOV, virtual switching, and multi-queue processing allows virtual machines and containers to access network resources directly with minimal overhead. These capabilities enhance network isolation, improve throughput, and reduce latency for virtual workloads, enabling higher VM density and more efficient resource utilization.

Software-Defined Networking

Modern data centers increasingly rely on software-defined networking to achieve agility and scalability. This adapter category integrates seamlessly with SDN frameworks by providing programmable features and consistent performance under dynamic network configurations. The ability to handle overlay networks, encapsulation protocols, and east-west traffic efficiently makes the Dell 540-BFCD an ideal component for SDN-enabled infrastructures.

Microservices Workloads

In environments leveraging containers and microservices, network performance and isolation are critical. The Broadcom 57504 controller supports fine-grained traffic control and queue management, ensuring predictable networking behavior for containerized applications. This enables organizations to deploy microservices architectures with confidence, knowing that network bottlenecks will not hinder application performance.

Reliability, Availability, and Enterprise Resilience

Quad Port Redundancy and High Availability

The quad-port architecture of the Dell 540-BFCD network adapter enables multiple redundancy and failover configurations. Network traffic can be distributed across ports or configured with active-active and active-passive redundancy models, ensuring continuous connectivity even in the event of link or port failures. This high-availability design is essential for mission-critical systems where downtime can result in significant operational and financial impact.

Diagnostics Provide

Enterprise-grade reliability is reinforced through comprehensive error detection and correction mechanisms integrated into the Broadcom 57504 chipset. These features ensure data integrity across high-speed links and enable early detection of potential issues. Advanced diagnostics provide administrators with visibility into adapter health and performance, supporting proactive maintenance and minimizing unplanned outages.

Consistent Under Sustained Load

The Dell 540-BFCD category is designed to maintain stable performance even under continuous high-throughput conditions. Robust internal buffering, intelligent queue management, and thermal optimization ensure that the adapter can operate reliably in demanding 24/7 data center environments. This consistency is critical for applications such as databases, analytics platforms, and transaction processing systems.

Dell PowerEdge Server Ecosystems

Integration with Dell PowerEdge Platforms

The Dell 540-BFCD network adapter is validated for seamless integration with a wide range of Dell PowerEdge servers that support the OCP NIC 3.0 interface. This tight integration ensures compatibility at the firmware, driver, and management levels, simplifying deployment and reducing the risk of interoperability issues. Organizations benefit from a unified hardware ecosystem that supports streamlined lifecycle management.

Operating System and Hypervisor

This category supports major enterprise operating systems and hypervisors, including various Linux distributions, Windows Server environments, and leading virtualization platforms. Broad driver support ensures stable operation and access to advanced networking features across different deployment scenarios. This flexibility allows organizations to standardize on a single network adapter category across heterogeneous environments.

Centralized Monitoring

Integration with Dell management tools enables centralized monitoring and configuration of the network adapter. Administrators can track performance metrics, manage firmware updates, and configure advanced networking features through unified interfaces. Centralized management improves operational efficiency and reduces the administrative burden associated with large-scale deployments.

Use Case Alignment Across Industries

Cloud Service Providers and Hyperscale Data Centers

Cloud service providers require scalable, high-density networking solutions to support multi-tenant environments and massive east-west traffic flows. The Dell 540-BFCD Broadcom 57504 category addresses these requirements by delivering quad-port 10/25GbE connectivity with low latency and high efficiency. Its OCP NIC 3.0 design aligns with hyperscale server architectures, supporting rapid deployment and standardized infrastructure.

Enterprise Data Centers and Private Cloud

For enterprises building private cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructures, this network adapter category provides the performance and reliability needed to support critical business applications. High bandwidth, virtualization offloads, and redundancy features ensure that enterprise workloads remain responsive and available, even during peak demand periods.

Computing and Analytics

High-performance computing and data analytics workloads depend on fast, predictable network communication between nodes. The Dell 540-BFCD category supports these environments by delivering low-latency connectivity and consistent throughput across multiple high-speed ports. This enables efficient data exchange for simulations, machine learning, and large-scale analytics tasks.

Financial Services, Media, and Telecommunications

Industries such as financial services, media production, and telecommunications demand robust networking solutions capable of handling real-time data flows and high transaction volumes. The quad-port 10/25GbE design supports high availability and bandwidth aggregation, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery and rapid data processing. The reliability and performance characteristics of this adapter category make it suitable for environments where network performance directly impacts service quality and business outcomes.